He almost laughs at her initial comment though the words that follow have him regarding her more seriously. As much as he's studied Barrayar's strange feudal history, it's not something he's ever wanted to truly live through. To have it be considered normal that one's father would marry someone the same age as their daughter is horrifying in a time of required body births and arranged marriages. He wonders what the woman thought of the relationship and family she became part of.

He catches the grimace and frowns. "My sympathies." Hollow words when one has lost much to events outside of their control. "Did you all live together?"

With as close-knit as they sounded, he wouldn't be surprised.