Помогите,пожалуйста, с косвенной речью.

Большое спасибо) Ток я не могу понять в предложениях 14. We were surprised she had refused his help. и 16. We were told they had been in the Crimea the month before. Какое время на какое поменялось? и вот еще Mrs. Mawby said that was a quiet flat and the neighbours were nice. там было it is меняется на past simple, и in убирается? Я написала it was, это неправильно?