He was powerful enough that even with his shields up, he felt that, heard that, and he flinched a little, then gently unfolded his own mind and let her feel him, see him, as he was, as he had been, as his world had been, and as he and his Sophie had been.
He let her see the joys and pains, sparing her none of it, but forcing her to see none of it as well. And he let her see him, all of him, his fear and his worries, his hopes, and his desires... which came down to wanting her to be happy, wanting to be happy with her, and hoping she would someday have a place for him in her life.
All of this happened in less than a moment, and then eh was pouring tea for her.