Title: William & Julia Murdoch and the Lakeside Lasher
Author:RuthieBelle
Rating: M
Summary: It's a grand old Edwardian house party for the privileged-Julia's classmates from McGill University. However, once again, William and Julia prove that they can't go on weekend getaways.
Notes: This is what happens when the two of us think it would be quite fun to come up with fic based upon a ubiquitous cartoon mystery show from the 1960's.
Chapter One
The look on William's face spoke a 1,000 words. She'd had the hotel bring down no fewer than four steamer trunks from the luggage room, and she'd used three for herself alone. Seizing the opportunity to splurge on some pretty new clothes, she'd shunned her typical workday wear of smart suits and opted for rather impractical frocks. It had been too easy actually, all she'd done was whisper the words "house party" to Monsieur Ducharme and his enthusiasm had rivaled hers.
The final tab had been downright extortionate, but Julia quickly excused it as she didn't do it often, and yes, perhaps three steamer trunks just for herself was a bit excessive. However, she was excited for a house party with her old friends from college.
William had come home for lunch, expecting to have a quick meal with Julia and finalize arrangements for their train trip later this afternoon to Newcastle, north of Toronto along Lake Ontario. She had been anticipating it for weeks now and told him she was going to use the hours before luncheon getting ready, barring any untimely murders. By the evidence all over their rooms, she had clearly spent her morning productively; the quantity of luggage however was a bit shocking. He wondered why all the effort was necessary. "I know you are looking forward to seeing them, but why not just invite them to visit Toronto?"
"I suppose it'll simply be nice to get away from all of my responsibilities here. It's a chance to meet up with all of my friends at once again, to not be Dr. Ogden…to simply be Julia, or rather Mrs. Murdoch for once. I don't do it nearly enough," she said brightly. "Besides, you'll be there to protect me from that dreadful Donald Harvey," she muttered under her breath, nervously. She fingered the gold Mobius symbol resting in the hollow of her neck, his recent love gift to her.
"Well, I am glad you are planning to enjoy yourself. And I, for one, certainly do not mind you being Mrs. Murdoch." He pulled her close for a kiss to dispel her anxiety, setting a stray curl back behind her ear for good measure. Julia had not seemed quite herself lately, and he worried that the fertility treatments were taking their toll on her. Though he'd never dare mention it (he at least knew never to do that), she was slightly heavier than her customary weight, but he was secretly excited about her new voluptuousness. In addition, she had been a bit moodier of late and William suspected that the surge of hormones must be quite difficult. He was at a loss with how to deal with her at times, but he knew silence was most likely going to be the best option. Still, he hoped that the fresh country air and stimulation of friends might be just what she needed to relax.
He glanced again at her three trunks over brimming with colourful fabrics, and was glad there did not seem to be any additional hats; the Windsor had a storage room full of Julia's hat boxes. Since she purchased her clothing with her own money he was wise enough to just shrug off the expense he'd been tallying in his head. William pointed to the remaining trunk. "Unless you are also bringing a small library of books, or planning on more dress shopping, I think I can make do with my hand luggage. I will have the house valet remove that extra one."
Julia opened the trunk to show it was almost full.
Giggling, Julia shook her head. "I may have taken the liberty of packing what I think you will need. Of course you can wear your suit for travel and other times, but you'll also need your evening clothes, your walking apparel which will have to do for hunting or shooting, and even a riding outfit, which I have taken the liberty of procuring for you," she proudly announced.
William's eyes got momentarily big and round upon surveying his wife's sartorial choices. "But, Julia," he tried to be reasonable. "We are only going Saturday to Monday, barely three days, and you have essentially packed the entire contents of my closet. The only thing missing is my gum boo…" He frowned when she flicked a garment aside to reveal his rubber muck boots were nestled next to his dress shoes and what appeared to be a new pair of English-style riding boots. "Ah, I see." But of course, he didn't. "Perhaps I misunderstood the length of this vacation? Or the amusements available in Newcastle?" Julia's growing frown checked his list of objections. "You are going to spend time with old friends. Surely you don't need to impress them with all of this pomp."
"William, it's not pomp. It's etiquette. It's just how things are done, is all. Don't tell me you dislike tradition all of a sudden?" she asks pointedly.
He coughed, just as pointedly, with a glimmer in his eye. "There are dreadful traditions which have nothing to do with etiquette. Besides, I thought we agreed we are a modern couple, or do you prefer to go more traditional in that regard?" He was gratified she smiled when he cocked an eyebrow. "And just who is this Donald Harvey? I thought it was only your friends who were invited."
