My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 265: Gilded Down to Her Anxiety

Chapter 265: Gilded Down to Her Anxiety

A gilded life of fine dresses, jewels, a warm room, and soft rugs under Leonor’s feet as she wandered barefoot through the former Queen’s bedroom. Yet the highlight of her life was the love the duke gave her relentlessly each day.

She only thought of it as relentless because the beautiful dress being created for her the past few weeks was adjusted on the very day she was supposed to wear it because the marks on her breasts weren’t proper to present to the kingdom–especially if her father was to be there.

Leonor had been pacing around the chambers, unable to let go of her anxiety. From the meeting she was called into up until that moment, she didn’t know what it was like to be without anxiety. The only time she felt a semblance of freedom from her worries was when Desmond overwhelmed her with his body.

Her father had attended a meeting the day before and she entirely refused to even step foot in the main palace.

"Are you ready, your grace?" Beth said as she walked through the unlatched door of Queen’s quarters. "It’s about time we got you into your dress so you and his grace can go to the main palace and present yourselves to the guests. His Majesty has sworn to present you as key guests and allow you to sit higher than the average guest."

Leonor sighed. Beth had reminded her of that a few times, but it didn’t lessen her worries.

Presenting herself in front of others sounded like a nightmare, seeing her father sounded like hell, and pretending that impending war wasn’t on the horizon felt incredibly disingenuous. After the talks, she thought of how worn out Cian looked and how desperate the look in his eyes was.

She still didn’t know how she felt to have King Stephano parading him around like an esteemed guest rather than the fact that he was there because of circumstances as he tried to preserve what was left of his people. She wanted to get slightly closer and ask what Montclair could do for them but at a ball likely wouldn’t be the appropriate place to do that.

"I don’t know," Leonor admitted. "Regardless of how I’m feeling, do what you must."

Servants came in carrying a stand with the dress on it displayed on a headless wooden mannequin. They bowed to the duchess before making themselves scarce.

Desmond followed the dress in and stood back, wearing a forest green military suit that Leonor thought complimented him well. He was a beautiful man and his excited smile as she observed the gift he had given her was infectious.

Leonor wore a robe and underskirts over her chemise. She stepped forward tentatively and towards the dress.

Her eyes finally drifted down. She had been nervous because of the way Desmond was so excited to show it to her. The moment her eyes lay on the beautiful garment, they began to water uncontrollably.

All of her emotions came to a head at the sight of a pale green, off-the-shoulder ball gown with gold accents. It was made of silk and the edges were embroidered with gold thread, boasting tiny flowers in a sea of green grass that was the dress. The skirts were full and layered while the waist was minuscule and the seams down the front gave a somewhat corseted look that would certainly suit the duchess’ waist very well. There were layers of white ruffles along the bottom of the sleeves towards her forearms and along the neckline that fell off both of her shoulders as well.

The ruffles were what had to be added so that the love marks of her husband’s passionate treatment would be hidden at least a bit more. The seamstress, despite being one of the most famed in the capital and certainly having a long line of clients, laughed it off and added the ruffles with no other thoughts.

Rumors of the couple’s affection were widespread in Coeurvalle just as it was in Montclair.

Never before had Leonor considered herself to be sexy, but she thought the dress might get her close.

"What am I supposed to say?" Leonor uttered with her hands on her cheeks as she walked around the perimeter of the dress, sure not to step foot on the skirts. "I’ve never seen such a beautiful dress. I feel so incredibly burdened."

Beth walked forward to help Leonor out of her robe so that she could begin the process of getting the duchess into the dress.

However, Desmond approached the two women.

"Beth, may I help my wife into the dress?" he asked as if she could tell him no. "I will summon you to finish tying it. I’m sure I will get that part wrong, after all."

"Of course, your grace," she quickly responded. "Please, go right ahead."

Beth escaped the room, knowing if she lingered for any longer she may be forced to witness the affection firsthand. She loved that Leonor was loved so dearly but it made her feel tingly and embarrassed. Each time she saw the love marks decorating the duchess’ olive skin, she had to remind herself they were married and perfectly allowed to participate in such acts as that.

When the room was free, Desmond walked quickly to his wife and hugged her.

All day, he had to rush to and from the main palace for an audience with the King, Cian, and Quinn. Then he returned quickly to get himself ready for the ball and respond to Gideon’s letter.

It took hours out of a day he thought he would spend by his wife’s side. As always, it was more complicated than he wanted it.

"I missed you all day," he whispered.

"It’s only been a few hours," Leonor responded, though she had a wide smile and wrapped her arms around Desmond’s neck. "You look dashing. I feel extremely lucky."

She was the only one who thought that, but Desmond preferred it that way and he pulled away to kiss her hand.

"I will behave myself for now," he uttered after separating himself from her.

He knew he needed to relax. The stress was making him crave his wife. Considering she had readily given herself to him for the past couple of weeks, he was starting to get used to it and behave more like a beast than a man.

"Please," Leonor requested. "Beth spent so much time ensuring my hair was tamed and my face was flawless."

He nodded begrudgingly and stepped even further away.

Desmond had helped Leonor into dresses before and he hesitantly lifted it off of the mannequin, only realizing then just how heavy the material was.

"Won’t wearing this make you tired?" he asked her, genuinely concerned.

"The weight is offset a bit by the padded underskirts," she admitted. "This is a strange time to worry about it now considering I’ve worn other dresses around you equally as heavy."

"I’m unconsciously looking for excuses to get you out of it later on," Desmond admitted.

Leonor wanted to slap him but since he was helping her into her dress, she fought off the urge.

The large garment went over her head since she wouldn’t fit in the small waist otherwise. Her waist had already been tied and tightened and her breasts were inches higher than they normally were. The upper half of her was more than ready to fit in the garment but the billowing skirts of her bottom half were another story.

Preserving his wife’s hair and makeup wasn’t difficult as he pulled the garment over her. Its neckline was so wide and its shoulders so heavy and relaxed that nothing obstructed what had been set into place.

The skirts were settled first and she only pulled her arms into the sleeves after that. It would have to be tied later in the back by a maid but the small waist kept it on her body for the moment.

However, Desmond fussed with the neckline, pulling it higher and suddenly wishing the sleeves went over her shoulders. Even though she had promised to remain with him for the ball, he was already dreading the people who were allowed to lay their eyes on her. As long as that was all they were allowed to do...

Leonor broke him out of his thoughts as she gently removed his large hand from her dress and laced her finger with his.

His jealousy became more intense when he was stressed out. At times it scared her. She couldn’t offer her body at that moment to assuage his worries so she settled with lifting her skirts and standing on her toes to offer him a light kiss.

"The dress is so beautiful," Leonor said. "Thank you for going through all the trouble. I’m honored to wear it."

"My dear," he muttered close to her lips. "We’re not finished yet."

Not knowing what he could mean, she knit her eyebrows together in confusion.

Her husband stepped away and went to the front of the room where a table stood by the front door. On top of it was a small black box and he brought it to his wife.

"Open it," Desmond said.

She had expected one of the pieces he already bought for her to be polished and ready for her to wear. Yet when she opened the box, she was met with a necklace she had never seen before.

It was a floral filigree pattern that wrapped around the wearer’s neck. A large, teardrop emerald stone hung on the point of the necklace and would lay against her chest.

In the middle of the necklace were earrings of the same teardrop emerald stone, though slightly smaller.

Cautious of the priceless gems in her hands, she placed them back down on the table so she could throw her arms around Desmond and hug him as tightly as she could with all of the material between them.

"I’ll never forget being spoiled like this," she uttered. "Thank you, Desmond. You make each moment better than the last."