"You won't be able to take care of whom anymore, Patrick?"
Making sure to keep his expression neutral, Patrick turned to look at his father and gave him a mild smile. " I was just talking to myself, father. You know how it is. Nostalgia in the air. I never thought I would return here and now that I have..."
Robert tilted his head. "That so?" He climbed a few more steps, and Patrick felt a chill in his heart. It seemed the man had heard more than he intended. HAd he said something that might reveal the truth? But as he quickly thought back, he was sure he had not, so he did not let his panic show as Sir Robert muttered, "Sounded to me like you were mourning a failure. Like you'd given up."
Patrick didn't answer. Not yet. He had learned long ago that silence had power, too.
Robert narrowed his eyes and this time his tone was sharp, "Who is it, Patrick? Who were you trying to protect?"
