<h4>Chapter 96 - Raising Stakes (2)</h4>


    My eyes follow the Duke''s fingers as he unfastens one button at a time.


    I didn''t think he would concede so easy. Is he doing it so I can''t back downter when my turn to undresses?


    However, even though I''m not the one undressing, my cheeks are burning.


    Alexander is focused on his gestures with his head bowed, and his fingers are unbearably slow. And he''s just working on the waistcoat! Which state will this Duchess be in once he takes off his shirt?


    Oh, wait, wait... Don''t get distracted now. It''s not the right moment.


    When Alexander lifts his head and looks at me, I startle. My eyes flee to the side as if they''re doing something forbidden. He''s not making any seductive grimace, nor smiling cunningly. He just happened to move his eyes up and look at me. Yet, I''ve never felt this attracted to him.


    I get up from the sofa and walk to the table, trying to clear my thoughts. I pour myself a ss of wine and wonder whether to bring one to Alexander as well.


    In the end, it''s better not to. Even though seeing my Duke behave as he did at the wedding banquet is tempting, he''s just recovered from a cold. It''s my duty to take care that he doesn''t worsen because of this weird game.


    When I turn back to check at what point he''s now, a pair of gloves are on the table.


    This moron! He doesn''t use gloves inside, yet today he didn''t take them off when he walked in the room. He kept them on, on purpose, since he knew what we were going to do. He was nning it!


    His grin bes suddenly wily when he catches my nce to the gloves.


    He kicks off one of his boots and leans back on the sofa, ready for a second round.


    So, two gloves count like two. Good to know, since I''m wearing a pair of socks, full underwear and a chemise, for a total of seven pieces under the dress. The shawl is left lying on the armchair since the room is warm. I have to put it back without making the Duke notice.


    His clothes are unusuallyyered today. It''s as if he was getting ready topete with the god of cards and not someone that just learned.


    Alexander deals the cards once again, so I sit back with my ss of wine. I don''t even look at them until the first uncovered card is on the table.


    There''s no need to look at the cards unless Alexander raises the stakes. I lose one piece of clothing even if I retire, so it''s better not to know. There is no way for my husband to interpret from my face information that I don''t have.


    Even if he can read my mind, he can''t guess something I don''t know myself. Of course, only if he isn''t messing with the cards. Still, Alexander isn''t they kind of person that would cheat at a stupid game.


    As soon as he realises my strategy, he raises the stakes from one to three. Oh, my impatient Duke.


    He will soon learn how to read my reactions, so there''s no need to force me out in such a hurry.


    I ept without moving a finger.


    There''s no way this Duchess will do what he wants without a shadow of a fight. Up to four pieces of clothes is an eptable loss, right now. It''s a risk I can take.


    When five cards are disyed on the table, there is already a pair. Two fives.


    When Alexander raises the stake to five, an amused smirk crosses my face. He''s probably trying to bait me out. And, of course, my Duke has another five. If he had a betterbination, he would have raised the stakes to the sky.


    I look at my cards, and I see a five. Hmm, how probable can it be for us to have a five each?


    If I correctly understood the rules, a triple is a little less than a pokerbination but more than two pair. Then, Alexander must have thetter sequence. And even if it''s a triple, then my queen of hearts has reasonable chances to bring me a win.


    How lucky, by the way.


    Another runch to seven would make my Duke give up. I can either ept five or runch to six. It''s still not certain that my cards are better than his, however.


    ?All right,? I shrug. Then, I put the cards back on the table and wait.


    ?The round is over, my Duchess,? he whispers, excitement manifest in his voice. ?We can turn out cards...?


    I show him my hand, and he does the same.


    Indeed, he had a two pair of fives and kings. I would have risked my clothes as well, in his position.


    ?I like this game,? I mutter suddenly.


    It''s better than chess. It includes the element of fate, something that chess cannot. This really feels like fighting a war.


    And I am winning, which is another point in favour of the game.


    It''s hard to say if my Duke is doing it on purpose, but his pout when he sees my cards is sincere and adorable.


    While my Duke gets rid of his other boot and the socks, I expect him to take off the belt or some other essory. However, he removes his shirt so unexpectedly.


    I open my mouth in surprise. When I understand that my Duke is trying to distract me, I try to rpose my brain. However, my eyes can''t move from him, no matter how hard I want to look away.


    I sip the wine and pretend to be totally unconcerned. My eyes calmly examine the cards while waiting for my Duke''s move.


    ?Two!? he exims.


    Giving up and taking off one of my garters seems the most reasonable choice.


    The next hand is the same.


    When it happens for the third time, and I''m forced to remove a sock, it hits my mind that my Duke is too distracting like this.


    ?You''ve just recovered from a cold, it''s better if you don''t stay like this for too long,? I murmur and wrap Alexander in a nket.


    ?Are you sure you want to give me this advantage?? he asks with a smirk.


    I bow down and peck his forehead.


    ?Only because you were ill for the whole night,? I point out.


    He won''t hear any admission that his chest is distracting and that his abs are so alluring that I almost started drooling. I''d rather repeat the story about his health until madness.


    After sitting back, focus returns on the game.


    I look at my cards and tilt my head in consideration. Both my cards have high values. If I manage to make abination, it will bring me many points. It all depends on the cards on the table, but small risks exist to be taken.


    However, there aren''t many essories left on me: one sock and a belt, other than the shawl. Hence, I''m not that willing to raise stakes. I''ll wait for Alexander to do it like he did in every single game till now.


    When he murmurs: ?two,? I just nod. His face is a bit dark, so he doesn''t seem too happy about his cards.


    When the third card is uncovered on the table, his eyes shine.


    There is a pair on the table.


    A couple of twos.


    The third card, however, is a king.


    Does my Duke have another two pair? A two and a king?


    Two cards need to be revealed, so the results can change. Especially if one of them is ten. In that case, the two pair in my hand would bring me higher points.


    ?Four!? my Duke exims, trying to sound gloomy. What more, it was my turn to dere the stakes.


    ?Five,? I correct him.


    He realises he''s been a bit hurried, but he nods in agreement.


    ?Five is fine as well,? he affirms.


    After thest two cards are disclosed, I sigh relieved. One of them is indeed a ten.


    ?What about seven?? my Duke asks.


    ?Fine.?


    Just like that, I show him mybinations: a pair of kings and one of tens. He must have kings and twos.


    ?Wonderful,? my Duke exims. He shows me his cards, and all my world crashes.


    He doesn''t have just a two pair. He has a full: two kings and three twos. He won. And I''m not sure what is better to take off, right now.


    I reach the other sock and make it slip down, followed by the shawl and belt.


    After thorough consideration, the decision turns towards the outeryers of my dress. I also ept to stay in chemise.


    Luckily, this way, the bandage around my breasts used instead of a corset is reachable without the need to stay naked. I take off the rest of my underwear as well.


    ?Is my Duchess cold, right now?? Alexander inquires. ?This nket isfortable and warm if that''s the case...?


    ?It''s fine,? I sigh. The room is warm enough. And also, this game won''tst for much longer.


    The next time I lose, I''ll be left with nothing.