"You mistake my compliment for incredulity. Those are pirate instincts if I've ever seen them. Are you sure I don't compliment you enough, or do you just miss them in your insistence I'm awful?" He's grinning as he says it, absolutely no bite to the push back.

And he roles right into her question without realizing how earnest he's being. "The real reason for you being my wife was to keep you safe with as much freedom as possible. If they do catch you, it should slow them trying to marry you off again. My reputation had nothing to do with it."

Alright, and maybe he is still uncomfortable with people knowing he is the respectable sort, but he suspects by now Aerith has seen through him.