My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 70: Distracted

Chapter 70: Distracted

Even at dinner, Leonor didn’t see Desmond.

For days after that, she didn’t see him then either.

Eve had come and gone with nothing to report. The familiar spying on the duke’s property hid itself well and she had to return before she disappeared and lost the memory.

That was the most excitement Leonor was subjected to for many days. She wanted to tell the duke what she suspected, but there was never the opportunity. It didn’t seem pressing considering the familiar was outdoors and not in one of the more secure places of the estate.

The lady’s time there started to blend.

She felt lucky that she didn’t do anything she didn’t want to. However, she didn’t do anything she wanted to do either. One could have only so much fun reading books and walking around flat grounds and clear hallways wasn’t particularly challenging mentally or emotionally.

She couldn’t talk to the maids because they put on a facade with her there. As much as Gideon could offer her conversation, it was only for a little while.

It was becoming a ritual to have tea outdoors a few times a week. Gideon would offer it to her and she would always accept. She was insistent on breaking up her routine even though having relaxing tea outside was a routine in itself.

After a week of being there, Leonor didn’t fully understand why she cared whether or not the duke came to see her. It wasn’t as if she held affection for him.

However, it was illogical that he would go through the trouble of bringing her there when all he would do was put her up in a room and leave her alone the rest of the time. It made her realize it was truly for appearance. He had no intention of forming a bond with the woman he brought there. She was as good as furniture he had placed in his manor to gather dust if the maids didn’t take care of it for him.

She felt she was worth more than that. He had made it so she couldn’t inherit her father’s county.

Each time Leonor had tea out in the garden, Gideon would come outside at least once to check on her and bring a snack depending on the time of day. It was the most Leonor had ever eaten in her life.

That day, something clicked inside of Leonor and she couldn’t resist her curiosity any longer.

When Gideon came outside to ensure she didn’t require anything further, Leonor cornered him by saying "I have a question".

Gideon enjoyed talking to the new duchess, but he also felt a degree of walking on eggshells around her considering he couldn’t reveal all the secrets he held for his master.

"Of course, your grace," he responded in his usual even tone.

"Why do I never see the duke?" she asked.

"Ah... that," he responded as if it was something he had contemplated before. "His grace has been very busy since returning from Burien."

"And he doesn’t take breaks or leave his study for meals?" Leonor pressed on.

Gideon swallowed as if he were a dog caught eating something it shouldn’t have. He was trying to be loyal to his two masters but found himself protecting one over the other.

"It would seem that way, your grace," he responded. "The amount of work he’s been tasked with while trying to learn the ropes of Montclair is immeasurable."

Leonor wasn’t satisfied with the answer but she decided not to punish Gideon.

"I understand," she responded. "I suppose it’s time for me to return inside. I’m feeling a bit tired."

As usual, Leonor didn’t leave her room until dinner, finding it better to remain inside and read so she wouldn’t seem aimless to the staff who occupied the estate. The maids used to ask if she wanted to get changed for dinner but, considering the duke was never there, she always opted to wear the same dress all day until she got back into a nightgown and tucked herself into her overly large bed for one person.

Once she made her way to the heart of the estate and went to the dining hall that looked particularly empty that evening, she didn’t eat as much as she normally did and pushed around her food for a while.

Leonor had been tossing around an idea since Gideon told her the duke didn’t take breaks and ate every meal in his study. She couldn’t help wondering if it was always that way or if it was just because she was there.

She was becoming more determined to get to the bottom of it. She didn’t want to return to her father, but she also didn’t want to make the duke uncomfortable. It occurred to her that he could have been equally forced into marriage as she was.

"Was the food not to your liking, your grace?" one of the maids asked her.

"I think I ate snacks in the garden a little bit too late," Leonor admitted. "The food was perfect as usual."

However, her reasoning for not eating was because of thoughts that ate at her. She was about to do something courageous. It had been a while since her heart raced because of a decision she made.

When Leonor was sure there wasn’t someone watching her closely, she took a left out of the dining hall and not a right to her wing of the estate.

She knew exactly where the duke’s study was and even where his room was because they had been shown to her from the outside.

Knowing she would lose her courage if she didn’t keep going, Leonor had to press on and walk quickly down the halls, hoping she caught no one’s eye before she got to her destination.

The duchess found herself at a tall wooden door with the image of a dragon carved into the wood.

She paused as she tried to calm her breathing so it wouldn’t seem like she rushed there.

After a moment, she raised her fist and knocked on the door sharply three times, not knowing what she could expect.

The rough voice of the duke was heard a pause later.

"Come in," he said.