Tig was taken by surprise at his chosen question. Why that? What possible interest could he have in her offspring or lack thereof? What difference did it make to him? She eyed him with every ounce of suspicion she felt. Seeing as she couldn't tell why he wanted to know she was highly reluctant to offer him the truth - he probably wouldn't broadcast it but what if there was some other damaging way he could use it against her?
What was a convincing excuse that didn't cast aspersions on herself, her womb, or her marriage? Blaming it on nature or circumstance would give the impression she had issues with fertility, claiming it was intentional would not only be odd but raise more questions, what did that leave her with? Claiming regular miscarriages cycled back to the fertility issue, the alternative was to deny she was lacking in children at all but that was a lie so blatant it was beyond ridiculous. Unless...
She'd waited too long to reply without it being noticeable. Damn. "You do know how children are made, don't you?" Her tone was more condescending than she'd intended, she subsequently tried to rectify it. "It takes time, you can't just create life on a whim." After a beat she added, "I suspect you'll regret choosing that as your question in a few months." Tig feigned a small gasp. "Forget I said that. You can't tell anyone, not even Tiberius." Pleading didn't come naturally to her but probably if she'd looked teary-eyed and desperate at him he would've thought she was unwell. Or maybe not, did he know her well enough for that? "Your turn."
What was a convincing excuse that didn't cast aspersions on herself, her womb, or her marriage? Blaming it on nature or circumstance would give the impression she had issues with fertility, claiming it was intentional would not only be odd but raise more questions, what did that leave her with? Claiming regular miscarriages cycled back to the fertility issue, the alternative was to deny she was lacking in children at all but that was a lie so blatant it was beyond ridiculous. Unless...
She'd waited too long to reply without it being noticeable. Damn. "You do know how children are made, don't you?" Her tone was more condescending than she'd intended, she subsequently tried to rectify it. "It takes time, you can't just create life on a whim." After a beat she added, "I suspect you'll regret choosing that as your question in a few months." Tig feigned a small gasp. "Forget I said that. You can't tell anyone, not even Tiberius." Pleading didn't come naturally to her but probably if she'd looked teary-eyed and desperate at him he would've thought she was unwell. Or maybe not, did he know her well enough for that? "Your turn."
