The preparations for the ball go on a bit too smoothly.

I thought it would at least be a challenge. However, with lady Lyana's help, I succeed in filling a list of things to do. Then, the rest is just assigning the tasks around and, earlier than thought, everything is done.

It's not ready yet, of course, but the most part of my job is done.

It hasn't been too easy, after all. There are so many choices to make. And also, I'm not sure Alexander will be satisfied with my sense of aesthetics. We have different tastes in colours, so there's a chance he won't like the flowers and curtains arranged for the event.

I've just sat on the couch in the bedroom, already wearing a nightgown and waiting for dinner.

Alexander arrives almost immediately, just when I start pondering whether to look for something to read.

I pour myself a glass of wine and wait for him to change.

«My Duchess hasn't eaten yet?» he inquires, seeing the clean plates on the table.

«I'm waiting for my husband,» I point out.

He pecks my forehead and brings the food on the lower table in front of the sofa.

«Awesome!» he exclaims while checking if he migrated everything closer to me. Then, he sits by my side and drags me on his lap.

«I can't fulfil any selfish desire, tonight,» I whisper. The bleeding started a few hours ago, and not yesterday as thought. Cramps have been troubling me for two whole days before the start of the period, and I still feel awful.

«I was going to reward my wife with a bath in the thermal pool, but it looks like you're not in the mood,» my Duke whispers.

«It's not the mood, the problem.»

«Isn't it early, though?» he asks, all of a sudden. «How much has passed from last time? Three weeks?»

«A bit more than that. However, I shall remind my Duke that many things happened in the meantime. My body is just reacting in its way.»

After George hit me, the bleeding stopped. That must be the reason it's even more painful than usual.

«Can I help you?» Alexander asks.

Unfortunately, he can't. I just have to bear with it for a few days. It will soon get better, it won't last forever. However, this makes me more sensitive to everything, including my Duke's warm and proper touch. He's not doing anything peculiar, yet I'm all tingling and itching to touch him.

When his hand lands on my stomach, I startle surprised. He presses lightly and starts rubbing with slow circular movements.

Relief takes the place of my initial surprise, and I soon sigh and lean my head on the Duke's shoulder.

«Better?» he asks, and I can just nod and hope he won't stop for a while. I didn't know that it would help me so much, though. It's really incredible, so much that I'd stay like this forever.

I'll try this again, next time the monthlies get so bad.

«Thank you,» I breathe, and my Duke just pecks my temple.

«This is what husbands are for,» he voices.

Just a second before losing my head to this relief, something clicks in my mind.

«How did you know this would help?» I inquire. Has he done this with other ladies? He indeed grew up surrounded by women, but this is a bit too much...

«It looked like the right thing to do,» he shrugs.

Oh, right. My Duke is extremely intuitive. I should stop assuming since my concerns always turn out simpler than thought.

My lips peck my Duke's cheek, and he smiles happily. Is some little attention really enough to make him this content?

Now that my belly doesn't hurt anymore, though, something strange is happening to me. My eyes are fixed on my husband, calmly staring at him. Yet, my mind continuously flies in directions a proper lady doesn't acknowledge.

I see his lips, and I'd bite them. His muscles under the clothes make me desire to caress his chest. Even his breath that tickles my hair is so inviting. I want to feel his hands all over me, not just on my tummy.

Too bad I'm not in the condition to comply with my own desires.

«I wanted to ask you something,» I whisper, more to change the topic than for any other purpose. Yet, it's a serious question. I should concentrate on that, instead of...

«What is it?»

«Can I write letters to my diplomatic contacts? I know people in many places, and that could be of help. Once we find out who is the culprit behind the chaos, we might need support from foreign countries.»

«Why are you asking me?» he inquires, surprised.

«This Duchess is asking permission.»

«You don't need permission, Thea. You're an adult, and currently the Lady of Kyre. Which means that you can write to whoever you want. You don't need to ask me everything, I'm not your guardian.»

«You don't have to talk like this,» I chuckle. «I do need permission from you, and I don't want to do anything behind your back.»

It would be too risky and unfruitful for me.

«All right, but I'm not your guardian. You're a free woman, Thea. You're not a prisoner. We already had this conversation, but it looks like you didn't understand.»

«There's no need to soothe me, Alexander. I've already accepted my fate, and I don't dislike it so much. I'm glad to be by your side, especially because you're keeping me alive and protected. There's no regret, and I don't care if you want something in return. In the end, I am your wife.»

«Thea,» he spits.

Then, he looks at me, pondering on how much temper to show. He seems angry, all of a sudden. However, we're past the phase where it would make tremble and cry in fear of his reaction. Even in his arms, so close to his temper, I'm not afraid.

«I love the way you're always careful not to scare me,» I whisper, caressing his face with my cool fingers.

Cooler than usual, now that I think about it.

His expression loosens up, and I blink, surprised.

«What else do you love about me?» he inquires, moving his focus on one word of the hundred pronounced from the start of the conversation. This man will drive me crazy.

What more, now I have to think about an answer to his difficult question.

«Your evil smile when you pretend not to have any ill intention,» I whisper. My face's temperature rises by a few degrees. The room isn't cold anymore, all of a sudden. No, now it started feeling very, very hot.

«I do not have any ill intention towards you!» he protests, and my fingers grip his shirt to prevent my hands to reach his face again.

«You don't have a single pure intention,» I point out. «However, I like that part of you as well.»

He looks satisfied with my answer, so I sigh inwardly.

He gave me permission to write letters to my old contacts. I can afford to lose some time on flattering my Duke.

«And you're always so gentle.» Well, except for when we're doing the things married couples are supposed to do. Then, gentle is not the right way to describe my Duke.

He is thoughtful, and he does make sure his wife feels good. However, he's not gentle at all.

Just thinking about it makes my temperature increase again.

I'll be burning like the fire in the chimney if our conversation continues like this. The worst part is that it's not my Duke's fault. It's all my doing: I'm the only culprit for my reaction.

Before saying something else that might get me to lose my mind even more than this, I just peck my Duke's lips and decide to stop talking for a while.

However, that short contact isn't enough to appease my urge to touch him.

Before I have time to retreat, Alexander surrounds my waist with his arms and kisses me in his usual, masterful way. I just let him do as any obedient wife would.

When his hand squeezes my breast from over the clothes, a complaining moan leaves my throat. However, I don't stop him from touching me.

My breasts are slightly bigger than usual, because of the hormones or something like that. They don't hurt, but it's a bit uncomfortable when my Duke touches them. Still, he's clearly enjoying the small difference in size, so I let him do. Will he be disappointed when my body returns to its normal state?

It's not that big of a difference, by the way.

My concerns abandon my brain when Alexander's lips land on my neck. His kisses are as burning as usual, but this time my panting is relentless and needy. I want him to continue, even to intensify his attentions. However, I can't bring myself to ask.

Also, I wouldn't be able to keep up with his expectations in this situation. I can't just initiate contact and then run away. It would be too cruel from my side.

«Don't be this pushy,» I whisper, but my tone somehow doesn't match my words.