Lord Foley was perhaps the same age as Father, give or take a few years. His greying black hair was kept short, with enormous mutton chops that came right to the bottom of his round jaw. He was slim yet had rounded cheeks, but they did little to make him appear more youthful. If anything, they made the creases in his face more pronounced.
When he smiled, it revealed a mouth full of crowded and uneven teeth, and breath that already smelled sharply of champagne. How much, exactly, had he drank?
"Of course, we should discuss this right away." Despite the easy pace of the quadrille, he was out of breath. He was slow too, his movements stiff as if he was unpracticed.
Even Aurora, who had never danced before — and no, dancing in the sitting room with Father didn't count — had less trouble keeping up.
"I would like to back your project," he said, and Aurora's heart leapt. "As I said before, it's intriguing to me. If nothing else, I would like to see where this goes."
Aurora felt herself tensing. When it was time to twirl, she was reluctant to take her eyes off Lord Foley; as if, in those few seconds, he was going to attempt something sinister.
Yet when she turned back to face him, he was still smiling easily. It made her stomach twist, already she sensed that something is wrong.
"Of course, if I'm going to be backing my own money into this project, I need something in return." Although his voice was hushed, it carried clearly over the din. "I have a personal stake in this project; my money. You should have the same."
His grip on her tightened, and Aurora found herself tensing. There was something uncomfortable about his smile, his mannerisms.
"What would that be?" she managed to ask, even as her panic began to rise.
"Take a guess, dear Miss Washam."
She fumbled for an answer. All the while they danced as if nothing was wrong. They fluttered past other dancers, spun about, and not once did Aurora allow herself to fumble.
He didn't need money, clearly; he was the one offering it. It was the most obvious thing that sprung to mind, and Aurora couldn't think of anything else. Some of their samples, perhaps? Rights to their new angel's trumpet variety, once that was achieved? Personal updates?
Yet he wasn't a botanist, so none of those options made any sense.
His slow smile grew, laughter in his voice. Aurora detested how that twisted smile made him look so menacing, and she had to force herself to keep stepping in time with him.
"Let me answer for you, Miss Washam. I'll sponsor your project in itsentirety,anything you need. Money will be no object; I even have a few friends who may be willing to aid you too. However, in return, I want your hand in marriage."
Aurora faltered. Her feet stalled and she nearly went tumbling; would have, if Lord Foley hadn't caught her elbow first. Her heart pounded as she yanked her elbow free. Having to touch his hand to dance was disgusting enough.
"You can't mean that," she hissed. They were still dancing, God knew how, as he half-towed her along. Aurora went along with it only because she was too stunned to stop.
"Of course I mean it. In return for my financial aid, you'll let me marry you. You're a beautiful young woman, you know; and how else do you expect to get money?"
Aurora was shaking now, without even being entirely aware of it. This time, she pulled herself entirely free from Lord Foley's grip and stumbled back; almost hitting into someone else in the process.
She cast them only an apologetic look before snapping back to Lord Foley. People were watching now, a few whispering audibly as they passed. They were getting in the dancer's way and forcing them to go around, but Aurora hardly cared.
"Are you suggesting that I'm only worthwhile as a wife?" she snapped. It didn't matter who heard, this needed to be said. "Or are you suggesting that my ideas are only worthwhile if I have a husband to back them?"
Lord Foley's smile was slimy and cold. People often thought that toad and frogs were slimy, but they were actually quite dry. Lord Foley's expression, however, was just as disgusting as people thought toads to be.
"I'm suggesting, my dear, that nobody else will take such interest. If you're smart, you will accept my offer and think no more of it."
"Excuse me," a man snapped as he tried to go past. "Could you take your argument somewhere else? Oh, Lord Foley, I'm so sorry!"
"It's no trouble," Lord Foley called after the man, "it's only that my friend Miss Washam here is causing a stir."
Aurora glared. There was a heat bubbling under the surface of her skin, threatening to overtake her. How dare he say these things about her? Howdarehe suggest that she wasn't worthy? After all of the effort Father and Elmore had put into making her feel comfortable, and Lord Foley was set to destroy it?
"Listen, and listen good," she snapped, "you can make thisoffersound as good as you please, but it doesn't mean that I'll agree.
Lord Foley's eyes narrowed. While Aurora was all too aware of the people around them, he didn't seem to notice at all. His beady, grey-blue eyes were fixed on her; and Aurora had to tense herself for what came next.
"Will you really throw away your only chance at a sponsor because of your own exaggerated self-worth? You should feel lucky that I'm giving you the time of day at all, never mind willing to do all of this for you."