As Belle did not know just who he was or what he was used to, how he was raised, there was only what she could observe and what she had dealt with herself. Pride was pesky though, which was why she would be stubborn in making sure he rested if she had to. Still, the fact that he switched into French was a welcomed relief. She could converse in English, yes, but French would be much easier, so she was thankful to be able to switch to her native language.
"I am, yes. I am better at reading English than speaking it." After all, it wasn't as if she'd had many people to practice speaking English with back home. She'd been considered odd for even bothering to learn a language she had no use of. But the opportunity to read other stories had made it important for Belle to teach herself and for that she was thankful given the situation she found herself in now.
And then the comment on her being intimidating.
"Me intimidating? Well, that's new." Smiling in amusement, Belle sat down herself then, placing the book she'd been planning to read beside her.