She hugely enjoys her unique role. How else could a woman of her time manage to adopt any disguise she chooses; go where no woman (and few men) have ever gone before; and outwit, out drink and outfight some of the most unscrupulous villains on the planet?
Rebecca's parents were killed when she was a child and she was brought up by Sir Boniface as his ward. She, Phileas and Erasmus were as close as brothers and sister as children.
As an unofficial godmother, Queen Victoria took a personal interest in Rebecca's upbringing. She is particularly fond of Sir Boniface's niece and follows the progress of her career.
Also see: Jules Verne