Ferona made an uneasy face, not wanting to displease him. 

"I can't understand your feelings..." She crossed her arms, still standing apart from him near the door. "At least with the money you could get a new forge... maybe IN the town so you didnt have to travel so far to see another person." Then again, he'd said how much he disliked the men in town and so far she disliked them too, except perhaps the wig maker. "They can't all be bad..."  she didn't say that with conviction though.

"If they're going to find a way to take the land, one way or another, shouldnt you take the money?" 

Her expression was vaguely perplexed and definitely anxious. If she had still been the queen, on the other side of this she would've said 'what a stupid farmer! Just take it from him!' with out seeing his side even a little... A guilty expression crossed her face. No wonder they rose up against her...