Leonor and Desmond's responses happened simultaneously.
The duchess gasped and covered her mouth with her hands while Desmond uttered a "what the hell…" that surprised Leonor enough for her to glance at him despite her shock.
"What on Earth are you doing here, your majesty?" Leonor asked in disbelief.
She grabbed her skirts so they wouldn't be caught under her feet and walked forward urgently. When she was one step above him, she properly curtsied for him. Desmond quickly followed his wife down the stairs to the unruly monarch but gave a slight bow.
The duke was less than pleased with the king's response to his wife.
"Don't act as if we didn't trade letters for years on end, Leonor," he said, dropping all pretenses that he might use her title or act unfamiliar with her.
The last time they saw one another was when he showed her around Magia. Then he said he wouldn't see her again for a long time.
