Imagination a ruse too often alluded to for his experiences in this city, since arriving; be it within his purview as this goddess reincarnate, or the way his eyes stay easily on her face, and his lips stay easily in their somewhat charming curve. Neither of them cut imposing figures, both more bone and skin and lengthy muscle, more lovely than stalwart, and part of that eats at him, comes as a concern mingled with so many factors in his mind as to settle him in his skin this moment.

"Handsome, perhaps, but it pales before beauty worn in such easy confidence."

To the sofa it is, then, and a now practised turn and swoosh of skirts as he sits, knees apart, feet inched under the sofa's lip.

"May yours be all the more so, to whatever degree you wish it. I'm happy to extend to you every blessing, Lady Vannozza, you need only ask." Blessings in a more earnest and less godly aspect, such as it is.

"Would you prefer me to remain masked?" A gesture toward his face, and no indication of discomfort either way. It's not hiding a blush or a flush or anything much, though he calculates he should see her, that's the effect here isn't it? Heavens above, he had not counted on seeing as many undressed women (or men, but what's exciting in that, he knows the male body, he's now visually, strikingly aware of the female) in the whole of his life as he has in little more than a month.