My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 62: Getting Used to Each Other

Chapter 62: Getting Used to Each Other

Leonor stood in the center of the room with her hands on the laces of her dress that would loosen it and allow her to get out of it.

Unlike usual, she was wearing more structured dresses. Her waist was accentuated under tight layers and her bust was squeezed unnaturally. She had been given dresses and undergarments that supported this figure because the count was set on giving the duke a wife who was fashionable and proper rather than a wild mage who would certainly disappoint him.

With a silent sigh, she gained the courage to remove her clothing and then undergarments and allow it all to fall onto the floor in a pile of light green and cream fabric.

However, she didn’t stay standing there in the nude for long. It was the first time she had been completely naked in the same room as a man. If he decided then to come unglued, she wouldn’t have much of a choice to give in to whatever he wanted.

Leonor lowered herself into the basin of water. She found it to be almost too hot but she wasn’t going to complain to the man who fetched her a bath in the first place.

First, she undid the braid her hair was tied in so that it wouldn’t get knotted when she washed her hair. Then she dumped water over her head, soaking herself from head to toe thoroughly so it would be easier to lather soap and wash herself.

There were tiny flower petals in the bar of soap given to her and she was subjected to an overwhelming floral scent. It seemed to be the preference for noble ladies to smell like flowers. She would have to get used to it considering the soap she used normally was far more mild.

When her hair was scrubbed thoroughly, Leonor reached for the pitcher that had been placed on the table and she slowly dumped it over her head until there weren’t any signs of soap left over.

Finally, she wanted to simply sit there for a while and relax her body that had been subjected to a structured corset undergarment for days in a row while they traveled. It felt so freeing not to have something pressed against her body at all times.

Since the sounds of her washing herself had ceased, Leonor thought it was a good time to apologize to the duke. She decided it might be easier to speak to him if she couldn’t see his imposing figure.

"Your grace," Leonor called out quietly.

Considering he was less than ten feet away from Leonor, the Duke heard every movement as she bathed herself. From her clothing falling to the floor to water splashing each time she lifted an arm or leg out of the water to scrub. He heard her dump water over her head and lean into the side of the basin as she sat.

He wished he had permission to remove the partition and witness Leonor in such a vulnerable state.

However, the conversation from before was burning his thoughts. He no longer knew her in such a way.

"Yes?" he asked, trying to be as gentle with his rough voice as he could be.

"I wanted to apologize for how I behaved earlier," she said. "You were only trying to help me." She closed her eyes and looked down as she tried to come up with the right words. "Lilacs meant a lot to my mother until the day she died. Now they mean a lot to me."

Desmond knew she was walking around the truth but he could live with it. It was for someone he once was. She had no ill will except to protect herself and protect Valerio.

"You don’t need to apologize," he said, just above a whisper. "As you said on the day we married, we’re getting used to one another."

Leonor had to focus on hearing each word.

"Yes," the duchess said. "I will continue to try my best."

Feeling more settled, Leonor stood from her bath and dumped the rest of the clean water over her nude body so she could wash away any sign of soap on her skin. There was a towel placed on the floor that she could step onto and another she would use to dry herself. Her long black hair took the longest to dry off. Even when the two towels she was given were completely soaked, her hair remained damp.

When she was finally able to get dressed, she stared at the pile of structured clothing and frowned.

Even though she hadn’t eaten dinner, she had no desire to get back into clothing. She walked towards a trunk that carried a few of her items and she opted for a pale blue nightgown. When it was over her body, she saw that it was another new one that gathered under her bust and was silky enough to leave little to the imagination. She opted to grab a robe as well.

"I’m dressed now," she said. "Thank you for giving me privacy."

Leonor tied the robe at her waist and sat down on her bed.

The duke came out of hiding and he gave her clothing a once over.

"Will you not be going to the dining hall for dinner?" he asked.

"I’m feeling tired," Leonor admitted.

The Duke glanced from her to the bath, to the door. He started walking forward, almost forgetting to tell Leonor what he was doing so she would stay put.

"I will have them clean up the bath," he said.

Except, rather than calling for someone at the door like last time, he walked into the hallway and disappeared.

Moments later, the same workers came into the room to clean up the bath and she held her robe tightly over her body. She anxiously looked towards the door, hoping the duke would return quickly.

Even though she was still frightened of him, she was more terrified of strangers.

The first rule of her mana was to not abuse it but the urge to pull out a shield every time a stranger was near her was higher and higher the further she got from Burien. While she was normally welcome to change, it was hard to get used to with no one familiar by her side.

Once the workers had left, Leonor finally felt she could be vulnerable and lay in her bed.

It was so nice to be on a soft mattress rather than the rigid cushioned carriage seat. Regardless, she would never complain outwardly because she was given the nicest place to stay compared to all the soldiers and duke who slept outside even if it rained.

Before Leonor could even think of falling asleep, Desmond came back into the room with a plate of food and a basket of bread. He placed the items on the table.

"You ought to eat something," he said gruffly. "Keep up your energy while traveling."

Again, his awkward care was presented to her. She had no choice but to sit up and offer him a shy smile.