"I hope you feel you can leave off such illusions from me. From the first I've asked it," he reminds him.
"I trust your judgment of where your strength is needed, caro mio -- and do you not blend them? This latest trick seems to be both a sponsor of happiness and the sort of unexpected turn that She would value. Or do I misunderstand?"
Iago folds Xel's cold hand into his. "I don't think it would be so bad, carino. We've help now to deal with the people end of things. Come and make a daily special when you feel it meet for you. Or come and dine with me for a midday meal; we may trade off, I cook for you or you for me. I could do with the practice," he adds wryly.
"If?" Iago presses, gently, with the insidious patience of a good listener searching for more to listen -- but now with far more tender reason to use the skill.
Sometimes Iago's anachronism-stew dialogue makes me laugh out loud when I reread the comment. See: entire third paragraph.