Chapter 177: Safer With Him

Desmond's words made Leonor wake up in a flash and she turned her head towards him with a smile.

She wondered what he had been thinking about to make him say such a thing.

"My dear?" she asked. "Shall I call you 'my love' from now on?" 

The duchess sat up and allowed her hair to settle before she brushed it away from her face. She touched her cheek and wondered if there were marks from how hard she had been sleeping. She felt like a baby being rocked to sleep in a cradle. 

"I wouldn't be opposed," Desmond admitted. 

He reached towards his wife's face and tucked away a strand of her hair she missed when pushing it from her face. He paid attention enough to know how she liked her appearance to be. 

"Do I look the same as before?" she asked. "I didn't think I would fall asleep so hard."

"You hardly slept a wink last night," Desmond reminded her. 

She gave a guilty grimace.