"Oh, he's nothing really. Just a dreadful man who was a couple of years ahead of me at McGill. As you know, even though we weren't allowed to attend lectures with men as we were assumed to be too distracting to the male students, or worse yet, less than capable. He was a teaching assistant who worked in the laboratory. Rather creepy, actually" she said, trailing off with a rasp.
William was concerned about Julia's change in tone. He'd never seen her so unsettled because of a man "Then I do not understand why he will be amongst the guests. You cannot be the only one to find him objectionable."
"For reasons I cannot fathom, he was best friends with our hostess' older brother, Samuel, while we were at school. They had a rather serious falling out in their last year together—I am told it came to blows actually. I never knew what the rift was about, perhaps a love triangle or even about gambling debts. But, our hostess informed me he'll be there as his guest, unfortunately, so it would seem they've mended their relationship," she quietly replied, stroking his lapels with a deep sigh. "Alas, it won't be that terrible, you'll be there to protect me," she murmured, her voice husky.
William hummed his agreement, wrapping her up in his arms. Unfortunately the telephone jangled, interrupting the moment. Relinquishing her, he answered the call, and Julia fussed with one of her new outfits, showing it off to him with a swirl of skirts.
"William Murdoch here." The smile at watching her dance was replaced with a deep frown. "Yes, sir. I understand." He turned to Julia, who by this time knew what sort of call that was; she was standing there with slumped shoulders. "I am so sorry, Julia. That was the inspector. It seems I am needed. No…" he said quickly, "not a new murder so you are not required. I am being ordered to meet with the Crown Prosecutor about the McGivney trial. I have to go right away for an interview."
Her face winced in the disappointment she knew would soon follow. Yet she still hoped. "You will make our train at four, won't you William?"
William hesitated. The very thought of being cooped up for three days in a house with nineteen strangers having to listen to or produce mindless, pleasant small talk made giving court testimony seem, if not preferable, certainly less onerous. The really painful part was disappointing Julia. "I imagine not. The trial…"
"William, you've promised," she snapped, stomping her foot. "I'm starting to think that you have no desire to travel with me. Is our honeymoon the only excursion out of this city that we'll ever make together?" she asked with a high voice, hands on her hips.
He crossed the room to take her hand, worried at how strongly she was reacting to this turn of events. It made him suspicious and nervous there was an underlying issue he was missing. "I will go anywhere with you, to the ends of the earth if necessary," he said, placing a kiss on each hand, "but the McGivney trial is the culmination of seven month's work and opening arguments will be next week. You can and should go to visit with your friends without me – Mrs. White's invitation to the party is primarily for the alumnae of McGill after all, not their spouses; I expect having me there would only serve to limit your opportunities to catch up." He searched her face and raised one corner of his mouth. "As for Mr. Harvey, I also suspect you know how to handle a boorish man."
"Well, it's not like it's the first time you've chosen work over me," she muttered. "I suppose I can always hit him where it counts if it comes to that."
He flinched at her first comment but chose to only respond to the second. "That is one solution." He was flummoxed by her attitude. His job called him regularly and inconveniently out of his leisure time, something Julia really should be used to now, never mind that her own occupation made the same demands. He kissed her again, feeling the need to defend himself. "Julia, I am not making a choice, you know that. If this was a murder trial, Mr. Stanley would be making the same demand on you as well. Be glad that is not the case."
Julia's eyes flashed in anger, and she rolled her shoulders back in defiance. "It simply would not happen. I would inform Mr. Stanley that I had plans and that I would not be staying. If he had any concerns, perhaps he should have taken the time to speak with me earlier as opposed to demand that I cancel my plans and disappoint my family who will always come before work. Lack of planning or perceived inadequacies on his part are no concern of mine, nor should they be yours," she snapped. "I am going!"
Julia was not mollified. Did she think she was secondary to work for him? William had no idea what else to say. "Well, I suppose that settles it then. You have been looking forward to this, so go on yourself to visit your friends without me. I will miss you and I am sorry I will not be going with you this time. I promise, once the trial is over we will take a weekend anywhere you like," William offered. "Just the two of us, on any adventure you choose."
He knew he was being reckless with that sort of promise; one never knew what Julia Ogden might come up with, however she was clearly so upset about his having to work he wanted to make it up to her. He tried to soften it further with humour, giving her a hug and a wrinkled smile. "Besides, it may be for the best I am not going. You will recall what happened the last time you invited me to a house party and I accepted?"
"Really William, I don't see why you insist on bringing that dreadful memory back up," she retorted, a mixture of hurt and anger in her eyes.
