Oh please. I am a gentleman and would never put a lady through so much. Though I hear these days, such courtships are supposed to be on more even 'footing' if you know what I mean?

[He's saying it jokingly, maybe with the hint of something else there, because what is the harm? It's likely not going anywhere and he's suddenly in a mood, due to a lot of things.

(And well, for some reason, he really wants to disabuse Leon of that notion, but just out right saying it is crass. And makes it sound like he expects something from it.]