Chapter 77: Her First Request

The day the duke and duchess returned from their week's worth of travel from Burien to Montclair was a breath of fresh air for Desmond. 

While he didn't remove his bandages right away, he could finally let down his guard at least somewhat. The staff of his estate were used to his appearance. Anyone who shrank away at the sight of him had been let go long before. 

If there was one place he wanted to be comfortable, it was his home. While he was mostly understanding, that was where he drew the line. 

Considering the pile of work that needed to be done at his desk, there were many letters to send out. Most people he had to communicate with were within his duchy so sending a messenger to deliver the letters was enough. However, there were a few that required a messenger hawk. 

By the time he sent off his third letter after his return, he expected nothing strange until he heard the frantic squawking of a hawk.