Vicar Esta is surprised, then, and confused, and offended, and indeed outraged, but he keeps it off his face.

It takes him a moment, without Cultural Adaptation running, to decide that this is probably not the point where Merrin springs a trap to see if she can make 'Estha' act utterly out of character.  She probably thinks that it is in-character for Merrin to say such a thing, to her Estha, and for her Estha to comply.  And of all the times in which to try to explain to her why her beliefs are not correct, this is probably not optimal; he has only a split second to decide it, if he will comply, and Esta had not previously planned to confront her in this moment as being the optimal time, so he will not do it now.

Esta overrides rather a lot of feelings, and taps Merrin on the nose.

Heal.

Vicar Esta is surprised, then, and confused, and offended, and indeed outraged, but he keeps it off his face.

It takes him a moment, without Cultural Adaptation running, to decide that this is probably not the point where Merrin springs a trap to see if she can make 'Estha' act utterly out of character.  She probably thinks that it is in-character for Merrin to say such a thing, to her Estha, and for her Estha to comply.  And of all the times in which to try to explain to her why her beliefs are not correct, this is probably not optimal.  He has only a split second to decide it, if he will comply, and Esta had not previously planned to optimally confront her in such a moment, so he will not confront her now.

Esta overrides rather a lot of feelings, and taps Merrin on the nose.

Heal.

Vicar Esta is surprised, then, and confused, and offended, and indeed outraged, but he keeps it off his face.

It takes him a moment, without Cultural Adaptation running, to decide that this is probably not the point where Merrin springs a trap to see if she can make 'Estha' act utterly out of character.  She probably thinks that it is in-character for Merrin to say such a thing, to her Estha, and for her Estha to comply.  And of all the times in which to try to explain to altered-Mariona that she is not behaving correctly, this is probably not optimal.  He has only a split second to decide it, if he will comply, and Esta had not previously planned to optimally confront Mariona in such a moment, so he will not confront her now.

Esta overrides rather a lot of feelings, and taps Merrin on the nose.

Heal.