This is not, for the record, the response John was expecting. But it doesn't trouble him overmuch, because he is aware Gwenaëlle does not play games. She is painfully straightforward, so this response is not an attempt at playing coy, or evading the topic.

"You had the idea of writing to some lords, I heard," John prompts. "And an assortment of other acquaintances who would be more interested in hearing from you than they ever would be in hearing from me."

A gentle nudge of an implication. Go on.