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“And for mine,” the marquess muttered under his breath. Marco gave his cousin an indulgent smile and then returned his attention to Alice.
“Would you honor me with this dance, Miss Fitzroy?” Marco asked, offering his hand. Alice felt her stomach drop in disappointment. It seemed he was no different from the other gentleman in the ballroom.
“Now, why would I want to do such a thing?” Alice snapped impatiently, her flowering goodwill disappearing.
“Alice, please, That is hardly ladylike,” her mother moaned quietly. She saw the marquess stifling a laugh beside his cousin, and Alice decided to brazen it out. After all, if Mr. Alegria had not taken her measure already, he soon would.
“I do not see why I should be concerned with that,” Alice said tartly. “As long as the gentlemen of thetoncontinue to think of me as a walking dowry, I do not see why I should not act as I please.”
“Alice, please, you are offending our host,” her mother said, but Alice noticed that Mr. Alegria did not seem put off. If anything, his eyes were sparkling with interest. The marquess appeared to be stifling a guffaw.
“Oh, Giovanni is far from offended, Your Grace,” Marco said, clapping his cousin on the shoulder. “He may have a title now, but he was not raised with one and as such can laugh at the ton's foibles as easily as he blends in with them.”
“Is that so?” Alice smiled at the marquess, who shrugged slightly and gave her an encouraging smile. Alice wondered if she might find kindred spirits within the Marchioness and Marquess of Bath’s social circle. She looked at the marquess’ cousin with raised eyebrows. “And what of you, Mr. Alegria?”
“Well, we find ourselves in similar circumstances, Miss Fitzroy,” he said with a bow at Alice. His lips were quirked up in a subtle grin. “If thetonbelieves you are no lady, you can be assured they do not think I am a proper gentleman. I am a mere businessman and am not easily offended either.”
She stared at him, her perception of him shifting once again. He had managed to confound her in a short space of time. She could feel a tentative hope blooming in her chest. It was possible that this man was unlike the other gentleman she had encountered. She supposed there would be no harm in accepting his invitation to dance.
“Is that the case?” Alice smiled at him tightly and took his proffered hand. “I suppose we shall see.”
As they took the floor, Alice ignored the customary stares and focused on the dance's intricate steps. She found it surprisingly difficult. Up close, she could tell that Mr. Alegria had a very pleasing scent; he smelled like pipe smoke and lemons. His grip was firm, and his steps confident. And unlike some other gentleman she had been forced to dance with, he did not grab her like she was still a helpless servant girl they felt they could take advantage of without consequence. He kept a respectful distance and did not crowd her.
“You dance very well for someone who claims they are not a lady, Miss Fitzroy,” Marco said politely.
“As do you, for a businessman. Unless your business is dancing, that is,” Alice retorted and noticed his bright smile. It seemed there was nothing she could say that would disconcert him.
“Alas, no. I deal in cotton.”
“Of course. And I presume you require a significant influx of cash to keep your business running?” Alice raised her eyebrows. He wouldn’t be the first gentleman to try to woo her to marriage via business prospects. “Perhaps the kind that my substantial dowry would provide?”
“Goodness, have you received many such marriage offers, Miss Fitzroy?” Marco jested, and Alice’s heart warmed at his lightheartedness.
“If they can be called such,” Alice sniffed. “I prefer to think of them as business propositions.”
“May I inquire in what you have been asked to invest?”
“To be honest, most of the gentleman simply required an investment in their lavish and dissipated lifestyles. They only wanted the continuation of their comfort. It has all been rather dull and predictable, not to mention uninspired," Alice sighed.
“Indeed,” he said. Alice enjoyed how he returned her comments rather than being insulted by her ready wit. “I must say that if I were to present a proposal, it would certainly be more inspired."
“Do you suppose so?” Alice asked. She raised her eyebrows as they joined hands and moved in a slow circle, ignoring the other dancers around them as they bantered. “You must think me very easily impressed.”
“I would never presume that, but I have confidence in my abilities and business.”
“I am prepared to be dazzled, Mr. Alegria. Pray, tell me why I should invest my dowry in cotton, of all things,” Alice said. A feeling of excitement rose up in her as she anticipated his response. Mr. Alegria turned out to be more than just agreeable company. He was becoming a welcome distraction.
“There is already a flaw in your assumptions, Miss Fitzroy," he told her, sparking her interest even further. "With so many other 'business' proposals at hand, I would not ask for an investment in cotton. I would ask that you invest in people."
“In people?” Alice stared. She was suddenly dismayed to have misread this man so completely. If he thought it appropriate to talk to a lady who spent most of her life as a servant about his interests in slavery, he was not the man she had thought he might be. “You have severely misjudged me, sir, if you think I would be amenable to the notion of trading in human lives."
“You misunderstand me,” he said gently, and Alice felt a flush of relief that upset her. She would not let him off so easily.
“Or mayhap your presentation skills are sorely lacking,” she snapped.
“Perhaps!” He laughed. “Would you permit me to rephrase?”
“I shall, but I have to say, your proposal has not yet surpassed the others. Why the gentleman who spoke endlessly of horses and how he longed to take me to the races was more compelling,” Alice muttered.
