«Your grace!» I start, more surprised by his move than bothered. «I told you that I'm indisposed. It means that we can't...»

«I know, I know,» he whispers, emulating my low, conspiratorial tone. «I'm not trying to do anything!»

I blink surprised.

«I just wanted to warm my Duchess up,» he continues as if he's talking of the weather. «You seem to be freezing.»

«And how do you think to warm me?»

He grins cunningly and caresses my cheek tenderly. Then, he moves his hand to the back of my head and prevents me from turning away. He presses his lips on mines, waiting for my reaction.

«I really can't, right now,» I remind him.

«I know,» he sighs and bites my lower lip until I concede and let him kiss me.

I surround his neck with my arms and close my eyes. We kiss for a time that's hard to define until the Duke splits from me.

«It's cold, go to bed,» he whispers to my ear.

I tilt my head to the side instinctively, and he pecks my skin lightly.

«All right,» I accept. But first, there is something I have to do.

I move the Duke's shirt to the side and bite his shoulder as hard as I can.

He winces, surprised, and complains about the pain.

«What have I done, now?» he asks, rubbing the place where my teeth's shape has become visible. With some luck, that sign will stay there for the whole week.

«Nothing,» I utter. «I just wanted to do that.»

«Is that so?» he inquires with a suspicious look. «I didn't think that my Duchess was so wild.»

My face turns hot in a split second, but I pretend to be cool about everything. I won't ever confess that I bit the Duke so that all those other women can know that he's not exclusive to them.

«I don't have any mistress,» he explains.

I blink, surprised anew. Did the Duke just read my mind?

Wait... I have to test this theory. If he was a mind reader, so much would make sense! Mhm... But what can I think about? Something unrelated...

It's so damn hard.

I look around in search of inspiration, and my eyes stop on the fire. Yesterday, I burnt that paper. The Duke can't know it, since no one saw me doing it. Also, it wasn't an important document, so there's no reason for anyone to notice its absence.

«There's no need to make such an expression, I can't read your mind,» the Duke continues.

I turn to him, and then I get up.

What does he need to read my mind? Touch, eye-contact, or is it enough to be in the same room?

«I really can't,» he repeats. «But you're easy to predict, Theodora. You made such a funny grimace while talking about Bertha and lady Elisabeth. You also asked Pericle. It was rather obvious.»

I lift my head, remembering Pericle's words. Indeed, all he said was to avoid inviting lady Elisabeth. It was natural since my husband and that girl were supposed to marry.

But then, lady Elisabeth showed up on her own. Was it something that Pericle couldn't predict? Really?

And most importantly, how much did the Duke participate in the events?

«You did it on purpose!» I realise. «You wanted me to know that you had other women!»

«No,» he denies, shaking his head. «I wanted you to think that. But I really am loyal to my Duchess. There isn't any other woman in my heart.»

«And in your bed?»

«Since I am the one coming to you, my bed is actually empty. There is no woman in it. At all times.»

«You don't need a bed to have an illegal relationship,» I notice.

«Duchess, are you suggesting something? Where do you want to...»

«Don't turn my words around!» I stop him before he can torture me any more. I don't want to think about it, right now. I'm trying to figure out how much he plays around.

«There isn't anyone,» he repeats, and he sounds sincere.

«You don't have to defend yourself,» I whisper, walking to the bed and lying down on my side. «It's normal that you look for some company since I reject you.»

«I hoped you would react differently, Theodora.»

«I'd like to!» I confess, desperate. «But I'll have to wait for another week.»

«You can come to my room, then,» he proposes and starts to turn off the lights. «That way, you can check whether I'm alone, and you can also remind me not to fool around.»

«That would be too forward,» I point out.

«I'd like that so much,» he utters.

He lies down next to me and pecks my cheek before blowing out the only candle that is lighting the room.

«Weren't you feeling cold?» he utters, seeing that I don't move a muscle.

After a thorough consideration of three whole seconds, I roll to him and cuddle by his side. His warmth is too inviting to keep freezing at the side of the bed.

«If I come to you in a few days, then you won't look for other women, right?» I inquire.

«I won't look for other women even if you don't.»

«Why?»

«Because I'm married to you,» he whispers while passing his arm under my head. He pecks my forehead and leans his head down so close that his breath tickles my skin.

«Is that enough of a reason, here in the Empire?»

«It should be. However, I won't oppose you if you invited another lady into our bed. It would be an interesting experience.»

I grab his clothes instinctively, at the same time threatened and offended by his proposition.

«I won't ever do that!» I reveal.

His silent chuckle reminds me that the Duke likes joking. A bit too much for my taste.

«So, I don't need to worry, right?» I continue, still uncertain. «You won't throw me away when you get bored with me, will you?»

«I won't get bored with you.»

«How can you be so sure?»

«I'll prove to you that I was telling the truth. I will report to you my every movement. Would that hearten my Duchess?»

«It sounds like a violation of your privacy,» I note. «Are you really all right with that?»

«I will cope with it.»

«I don't want to control you,» I confess. «I'd like to be able to simply trust you.»

«With time, you'll eventually start to know me better. You'll realise that I have the best intentions of making our marriage work.»