For once in her life, Ashley ignored her mother. The tone to Helen's voice told her enough, but she was focused on the man in front of her. His explanation seemed to check out and after a few tense moments of staring pointedly at first him - to gauge his intentions - and then his weapon - to see if it was loaded - Ashley finally relaxed, letting go of her gun and allowing her hand to fall back to her side.
"Sorry to interrupt your little date here," she began, turning back to her mother. "If it's a bad time, I'll come back later. I just wanted to drop by." She glanced back at Varric, her eyes sweeping over him once more to be sure there was nothing she'd missed about him. "FYI, if I hear about any mishaps with a crossbow bolt, I won't be pleased. And I don't think Mom's walls will be, either."
Her tone might not have changed much, but that was Ashley's way of teasing. She hadn't fully relaxed or gotten over the surprise, but she was at least trying to apologize to him and tell him she did still approve of him.