章 69: Hidden in the Garden

The food in the Montclair Estate was always delicious. All Desmond asked for when hiring a new chef was a specialist in the ways of traditional Montclarian food. He wanted to expand his horizons. He hadn't experimented much with food since he was a child. Stew was a staple at the orphanage. 

For once, the duke pushed around his lunch as he waited to see the outcome of Gideon giving Leonor tea in the garden. She could very well refuse but he hoped that she wouldn't. She would be closer than she was while looking out the window and he wanted to see if she was happy. 

He was tempted to give in and move on to other pressing work, but he saw the inner door at the hard of the u-shaped estate open and Leonor followed Gideon out to the pergola that stood a short distance down the brick pathway. 

His appetite suddenly returned as he watched her get settled in.