She was surprised the next morning by Philip's presence at the kitchen table when she went down. She hadn't talked to him in so long that she forgot she had been mad at him and found herself smiling at him without thinking. "Good morning."

He blinked at her for a second, then a weak smile stretched his lips. "Ah, good morning. There's tea," he said, gesturing to the teapot. He had put out breakfast as well – bread and preserves and cold meat. A peace offering perhaps?

Marina was disappointed on that front; when she sat at the table he got to his feet.

"I don't intend to disturb you," he said, moving to the door. "I just wanted to let you know that I will be going to London for a few days."

"Oh… I see. Are you meeting someone?" she asked. She knew she had no business prying, but she couldn't help being curious.

"It is for work. I am meeting with the rest of counsel."

Marina nodded. "Ah. Mrs. Patterson no doubt."

"Yes." Philip stood in the doorway for a minute, as she pointedly ignored him and ate her breakfast. She expected him to leave, but he surprised her by coming back to the table. "Did Mr. Locke explain to you what the case is about?"

She looked up at him, his gaze intent and serious on her, and felt a skip in her heartbeat. It had been too long since they'd last talked, clearly. She shook her head. "He didn't. He said it would be better if you explained."

Philip laughed softly and sat down. "Yes of course; I should have explained." He ducked his head. "Forgive me. Only, it is a delicate matter, especially given… our circumstance. I thought you might…" He looked up at her and blushed. "No, nothing. Mrs. Patterson is seeking divorce from her husband."

Marina blinked at him. Well, some rich women did get divorces, though it was usually the man who would initiate the proceedings, as far as she could tell. "Ah, is it a case of criminal conversation? Can a woman sue for such a thing?" she asked.

"No, indeed she can not," he said. "It is a deal more complicated than that. Mrs. Patterson is seeking a divorce through common law, and she is seeking custody of the children."

Marina frowned; he said this as though it was supposed to be shocking to her, but she didn't really know what he was talking about.

He seemed to realize this, and nodded to himself. "Divorce as it exists now can only be initiated by a husband, and it must be granted through the church or through parliament. Because a woman and children are the husband's property, a wife can not seek an end to a marriage if it causes her pain and suffering – it is a husband's right to dispose of his property as he sees fit." He spoke wryly, clearly disagreeing with this point of law.

"So what you seek is not divorce, so much as a recognition of a wife's rights."

"Yes exactly!" Philip smiled with such pleasure at her understanding that she wished they had spoken more of these things before. He was easier to like when he was this way. "I am only a junior counsel on her legal team, but to be part of a case like this is an honor, no matter my part."

Marina understood now, the dirty looks Philip received from husbands and old ladies in town, the pitying remarks she received about his "ridiculous suit"… She laughed suddenly, as it occurred to her that here he was, a lawyer seeking divorce for another woman, while trapped in a marriage he didn't want. What cruel irony.

He looked worried at her laughter, no doubt imagining it was aimed at him, but she tried to reassure him, "I see now why Mrs. Carmody is so upset with you."

"I don't; her own husband was terrible to her when he was alive. She should understand the benefit of our case."

Marina shook her head. "She had to live through an awful husband – for some people, they think that if they have suffered, then others must suffer as they did."

"Why? Shouldn't we wish for better for our future?"

"It's not about logic," Marina said with a shrug. "It's about feeling like you have been duped. Living with pain you didn't have to." She knew the feeling well; did he really not understand that desire? To make others' hurt because you did? She smirked. "I suppose you are too virtuous to understand…"

Philip shook his head. "It is not about virtue. It is logic, and progress."

Marina snorted. "Not likely. Do you really believe humans are logical beings?"

"I… No, I suppose not," he conceded. He looked out the window to the sunny sky and got to his feet. "I should be off."

"You're leaving today?" Marina asked. She had been enjoying talking with him; only it reminded her of how lonely she had been in the house alone these past weeks.

"Yes, I should be back in a few days. I am only going to present my findings to the senior attorneys, so they may make their arguments ready."

"Alright. I, um, perhaps we can have dinner together, when you return?"

He blushed and bowed to her, and she couldn't help grinning. "I would like that." He hurried out before she had a chance to say anything more.

She turned back to her breakfast and smiled.

