With the hand that rested on his arm, Ava tapped him with her fingers by way of a harmless reprimand for his comment. "I have little doubt that there will be nothing but an endless supply of pretty eyes for you to charm, should you so wish it." She had not meant to insinuate any such thing. She held little concern for who caught his attention outside of those moments when she, herself did. Like anyone, she had her moments of selfishness and there was little point in changing them now.
How best then to explain her comment? "You have the ear of the Queen. An honor, most certainly. However, it also makes you either friend or foe. Which of the two is easier, is still up for debate. I suppose that what I'm saying is that not all attention is good attention." Just because there was no conflict currently, didn't necessarily mean that there weren't opportunities for it. All of this, she could be certain, he was aware of.
After another moment of thought, she sighed, "I wish to tell you to tread carefully, but I know you need not hear it. Perhaps I have simply begun to require a streak of sentimentality," her tone making the statement sound almost regretful, "for which you and Mother are to be equally blamed, of course." She had an image to uphold, after all, and sentimentality played little part in it.
As their conversation had progressed, she had guided them towards the stables, only now coming upon the familiar building. Unlike others of similar station, Ava had traveled with less than half of her personal guard. She hated the traveling in a larger group. She preferred a group created for swift travel, not protection. She knew every inch of the land to the west. It was little trouble to avoid confrontation and she was far from helpless.
The familiar sent of the stables as they entered the warmer atmosphere brought an easy smile back to her lips and she waved off any lingering confusion. "In the end, I admit, it is of little concern. You are far more adept at navigating the waters in which you swim."