It wasn't exactly subtle, refusing to give so much as the time of day when offered something, but she still feels a crawling sense of embarrassment at being so easily read. You had the sense to distrust me. It's enough to make her wonder just where the woman comes from, that she'd prefer someone refuse a gift from her own hands if it meant they were cautious.

Something to ask sometime. Some other time, when they're not about to have this meeting.

"Okay." So they'll meet the countess, Beth's reputation will somehow be safe from gossip, and that will definitely matter when she finds a way to get back to her own people. It's still better than watching groats congeal in a pot.

...Admittedly, she can kind of see where this is all coming from, inasmuch as it doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice that the soldiers here aren't exactly what you'd call respectful. If not for the woman's intervention, she'd plan to rely on her own ability to watch out for herself, but it'd probably be a good idea to have backup. That's the whole point of a group, to make sure you have the strength of others to fall back on when you need it. "Um. And thanks."