"Please don't feel distressed, citoyenne Joséphine," Jacques said, feeling extremely awkward. Perhaps there had been negative side-effects of being stuck in an all-male environment focused on academics from the time he was five to until he was twenty? He hoped Joséphine wouldn't cry. He didn't know how to react to tears.
Jacques, personally stumped, patted her on the hand. "It- it's an easy mistake to make."