Ah, so she teased. Presently, then, Emilia must be in a light-hearted humor-well, he would adjust himself accordingly. Iago relaxed as though he was relieved to note this spiritedness in her, letting his features ease into a calm that matched his wife's, and brought the bouquet out from behind his back, presenting it to her. Since she had teased him, he decided he would tease back.

"In faith, madam," he said, matter-of-factly, turning around to look over his shoulder, "I see no flowers behind my back. Are you certain that you see correctly?" He turned back to her, willing a subtle appearance of mirth into his eyes, though he did not quite smile. "I do, however, see flowers kept within your own lovely hands, and not behind my back…" He took her hands and folded her fingers around the stems of the flowers. "Since you dare speak such falsehoods, I do but think you mean to deceive me." Here he managed an exhalation that was somewhat akin to a gentle laugh as he met her eyes.

O, what eyes. Iago lost himself for a moment as he stared into them, momentarily forgetting his purpose even as he struggled to regain it. He felt a warmth upon what he supposed to be his heart; with some degree of shame he realized he had not feigned the sensation. It was no matter, as long as he kept his intentions about him… He looked down at her hands, folded within his, and without thought wrapped his fingers a little more tightly around them.