Her hands shook as she clipped the necklace behind her neck.

"Julia, are you ready?" Darcy snapped as he peeked around the door. When he saw her slowly decorating herself he pulled a face. "Can you get a move on?"

"Yes, yes. Of course. I'm sorry, Darcy." She smiled at him in the mirror and stood up hurriedly. Her dress was sitting on her perfectly, just off the shoulders and tight around her ribs. Despite his anger at her, Darcy couldn't help but admire his wife.

"No need to apologise." He studied her face as she searched around for a bag and threw various items into it.

"I'm ready." She said with another smile, stepping towards him. He smiled back and held his arm out for her.

He lead her out of the house, into the carriage waiting for them. He attempted small talk all the way to the house, but Julia barely replied. She stared out of the window, sighing every few minutes.

When he opened the door for her he pulled her to one side. "What's the matter?" He asked. She looked in his eyes, then away again.

"I'm just feeling distracted. It's nothing, don't worry." Another winning smile and she slipped away, joining their friends at the front door.

He watched her go with a strange expression. Something wasn't right.

They milled around the party for the first hour, but Darcy could see that Julia was worn out. She barely participated in conversation, even when topics came up that he'd heard her talk for hours and hours about before. Something was definitely wrong.

At dinner, she didn't speak at all. Instead she just let people talk around her, sometimes nodding or smiling vacantly. Darcy felt his concern turn to fear until Enid happened to mention another party happening at that exact same time.

"Weren't you invited to the policeman's ball, Dr Ogden?" Julia jumped viciously and looked around, cheeks blazing.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I thought that, given your past employment, they might have wanted your company tonight." All eyes were on her and Darcy's skin crawled.

"No, they didn't ask for me. Besides, I'm a married woman now." She smiled bravely, picking her fork up again. "They know I have new friends."

"And what great friends they are." Darcy finished, smiling around the table but shooting Julia a frown that she didn't see. Everyone took another sip of champagne and continued with their meal, once more ignoring the gloomy guest.

"Julia, can I have a word?" Darcy asked as they moved away from the table, gravitating towards the front porch.

"Of course." She smiled again. So many smiles. Something was very wrong.

"You aren't happy." He stated, standing next to her but not looking at her.

"No." He didn't see the colour drain from her face or the way her chest heaved.

"Is it something I can fix?" As embarrassed as he was, Darcy couldn't help but feel he ought to be able to help his wife.

"No, but thank you. No one can fix it. I'm going to have to live with it." She folded her arms around her chest, shuffling on her feet. "Are you cold?"

"What do you mean you have to live with it? Is this about Detective Murdoch? And no, I'm not–"

"I'm going to get a scarf." She disappeared back into the building just as the first fireworks went off.

"Julia!" Around him, the couples were kissing and the friends were hugging and everyone was celebrating. Everyone was so excited about the new year – the new century! – except him.

"Julia!" He repeated, pushing past some friends to follow her. She hadn't gone far: she was sitting on one of the dining room chairs, holding her face in her hands. Her shoulders were shaking.

Feeling uncomfortable, Darcy sat down on the chair next to her. She jumped and looked away, hands still on her face.

"I'm sorry, Darcy. This is foolish."

"You shouldn't be here."

"No, I should. I should be with our friends." She turned back to him, showing her tear stained face. He sighed.

"You should be with the person you want to spend the new year with." He kept his voice steady although he wanted to hit her.

"Thank you. I'm so sorry to do this to you." She wiped her face and stood up, making to walk away.

"Where are you going?" His voice snapped and he stood up, grabbing her arm. She stopped and turned to look at him, wide eyed.

"You said I shouldn't be here."

"Because you're making a scene."

"I should just leave then." She tried to pull her arm free but he held on tighter, tugging her towards him. "Let go!"

"That would just make things worse. Have you any idea how embarrassing you've been tonight? In front of my friends and colleagues?" He spat his anger, feeling it boiling in his stomach.

"It's time I put an end to it, then." She tried again and again to free her arm, pulling away and away. Darcy refused to let go.

"Yes, and start behaving yourself."

"Behaving?" She wrenched her arm lose and took a step back, glaring angrily. "What do you mean?"

"You've hardly been the most friendly or social or delightful of guests–"

"And you've hardly been the most delightful of husbands!" Her snarl cut through him and echoed around the room. By now, most people had come back into the house to see what was going on. Julia's arm was red and bruised and her face was painted with the pain she'd held in all evening and she'd had enough.

"Let me go, Darcy." She said in a cooler tone, even though he was no longer holding her. "You're right. I should be with the person I want to spend the new year with." The crowd held its breath, waiting for Darcy's reaction to her next words. "And we both know that's not you."

Julia turned and pushed people out of the way – just people, they weren't friends or acquaintances or even strangers. Just people. Darcy called after her but she didn't listen because she was sick of hearing her name on his lips.

She got to the edge of the property before his hand was on her arm again and her name was in his voice again. She span, her free hand flying up to hit his cheek with enough force to make a noise but gentle enough to not hurt him. Much.

"Let go!" He staggered back and she jumped, startled. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "Where are you going?"

"Away." She bit her lip, trembling, and turned and ran. Angry shouts and hysterical crying tried to reach her to make her feel back for ruining their night, but enough was enough. Julia walked and walked and ran away, lifting the skirt of her dress.