In this excerpt, Lymond responds to a remark about Sybilla, questioning if she is a pleasant person, using sarcasm. The phrase "And isna Sybilla a wee love o' a bitch?" suggests a mix of affection and disdain, reflecting complex feelings about her character.
He then comments on the kindness of the speaker's words about his mother, implying that they are not entirely genuine or that there is some underlying tension or irony. The dialogue hints at multifaceted relationships and layered emotions in the story, characteristic of Dorothy Dunnett's intricate writing style.