William's face coloured, acknowledging his mea culpa. "Julia, I am sorry, but I have to go. Mr. Stanley is waiting. I will meet you at the station when you return late Monday night. Have a good time." With that and another peck on the cheek, William took his coat and hat and left.
As Julia stared at the closed door, the tears welled up in her eyes as she stomped over to the drink cart.
Damn you, William Murdoch! With a guttural but well-placed snort, she poured a whiskey and quickly tossed it back as she surveyed the luggage. Since when has he preferred work to me? Or has he always? How the hell are we supposed to ever conceive if we're apart at my most fertile time of month?
The tears stung as she quickly wiped them away, shaking her head. Well, I'll be damned if I unpack for him, she thought with another snort. William really must be forward thinking or quite naïve if he is so willing to let me attend a house party alone Modern marriage, indeed!
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
William's interview with Crown Prosecutor Stanley was brutal. "That man questioned me as if I was the defendant!" William fumed to Inspector Brackenreid, as he crossed and re-crossed the tiny space in front of his superior's desk in outrage.
"You know how he is. Stanley is new at this and is just making sure nothing falls apart on him at trial," Brackenreid saluted the wall clock on his office wall with a tumbler of scotch and a chortle. "You got out of there in record time, Murdoch. The boys were betting you'd not see daylight before he was done with you." The inspector got tired of wagging his head left and right to follow his detective's pacing. "Sit down! Tell me…did you answer all his questions? Satisfy him that we have the case all sewn up?"
William stopped and sat heavily in a small black leather settee. "Yes, I believe so. For some reason he still wants to rehearse each witness again. He asked me to call George over for him next. And even though he has finished with me, he wants me to remain on hand, just in case," he complained. "I have testified more often than he has ever presented cases. It is just a little galling, that is all."
"And so you'll have to take a pass on that trip with the missus." Brackenreid leaned back in his chair. "My wife would give her eye teeth to go to one of those overblown, gentry, country-house to-do's. Of course, if she really knew what happened at those things, I'd wager she'd change her mind right quick."
William frowned, unclear what the inspector was referencing. "I thought you did not approve of upper class pretensions, sir."
Brackenreid just laughed. "I don't. But I can't say as I'd mind the after dinner brandy and cigar smoking while playing a little snooker on the upper-crust's dime. Don't worry, you'll have to put up with my company instead. I am sure there is a pile of paperwork you'd rather be finishing…"
William thought about his inbox and nodded.
"Or a nice thick scientific magazine to peruse?"
William almost smiled.
"Or an invention you are tinkering with in your office…"
This time William grinned. "Why, as a matter of fact…"
"…Because God forbid you go and have any fun!" Brackenreid hollered out into to the bullpen. "Crabtree!"
The constable poked his head in. "Yes sir?"
"Murdoch here is going to be with us today and tomorrow after all, so you are off the hook to pick up his slack. He'll fill you in on what the Crown Prosecutor wants from you, then he'll get back to work." The inspector dropped his voice. "Who won the pool?"
George also whispered with a sly quirk of his lips. "Higgins, sir. Two dollars and forty cents."
William brought George into his own office, mulling what the inspector had said. It was not the first time he'd been accused of being dull, and wondered if that was part of Julia's complaint. Business was at hand, however. "Crown Prosecutor Stanley wants you over at his office to go over your testimony." He held his hand up. "I know we have already done so, but he insists."
George asked. "Are you really going to miss out on your week-end with Dr. Ogden?"
"I am afraid so." William paused, going over the scene with Julia in their apartment. "They are her school friends…at least most of them are. She mentioned one of the men who was invited had been difficult in the past, but she thought she'd be able to take care of it."
"Well, sir, if I may say so. Dr. Ogden is one woman who is more than capable of defending herself. I'm certain she will not need you..."
William's head shot up, not liking what he was hearing.
"Well what I mean is, she has been in tough situations before and handled herself admirably. Miss Pearce, Harlan Orgill, Miss Grimes…" George stuck his right arm out, imitating a 'clothesline' take down. "Rescuing you from drowning... I …I would not want to cross her myself," George stuttered as he backed out of the office. "I, umm, should be going. Mr. Stanley is waiting on me…"
William watched George scuttle through the doorway, unsure of his own course of action. There was in fact no need for him to remain in Toronto on standby just because the prosecutor was insecure at his job. The combination of George's and Brackenreid's comments made him slightly queasy as if suddenly his desire to remain in Toronto came up against a need to fill his role as her husband by her side.
With one last look at the papers on his desk and the device he was in the middle of constructing, he pulled his watch out. If I call the hotel to dispatch the trunk, I can get to the train just in time. He took in a huge breath to signal an uncharacteristic defiance of authority.
"Inspector..?"
