Oh, it's definitely for the test. Needs must and all.

"Do you really think you can upset me?" Byerly replies with a sniff. "I've been chewed out by Lady Alys Vorpatril on multiple occasions. I am thoroughly immune to being caused distress by any lesser woman."

It occurs to him a second after he says this that he doesn't actually know if Russia had an aristocracy in this time period or its equivalent, but hopefully his partner won't know either.