My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 223: Sheltered

Chapter 223: Sheltered

From the moment he avoided the question, Leonor knew precisely what the maid had been nervous about.

As a girl, Leonor’s father first sheltered her because she was his heiress and needed to be perfect when she took the reins of the county from him. She needed to teeter on the edge of being well-educated and innocent. She had to be pristine as a woman yet money-minded enough to continue with her father’s business endeavors and ensure that the von Burien name remained strong.

After her mother died, she became sheltered because her father strangely began preferring his youngest daughter over Leonor. He began mistreating his eldest because of his favoritism and, rather than the sheltered girl she used to be, he hid her because he didn’t want others to know the extent of her neglect.

It could be brushed off by other nobles as him being a protective father. If they knew she was mistreated, they would begin to doubt his monetary standing. It would seem he could only afford to spoil one daughter.

Leonor became less sheltered when he used physical violence as a means to reprimand her when he doubted her chastity. She became her own woman as she went to the Academy under the protection of Stephano. She began to have her own ideas and personality.

However, the sheltering continued into her adulthood once more.

Desmond was sheltering her from harm, which wasn’t a bad thing. He was also sheltering her from the criticism of him. Even before she knew who he was, he was set on her not having to hear what people said about him.

By surrounding her with people who understood him and trusted him, she would never have to hear bad things about him.

With the quality of life in Montclair remaining good despite having such a new duke in power, people started turning off their prejudiced lens of the world. They accepted his appearance and all he came with because he had proven himself more than enough.

Their reasons were shallow but he was still accepted.

To be in the capital where Leonor was no longer sheltered, she finally saw the sheltering. The world hadn’t changed towards her husband. Only Montclair had changed because of how the people benefited.

The happy bubble she had been placed in as her love for Desmond grew and evolved had burst and she remembered that the world was still out there.

While they were still in the shelter of their love without interruption, Leonor became decisive and decided to stop wasting time as she sat there and fell deep into thought. They had a busy few days ahead of them and she wanted to relax while they could.

"Yes, let’s bathe," was all she could respond with as she took Desmond’s hand and pulled him up from his seat.

As they passed the large door to their room, she locked it and they went to the bathroom where steam rose. Not only was the water hot but it would keep its temperature well. If they wanted to drain a bit of the water and retrieve more to stay warm, they were able to do that.

Leonor hoped that they could bring this invention to Montclair in her lifetime. It would make the lives of so many people more convenient. Even her maids would benefit from not having to haul in water each time she wanted a bath.

When the bathroom door was shut behind the pair, Leonor smiled up at Desmond and reached for the laces that held her chemise onto her body.

She felt a large hand stop hers.

"Please, let me," he said. "I feel like unwrapping a present."

She felt embarrassed but his lips descended on hers even before she could give a verbal agreement. At least if his mouth was occupied his gaze wouldn’t burn a hole into her.

His fingers, despite their size, were deft and she felt the material loosen around her body as they were locked in an impassioned kiss.

Because of the long sleeves of her chemise, it wouldn’t fall on the floor while she was occupied and Leonor had already begun to undo Desmond’s belt and pull at his pants.

The kiss only broke because Desmond had pulled his tunic over his head. In that short break, Leonor lowered her arms and let the white garment fall to the ground in a heap. It needed to be washed and she didn’t want to deal with it any longer.

Soon enough, bare chests pressed against each other as Leonor invaded Desmond’s space again and stood on her toes so she could meet his lips once more. He was getting his pants off and stumbled out of them, but he wrapped his arms around Leonor’s waist as he did so.

The kiss was broken yet again because of the stumble but Desmond took the opportunity to get them into the bathtub.

Once they were in the warm water, he settled into one side while Leonor found herself between his muscular legs with her back against his chest.

Rarely did she find herself small but when he was overwhelming her in such a way by first lifting her then surrounding her with him while they bathed, she felt tiny. At one point she vowed not to be a woman treated like a doll, but whenever Desmond did something for her she felt warmth in her heart.

To be someone who used to do everything for herself, it was hard to accept one’s care. However, realizing everything he did was what he wanted to do for her, she started accepting it more and more. No one ever spoiled her in her life and he took pleasure in being the first one.

Regardless of her hang-ups, his touch was comfortable. She let out a sigh as she cuddled up to him and felt his arms settle around her.

The duchess shut her eyes to take in the feeling for a moment. They could wash themselves in a little while but it was helping ease her tired body from traveling so quickly and such long stretches the past few days.

However, the longer they lay against each other, the more Desmond’s hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they gently explored her body underneath the water. A certain part of him pressed against her back as well.