...Mm, the way I phrased it, my meaning was somewhat ambiguous.
[Her small smile probably makes her meaning clear: please do take it as a compliment. She remembers thinking like that once too, back when she was a child, that rebelling a little against society's expectations was worth it. BUT moving on to less unpleasant things:]
I trust he's seen to that you will be shown where to stay? It's usually a good thing when there are people you already know here to greet you. [Ah, practical matters, her favourite topic after polite pleasantries (closely followed by talk of the weather).]