This is the real reason, he was afraid they would say mean things to him, and call him names...

Mentally iLL I would accept. Like if he hyperventilated - had a panic attack at the very idea of facing the Truckers would be very plausible. Perhaps he would have been able to get through a face to face interaction with the Truckers if his "Lady in Waiting" were there to hold his hand.

ref; "Lady in Waiting s a female personal assistant at a Court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe .