Ian said nothing for several long heartbeats. She measured them by the sound of the blood through her ears.
"Mayfield's son served under my command," he said finally, and she could read nothing in his tone.
"And he died because my father failed him. As he failed you. Why didn't you tell me, Ian? Why would you allow me to find it this way?"
"I had hoped you would never find out."
He had tried to protect her. And in doing so he had left her far more vulnerable to their cruelty because she had never expected it. All of the pain had come without warning at preparation.
"When you came to find me, to fulfill the terms of my father's will, you thought you were rescuing a child. It seems I am still that child to you. I suppose I shall always be."
"If I could have prevented this, Annie, I would have. That doesn't mean I consider you a child."
