Page 29 of To Ensnare a Duke

AUGUSTA

My heart pounds so hard behind my breastbone, I fear he must hear it. Sweat gathers at the nape of my neck as I continue to shuffle the cards, contemplating my options. While here, he cannot do anything.

To expose me would lead to my ruin and thus the ruination of my brother. He wouldn’t do that to a friend. Besides, the longer I hold out, the harder I might feel his fierce touch against my skin.

“I. Am. Waiting,” he growls, the sound dancing over my skin and trailing down below.

“I understand your predicament, good sir,” I rasp out in my false manly voice. “But I have no other option but to stay and try my luck. Here, I am nigh untouchable. You could, perhaps, throw something else into the pot to sweeten the deal?”

His jaw jumps as his teeth grind together. Perhaps I’m pushing him too far? But then, really, what recourse do I have?

“Allow me to enlighten you, minx. You are already to be tawsed without the aid of my hand first. Continue in this fashion and I will make it oh so much worse.”

I bite down on my lower lip, unsure of what to do next. The pain from the tawse was extreme. In truth, it was his hand that tempered the sting, morphing it into bliss.

“You surely cannot attempt to do so in my house again. At this hour, we will gather all manner of undue attention.”

“I never said I was going to deliver my punishment at your house. You are indeed correct in your thinking. Now will you cease this stalling? I’m half a mind to toss you over my shoulder and pretend you’re far too deep in your cups to stand on your own.”

Again, I hesitate, this back and forth causing the most delicious churning in my stomach. “Surely your servants will talk.”

“I’m not taking you to my house either,” he grinds out, anger blazing in the depths of his eyes.

His words pique my curiosity, propelling me to end this tête-à-tête. “Fascinating proposition, good sir, but shall we make a wager before we away?”

With a heavy sigh, he pinches the bridge of his nose. “You try my patience in the very worst way. What wager do you think to entice me with?”

“One draw each. High card. If I win, you will most certainly use your hand and make every strike feel amazing.”

One arch of his dark brown brow is all I get in response. After a moment, he leans forward, his eyes glinting. “I will take your wager. If I win, however, you will receive no gentle touch of my hand before the act, and I will add to the punishment in a way of my choosing. Are we of an accord?”

I stare at the Duke, my hands turning clammy as I contemplate his rebuttal. Unfortunately, there’s nothing left to do but to call his bluff. Again, I shuffle the cards and lay them in between us.

“Oh no, my devious minx. I do not trust you not to have some trick up your sleeve.” From his coat pocket, he produces his own deck of cards.

Heat fans my face at his veiled accusation. “You dare accuse me of cheating? I’ve had others thrown out of here for less.”

His mouth drops open as the cards plop onto the table. “Just how long have you frequented here, moonlighting as someone you’re not?”

Blast. If only I kept my mouth shut. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of an answer.

“Don’t bother trying to think of a lie, minx. Your words already betrayed you. Let’s see to our wager then leave this place. If honor is as important as you claim, then I have your word you will leave with nary a fuss.”

Sullen, I sit back in the chair, furious at myself for being caught. “Nary a fuss.”

“Good. At least in that, we have an agreement. To meet you in good faith, I will spread my cards for you to see that I, too, do not game the deck.”

As I go to grab my own deck to slide my precious cards into the safety of my jacket, he places his hand on mine and swipes them out from under me with the other. “You have no further need of these. I will keep them safe for now.”

Tears prick my eyes as I jolt up, prepared to snatch them back. “They were my Father’s.”

“Sit, before you call any more attention our way. I’m merely holding onto them for the moment. No harm will come to them. As a gentleman, I give you my word.”

“I don’t trust it,” I hiss.

Hurt and anger swirl inside me until I’m nearly blinded by emotion. How dare he handle something so precious to me?

“You will simply have to. I have never lied to you before, and I don’t plan on starting now.”