Chapter 10 #2
“You are too kind and a little absurd,” Alice said tartly. “I think they are more interested in why the scandalous daughter of a Duke is attending the opera with Mr. Alegria.”
“Perhaps, I am far from the lordly suitor they might expect for the daughter of the Duke of Fitzroy,” Marco said with a laugh. It made her feel a little less tense.
“They are most likely more surprised that I agreed to accompany anyone at all. It is the first time I have done so, after all. I have no doubt this sighting will feed the scandal sheets all week,” Alice said drily.
“Well, they might have something else to print soon,” Marco said, relaxing back in his chair. “That is if you have had enough time to consider my proposal.”
Just his words were enough to send a shiver down her spine.
“And if you have done the same,” Alice said. After all, she may feel ready to accept Marco’s proposal, but there was no guarantee that he had not reconsidered things in the days since they last met. Perhaps he no longer wanted her after hearing her stipulation.
“I spent a great deal of time pondering it, and I have not changed my position,” Marco said, giving her a soft smile. “Do you have an answer for me?”
He moved forward to grasp her hand, resting their joined hands on her knee, out of sight of the rest of the attendees.
Alice knew their hands could not realistically be observed.
However, she still had to stifle a gasp and surreptitiously glanced over the edge of the box to be sure.
His touch felt all the more illicit because they were in public.
The possibility of being discovered, however remote, excited.
The gas lights began to be dimmed, and a hush came over the theater.
Alice felt an expectant swell of anticipation as she awaited the beginning of the performance.
However, it wasn't only the opera that sent chills through her.
It was also how Marco's fingertips moved in gentle circles over the back of her hand.
“If I do have an answer, I shall keep it to myself until the end of the performance,” Alice whispered. “I wouldn't want anything to take away from your enjoyment.”
“Very well,” Marco said quietly, and she saw a wicked look in his eyes that only filled her with more excitement. “Although you should know, there is very little that could take away my enjoyment of being in your company.”
“Look at them all staring,” Alice whispered.
Marco looked down and saw that she was right.
People’s eyes and opera glasses were twisting towards their box as the orchestra struck up their music.
“I imagine not even the Prince Regent could take their eyes away from the spectacle they hope we will make.”
“You must tire of being on constant display,” Marco whispered back. “Especially after spending most of your life nearly invisible.”
Alice turned her palm upwards under his touch, and he traced delicate patterns upon it.
No one would know from looking at her face what was going on.
Marco had a sudden urge to disturb the immutable facade that she maintained.
There wasn't much he wouldn't give to see her stretched out in bliss or, better yet, writhing with pleasure.
Just the thought of the sounds of ecstasy he could wring from her caused his body to tighten.
“You characterize it perfectly. The life of a servant has its drawbacks, of course. They have limited freedom and little money. But there are some benefits. No one watches a servant, cares who they love or marry, or notes every little detail about them.”
“What details?” Marco whispered. He moved his fingers to the top of her glove, where fabric met skin, slowly pushing it down her wrist. Alice’s eyes did not move from the stage, but her breathing stuttered.
“I have seen many a maid marry with a suspicious roundness to her belly. So long as it is hidden under cheap cotton and not damask or silk, no one bats an eye,” she whispered back, and Marco smirked at her quick wit and sharp turn of phrase.
Alice Fitzroy may look like a princess, but she had all the short commentary of a servant.
“You seem quite worldly all of a sudden, Miss Fitzroy,” he murmured playfully.
“I thought you were calling me Alice since we are such great friends,” she teased. Marco had worked her glove down to her wrist and devoted his attention, but not his eyes, to slowly pulling it off her fingers.
“Alice then,” he said. “What other sophisticated things might you be aware of?”
“I imagine I know what every other servant would. I was hardly sheltered,” Alice smirked.
Marco felt a sudden flare of annoyance. Of course, unlike other ladies of the ton Alice would not have been coddled.
No one would try to protect her innocent sensibilities.
It was likely she might have witnessed things or been instructed by other girls, but he sincerely hoped it had gone no further than that.
The idea of someone else touching Alice, even if in the past, caused irate flames to erupt in his chest. Clearly, something of it showed on his face because Alice smiled tightly and shook her head.
“Pray, do not look so scandalized. You’ll make every member of the ton present wonder what I could have possibly said to upset you so.
I am a virgin if that worries you." She rolled her eyes as Marco attempted to hide his noticeable relief at her declaration.
"Though perhaps I should tell you that I might have different, shall we say, expectations, the other gently bred debutantes. "
“Indeed? I am intrigued.” Marco finally managed to free Alice's hand from her glove and dropped it to the floor. The feeling of her bare skin under his fingertips was divine. "I wonder, Alice, if you are bold enough to tell me what you know about… pleasure.”
Alice sucked in a sharp breath, but her face did not move. As she looked down at the players on the stage, he wondered if he had gone too far. Perhaps he should withdraw so she did not think him too forward.
But then she shifted slightly in her seat, drawing them closer together. In doing so, part of her gown was caught between the two chairs, and her delicate movements worked the fabric up her leg.
Marco did not dare look down for more than a second.
Still, it was enough to show him that the minor readjustment of the fabric she had made allowed him to access the soft skin where her garter lay just above her knee.
Her actions showed him that she was willing to continue this game and he was eager to see where it would take them.
Alice inhaled sharply through her nose, her eyes on the soprano below. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. “I am aware that men and women kiss for pleasure,” she said.
Marco moved his hand away from hers and slid it up her thigh, his fingers coming into contact with the delicate skin she had so expertly exposed.
“I notice you do not say gentlemen and ladies,” he whispered, his thumb brushing over the lace of her garter and working underneath it. Her small intake of breath told him that she enjoyed his touch.
“Well, those who taught me about kissing were neither,” Alice said, her voice slightly curt. Her face gave nothing away, but she moved her hand to rest upon his, stroking it even as he stroked her thigh. Marco smiled devilishly.
“And we have already established that we are neither lord nor lady,” he whispered back. “Tell me, Alice, had you been kissed before the other day at the lake?”
“Would it anger you if I had?” Alice’s voice was quiet but also reflective.
Her hand stopped moving as if his answer mattered to her.
“Maids are often allowed to go to the fair on May Day.
They skip around the maypole in their best frocks and dance with the local lads. And when the sun goes down..."
“So had you?” he pressed. “Been kissed before me? I will not be angry. I am only curious.”
He waited with bated breath. Then Alice’s fingers began to draw soft, teasing circles on the back of his hand, and Marco also resumed his tracing under her garter.
“A quick peck on the cheek and nothing more,” she said softly. “Nothing so very memorable. Nothing like your kisses.”
The words sent a flicker of fire through him. She was untouched, and Marco decided not to wait any longer to change that.
“Well then,” he said quietly. “Perhaps I should do something that you would find memorable.”
“And what would that be?” Alice asked, still not turning her face toward him lest she give herself away to anyone watching.
“Are you sure you would like to find out?” Marco asked, pausing his movements, and watching her body stiffen. He saw her fight to keep her eyes on the stage, not where his hand was so inappropriately placed. “I fear it would not be considered very ladylike.”
“Then it is a good thing I am no lady, for I wish to know what you think I would find memorable,” Alice breathed. Marco smiled.
“As you wish,” he whispered and snaked his hand completely under her skirts.