Xanthippe kind of counted on him to hear things. And notice things. It helped, probably, when she was too skittish to go all the way with an expression or a gesture.

Standing up was easy, though. Or at least she thought so until she was actually standing up - because then she suddenly felt exposed and self-conscious.

She was trying to fight through it, though. Looking down at him helped. He was kneeling for her, and she couldn't say that didn't thrill her.