[He can get it, at least, with that expression - knows it isn't pity, but empathy]
[Nods a little - and looks at him for a long moment]
She was a slave. She was freed, came to France - worked for my father as a servant. They fell in love and got married. [Stares down into his drink, jaw clenching] And through all that, after all that fighting all that strength... she's done in by fever.