"Beth," she says, a smile lighting her eyes. Sticking your fingers in your mouth, seriously. If people need to be told that, that's sad. "Nice to meet you."

She doesn't trail off pointedly, but there is a vaguely expectant look that comes with her answer. He's not Sonia's father, is he? That's the only new Barrayaran--and he's obviously Barrayaran--worth noting right now, but he looks nothing like she'd expect of royalty. Of course, neither does Sonia, but Sonia's in her twenties, and she's been living in the middle of nowhere for a decade. Beth expects a little more from royalty that actually (probably?) lives like royalty.