“Yes, and not necessarily for the better.” Was she serious? She seemed to know a lot about him. Surprising for an innocent, but still … inappropriate. This young woman had absolutely no idea what she was asking for.
She leveled her dark gaze on him and Owen found it a bit off-putting. She certainly had an intriguing way about her. It was as if she already had everything planned weeks, if not years, in advance. She was like a general executing a strategy. For Owen, who usually didn’t have the evening planned, let alone the next morning, she was compelling indeed.
“I disagree,” she stated frankly. More frank than he’d ever known an innocent to be, that was certain. “At present, I’m a no one. A wallflower. No gentleman looks twice at me. If you were to show me a bit of interest, I’ve no doubt my stock in the marriage mart would increase tenfold.”
He regarded her down the length of his nose. Well, well, well. What did he have here? An innocent with a spine of steel? How very interesting. And the girl did have a point. For all that he was considered fast, he was also extremely eligible … and popular. And he never paid attention to innocents. Any interest shown in Lady Alexandra would be sure to increase her cachet. No doubt the entire ballroom was already abuzz about the time they’d spent walking together earlier. He couldn’t argue with her, really, and he had to admire not only her forethought but also her tenacity. Why, most silly young things would have run off by now. Where was the nervousness she’d shown when they were walking earlier? It seemed to have entirely disappeared. He liked her all the better for it.
But how serious was she? Could the girl be dissuaded? Was this nothing more than a burst of false bravado on her part? He had to find out. He brushed at his sleeve. “What if I told you I’m not in the business of dancing with innocents?”
“You didn’t seem to mind my company earlier,” she pointed out, crossing her arms over her distracting bosom.
Well done, Lady Alexandra. “That was different. I was trying to—” He stopped himself, chagrined. There was no gentlemanly way to say it.
“Court my sister, who you thought was me?” Lady Alexandra finished prettily, batting her dark, silky eyelashes at him.
He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. By God, the girl was not only intelligent, but bold besides. He couldn’t help but like that about her, too. He’d always preferred honesty and forthrightness himself.
“Yes,” he replied, marveling over the most frank conversation he’d had at a social event in some time. “So you see, as I said, I’m not in the business of dancing with innocents.”
Lady Alexandra shrugged and tapped her fingertips along the sides of her crossed arms. “I’m not in the business of taming rogues. I suppose we’ll both have to try something new.”
Owen had to struggle to keep his jaw from dropping. Taming rogues? The girl was bold, indeed. He’d never had someone call him a rogue. Not to his face, at least. But she had to be reasoned with. She didn’t fully comprehend what she was proposing. He inclined his head toward her. “If I do what you’re asking, there will be gossip.”
Another slight shrug from her. “From what I hear of your reputation, you’ve never let gossip stop you before.”
He couldn’t help his bark of laughter. In addition to being bold, she was entertaining. “My reputation precedes me even with someone so young?”
“Yes, and I’m not that young. I’m nearly nineteen.”
Oh, God. She was young. And completely out of her depth.
“How do you think your sister will like it if she sees me with you again?” he asked. There. She had to see the logic in that.
“Don’t worry. I’ll manage Lavinia.”
“You will, will you?” He eyed her up and down. She was a determined little baggage.
“Yes. I’ll tell her that all you talked about the entire time you were with me was her.”
Owen frowned. “That will work?”
“Of course. Lavinia already thinks everyone would rather be talking about her than anyone else.”
Owen rubbed his temple, where a headache was beginning to form. “She sounds delightful.”
Lady Alexandra sighed. “She really can’t help it, you know? Mother and Father have treated her like a royal princess for most of her life.”
“And how did they treat you?” He tried to read the emotions that played across her expressive face.
Lady Alexandra glanced away. She shook her head. “Will you accept my proposal or not?”
Owen made a mental note to explore that topic with her again sometime. “If I did accept your proposal, how do you suggest we manage it?”