She shakes her head. Doing her best to be patient - it's easier when she's in a place of authority, could just draw Beth to her side and be done with it. Make it clear just what she means. Cut out the middleman the Countess now was to the situation.

"It's not you. I've watched you. You had the sense to distrust me. You've already learned those lessons, so far as I can tell." How little a thing it was, and how much Beth had refused even that. Good - it was important, especially dealing with Lords. Everything, everything had a price.

She clears her throat, glancing around and this time it's pointed, just who she's referring to. "It's not your stupidity that I am worried about." No, no, this has nothing to do with Beth's ability to protect herself. It came down to a few simple things. "Everything is about reputation, about your place, where you stand. They have no reason to respect or fear you or doing anything to you. Being what you are, unallied as you are, it leaves you exposed. I am in much the same position."

Don't fight her too hard, she wants to say, please. "Which is why we are going to meet the Countess."