She looked more puzzled and incredulous with every word. “But—Nolan—why do you care if these guldwomen are sick? I mean—of course we should help everybody if we can, but shouldn’t you be working on some other kind of medication? You know, something to help the indigo when they’re sick? Wouldn’t that be more valuable?”

He shouldn’t even feel this great swoop of anger. This was Leesa, he had known what her reaction would be. He shouldn’t even have told her what project he had under way; he had known she would be baffled and dismayed. “Maybe, but there are other people working on indigo cures,” he said as gently as he could. “I seem to have a particular talent for understanding the gulden cells. And it gives me a great deal of—” He hesitated and discarded the word pleasure. “Of pride to be able to produce something that will alleviate suffering in another human being. No matter who that human being is.”

“Well, of course, I didn’t mean to belittle your work,” she said, though the words rang somewhat false. “I’m very impressed with your abilities, you know that. It’s just that—I would think, with all your skills and your intelligence, you would be working on something just a little more—important, I guess.” She gave him a smile that was intended to be soothing, for she must realize her words had ruffled him a little, and then she laughed self-consciously. “And now I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to tell my mother! She keeps asking me what it is you’re doing, and I felt so guilty that I didn’t really know. But I’m not sure she’ll be too enthusiastic when I tell her.”

Oh, he was sure she wouldn’t be. He could picture her, the majestic Brentitia Corova, having all her high-born indigo friends over for drinks, trying to explain what it was her prospective son-in-law did for a living. No wonder Leesa seemed so ill at ease; she was asking for her mother, not herself, and his answers seemed even more radical, judged by that standard. “Just tell her I’m working on drugs that will cure serious infectious diseases,” Nolan said. “That should please her.”

Leesa bestowed a radiant smile upon him. “Of course! That’s perfect! It sounds quite wonderful when you put it that way.”

He gave her a teasing smile in return, though his heart was a little heavy. Though his heart was unsurprised. “So,” he said, “do you think she’ll still respect me enough to allow you to marry me?”

But Leesa answered him seriously. “Yes,” she said, “I think she still will be able to respect you when I tell her that.”