That afternoon she opened one of the legal texts in the drawing room to read, curious about Philip's case. She had always thought of the law existing only for men of property, but perhaps that too was changing…

Mrs. Crane found her there later, napping on the couch with a legal text lying open on her lap. "Oh no! Has Philip gotten you involved in his work?"

Marina sniffed and sat up quickly, shaking off sleep. "Hm? Oh, no, I… I was just interested…"

Mrs. Crane gave her a doubtful look. "Yes, you seemed quite engaged with the material."

Marina laughed. "I promise, I was truly reading earlier. It's just such a lovely afternoon, and my energy is not what it was…"

"No, all your energy is going to the little one now," Mrs. Crane said, smiling indulgently at Marina. She came over and picked the legal text off Marina's lap, frowning at it. "How you can get your head around all that legal jargon to find anything interesting is beyond me!" she huffed, snapping the book shut and laying it on the table.

"What do you think?" Marina asked her. "About Mrs. Patterson's case?"

"About the divorce you mean? It is a difficult thing, isn't it? You would wish those two would simply forget the whole thing and stay married – if they really cared for the children!"

"But if their marriage is painful, surely it is painful for the children as well?"

"Yes, it may be so, but if I were in a situation like that – not that I would have divorced George and Philip's father – well… Well, I suppose it is better that he left me by dying rather than asking for a divorce because at least this way I still have my sons. Or, my son…"

Marina nodded. "So instead of divorcing, it would be better to kill your husband, if you could get away with it."

Mrs. Crane looked horrified. "Heavens! That is not what I said is it? I would never agree to that!"

Marina laughed and held up her hands in a calming gesture. "I am only joking – of course it is not so!" Seeing the joke, Mrs. Crane gave in to laughter as well.

"He left at a time like this? What if the baby comes while he is gone?"

Marina tilted her head at Harriet, considering. She hadn't thought about what she would do during the labour. She didn't care if Philip was there or not, but she didn't want to be alone.

Harriet blushed to her hairline. "Sorry ma'am, I shouldn't presume so much! I don't mean to criticize Mr. Crane."

"No, no, it's alright," Marina said, waving her off. She was just sitting, watching Harriet do the work today. Her back was especially sore today, and she found she hardly had any energy. Harriet was right – the baby would be born soon. "I was just thinking about who will help me with the birth." She wished her own mother could be there to help her through, but that was a pointless wish. Better to forget it. "Who helps your mother?"

"Well, our neighbor helped for a few," Harriet said. "I helped her with the two youngest, as I was old enough by then."

"Your father never helped I take it?"

"No, he wouldn't be of any help."

"Right. I don't think Mr. Crane would be very helpful during labor either."

"But you'll have the doctor to help you won't you ma'am?"

Marina looked up at Harriet. She could have the doctor help her during birth yes – she had the money for it. Sometimes she felt that she and Harriet were on the same level, and then something would come up and remind her of her own luck. She'd always been made to feel like a poor little country girl when she was in London, but she was a rich woman compared to Harriet and her family.

"Yes, I'll have the doctor help me," she said. She looked down at her stomach and grimaced. Having the doctor help might not be a good idea though – a doctor would certainly notice how big and healthy her son was, when according to her and Philip's marriage date, he should only be six months old.

No, she should not have a doctor or a midwife present when she gave birth. She needed someone she trusted, someone who knew her secret already and could help her. Her thoughts went again to her mother, and she realized she didn't really have anyone who fit the description in her life.

"Are you alright ma'am?" Harriet asked, coming over and taking her hand. Marina realized she was crying.

"I'll be fine, I just, ah, I don't know what's wrong with me."

Harriet nodded and stroked her hand gently. "It's alright. My mother is always emotional when she's with child. It's natural."

Marina nodded. "Thank you Harriet." Harriet smiled at her, her freckled face honest and open, and Marina wanted to tell her everything. She wanted to confide in her about her affair, about losing George and her empty marriage and how very, very scared she was to give birth. "Harriet, may I embrace you?"

Harriet nodded, and Marina threw her arms around the other girl's strong shoulders. Harriet soothed her, stroking her hand gently down Marina's back while she clung to her, breathing in the smell of her sweat and soap and hay until she felt calm enough to let go. "It's alright…" Harriet murmured over and over, softly, as she might while soothing a frightened animal or a small child. Marina felt her nerves steadying and wished she could stay that way forever.

She disentangled herself. "Thank you Harriet."

Harriet just smiled at her, and went back to her work.