I don't believe I was made aware that the jacket you wore was actually a uniform.
I don't believe I was made aware that you had been killed.
"It came as a surprise to me as well," she said, instead, walking to the counter. Her fingertips found the top of his book and tapped there gently. By the way her lips compressed and relaxed and compressed, it was clear that she was in the middle of finding just exactly the right way to say something.
Remember that he asked for time, Beauty. He did tell you that there was more to his story, and he asked you for time.
"I met Monsieur Preston this morning, at my cottage," she said at last. It wasn't anything like what she'd intended to say. At least it wasn't anything like what she'd been thinking, either. There was mercy in that.