Critique for my story?

I am writing a historical and going over the rough draft I found a passage that I really didn't like but it still got the point across. Can someone critique this, give any ideas on how to make it better, mainly regarding the phrasing.

"Have you heard from Josephine lately?" She asked within one of his pauses.

"No, I'm afraid not. She seldom writes to me." He looked out the window, and then turned back toward Ardellia, "She must be enjoying France." He chuckled under his breath.

"Send my best to her the next time you write."

"She seemed so frail the last time I saw her. I do hope the French air will do her good."

"You speak of her as if she's a child. She is fine, and will be fine." "I still think of her as one. She was running around in the grass only two years ago, and driving her nanny to tears. Do you remember her, Catherine was her name?"

"Yes, why?" Answered Ardellia after a few moments. She eyed him curiously, wondering as to where he meant to go with the change of subject.

"I was only wondering what became of her."

The Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Cleureleis and their daughter Catherine had been with the Van Der Argéns family for years, but the Countess was hardly familiar with even their names. Ten months into the former Ardellia Granham's marriage into the family, the mother and daughter disapeared.

"I remember rumours that they had been seen in several other counties. "

"Following in Slater' s footsteps no doubt... Harrison Cleuruleis was absolutely devastated."

"As would any man be, losing wife and child simultaneously."

"He refused to think that they simply left Sophia and Catherine, he was driven mad with the thought." "No, I did not. What became of him Edmund? I haven't seen anything of him recently."

"I recall that he ended his service two or three years ago."

"Oh?"

"Yes, apparently he was to be remarried."

"At that age, to whom?"

"I do not know."