[ she really only understands about half of what he says, at first. so it's just as well that he slides into some chatter about keeping distance -- of divorcing himself, in a sense, from mansion life. peggy sucks in a breath. ]

I imagine it would get rather lonely. [ a beat. ] But no neighbours might certainly be an advantage. And you've already started on the landscaping.

[ it nudges them just that fraction of an inch closer to the matter at hand. ]