✦ — tbn's Links
"The mistress? Why, she's just an amazing woman! Strong, inspiring... so intelligent and beautiful... Somehow whenever I'm at her side I feel... Oh! Um- That's all!"
-she begins to frantically dust an old bookshelf-
"My darling maid... never has this house been blessed with such diligence, or loyalty." Her lips curl up, a subtle smile over the rim of her glass. "In my absence, I trust most everything to you; and I treasure the way your presence lights these halls. Do you know how well I'd like to thank you...? To keep you?"
It goes yet unspoken – the *to myself* that follows.