Even through his mild desperation to not purr, Monnayage saw the smile, and it wasn't just any smile. It was a real smile; not the seductive and playful sort Dorothea had been giving him so far.
Nothing in the world was more satisfying to him than to see a woman smile.
Then, to add to the appeal, she started to blush—not a conspicuous blush, but a blush just the same.
"Yes," he said, now grinning with geniality. He pulled her hand to his mouth, breathing gently on it, near to kissing it. Never did he move his eyes from hers. "You've said that."
Praise did feel good. He never turned it down. However, he mentally waved it aside this time. "Tell me a bit about yourself, Dorothea," he breathed.