She flushed, but didn't drop her eyes. "We often become masters of disguise - to do anything else, means bringing the wrath down on your head." She looked at him with her head held high. "And I had good reasons to keep my head down and do what he said. My innocent son."
"What about him? Wasn't it a challenge to his… authority, to have you be a doctor?"
"He would say it's because of our deal, that I had no choice but to go back to work because he said so. That's partly true, but mostly, it was the money. He hated my name on the check, but he didn't hate spending it on war games or a new gun. He insisted I finish my medical training. He said 'Any woman of his had to contribute'."
Marc heard no real bitterness and was offended for her.
"So keeping your career was part of the deal, but not marriage?" he asked, finally seeking confirmation of his suspicion, one he'd been working hard on. He'd never once heard her say husband. He was unprepared for the wall of guilt her quiet answer caused.
"He wanted it to be, but even then I understood if I said yes, he really would own me." She turned to look at their surroundings. Corn. "You gonna workout before we leave?"
"Yes."
He said nothing when she joined him, help him set it up, but his eyes were full of questions that made her shrug and look away.
She didn't want to tell him (or anyone!) about her baby, but was sure he'd soon know. She wasn't sure how well she could hold up under the routine he did every day, but she was about to find out. "I wasn't ready before."
He didn't ask and she was glad, but knew by the look in his eyes that he already had his own suspicions.
"Should you be doing this yet?" Marc knew by her wince he was right, respected her for the quick, honest answer.
"No, probably not."
"Then why are you? You don't think I can handle things without your help?"
She frowned, shaking her head. "If I thought that, I wouldn't have called. To be free, I have to learn, and I can't do that while I'm resting. Time is a luxury I can't afford."
Marc studied her with cool eyes, but inside she continued to impress him. "Quit when you know you should. I do a hard run and you'll need to build up to it." He was already sure she wouldn't stop until he did, and when she agreed absently, clearly not listening, he waved a hand at the steady drizzle that had begun to fall. "After you, my Lady."