[...You know, on one hand, her heart absolutely sinks when she hears that.

On the other hand, boy is it a good thing he talked about that person in past tense. She's making the general assumption he's dead, but if he isn't, she will gladly ensure he is by the time she's done--]

...I can hardly blame you for the lack of trying, really. Not after dealing with a hideous cretin like that.

[She does at least calm after saying that, though. Kind of mulling that over, really.]

It's taken so much for you to even get to this point, then.