The conversation continues around Beth, but that's nothing new; part of her suspects it might be best to let them forget about her and talk, at least to start. They speak the same language, one that Beth only barely understands. That much is made clear by the way Rani starts by bringing up the fact that Beth admitted that she wasn't married. It still doesn't seem like a big deal to her; sure, being here alone is a vulnerability, but she knows how to take care of herself. And once she gets a knife...
Then she'll make her own reputation. What anybody thinks, based on their conversation in the mess tent, won't matter.
Rani's attention shifts back in Beth's direction, just as Beth's trying to decide what kind of service the woman means. If they weren't all women, and if Rani didn't seem at least a little trustworthy, company of an evening would have her dander up and goodbyes on her lips. Lacking that context, it sounds like something old-fashioned and a little silly. What's she supposed to do, play cards with them? Sing?
She doesn't know, and she has presence of mind to realize that if this is the start of something awful--manipulation, killing, anything like the hospital--they aren't going to say so. But they might give her an idea of what would be expected of her, and that might be enough to help her decide just what kind of a deal she'd be making.
She searches for some way to answer Rani's assurance, uncomfortably cognizant of the fact that this conversation has so far been as formal as Rani warned. If she says the wrong thing, it might actually be a big deal.
"I..." She pauses for a moment, looking first at Rani and then at the countess. The vague feeling that she should answer Rani alone, rather than direct her words to them both, makes itself known. She has no idea if that's what's expected of her. "I guess it depends on what the countess needs me for."
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Then she'll make her own reputation. What anybody thinks, based on their conversation in the mess tent, won't matter.
Rani's attention shifts back in Beth's direction, just as Beth's trying to decide what kind of service the woman means. If they weren't all women, and if Rani didn't seem at least a little trustworthy, company of an evening would have her dander up and goodbyes on her lips. Lacking that context, it sounds like something old-fashioned and a little silly. What's she supposed to do, play cards with them? Sing?
She doesn't know, and she has presence of mind to realize that if this is the start of something awful--manipulation, killing, anything like the hospital--they aren't going to say so. But they might give her an idea of what would be expected of her, and that might be enough to help her decide just what kind of a deal she'd be making.
She searches for some way to answer Rani's assurance, uncomfortably cognizant of the fact that this conversation has so far been as formal as Rani warned. If she says the wrong thing, it might actually be a big deal.
"I..." She pauses for a moment, looking first at Rani and then at the countess. The vague feeling that she should answer Rani alone, rather than direct her words to them both, makes itself known. She has no idea if that's what's expected of her. "I guess it depends on what the countess needs me for."