2. Reception

The couple walk around the wide entrance hall, guided to the imposing staircase that was at the bottom. A man reached out to William who gave him his hat soon. Then he took Julia's hand in his and after a simple glance they went up the stairs at the same pace.

-Good evening gentleman, lady, merely murmuring the butler before turning to another couple.

Once at the first floor, they just stopped at that moment. William felt Julia's fingers tighten with more force on his own, as he swallowed hard.

-It's beautiful, Julia whispered, looking around, this house is sublime.

-And probably overpriced, William sighed without looking at his wife, who can offer such a sumptuous reception room in his own house?

-We are in one of the largest upper-class family in the city William. They are very fortunate.

-I should have had to put a bow tie, sighed the young man.

Julia laughs shyly beside him before leaning on his ear and kissed his cheek.

-You are perfect my love, she whispered, smiling.

She looked at him he did the same, yet still with embarrassment. His wife came closer against him and they resumed their journey to the big already crowded room, whose large open inviting them in.

The couple greeted several people in its path. Several men stood by them, men that Julia knew all. William had to admit he still felt a pang of jealousy when he saw that she had attended during his studies, at parties such as this one, or when the father of his wife had tried to make her find a good party marry a few years earlier. It was nevertheless full of pride in presenting themselves as the spouse of Dr Ogden, noting that many women in the congregation that night, does not equal in beauty and intelligence which was always well strapped to his arm. He happened to look out of the corner of his eye, savoring those moments when he heard her laughter, those seconds where she pursed her lips nervously or shyness, the moment she exuded her face with this blonde who loop undulated. They listened carefully to the speech of the Director of the hospital. When the applause rang, the crowd dispersed again and the discussions went well underway. Music was played and a few couples went to the makeshift dance floor in the center of the room. Julia felt the hand of William drag on her hip and his breath in her neck.

-Do you mind to dance Mrs. Murdoch? He whispered in her ear.

He walked away from her for barely meet her eyes and see her smile widely. She gently took his hand and pulled him toward the runway when a great man, elegant, the graying hair and dark eyes appeared before them.

-Doctor Ogden, I am delighted to see you tonight, gave the host.

-I was surprised to have had your invitation, Julia replied politely, I was not expecting it.

-Come on, you are one of the most famous Doctor of the city, it goes without saying that you need to attend my reception with all our colleagues.

Julia looked a few seconds, blushing before turning to William and to smile tenderly.

-Let me introduce to you my husband, Detective William Murdoch, she says proudly.

-I think I read your name several times in the press Detective, the man replied, shaking his hand, you are an outstanding investigator that I could understand.

-I am glad to do my job, sir, replied William.

-There should be more police officer like you. Tell me Doctor Ogden, did you study the offer I offered to you?

-Well, frankly I do not have time to think about it, Julia mumbled glancing at her husband, who knew nothing of this proposal, but I fear having to reject it. A position at the hospital in addition to that I do at the asylum and my help to the police station, will be too much for me.

-This will be only for two or three hours a week, insisted the Doctor, you told me to want fewer hours to asylum, this is not?

-Indeed, immediately replied the young woman, but I had other reasons ... she said in a whisper, glancing to William, I am sorry Doctor. I am really flattered by your proposal, but I have to refuse.

-I understand, you are a young woman, a wife, you have probably other priorities. Know that if they were to change, I will be delighted to have you with us.

-Thank you, Julia nodded.

He smiled and took her hand tenderly to drop a kiss.

-You have an incredible wife Detective Murdoch, never let her go.

-I willnot Sir, William replied by putting his hand in the back of Julia as the old man walked away smiling.

-You did not tell me of this, William whispered, turning to his wife.

-I was planning to, but to tell you that I refused, the last weeks have been challenging for you, I waited for the right time.

-And you want to do less hours at the asylum? What's happening ?

-Not here, not that evening William , please, Julia tenderly cut, placing his hand on the chest of the Detective, I would like to enjoy this evening. Did not you want to dance?

-Yes but...

-Julia!

The voice made them jump and they turned with one movement to its origin. Julia barely had time to smile as the young man came to kiss her cheek while William looked up at the ceiling.

-Isaac, replied the young woman, I did not know you were here tonight.

-I have heard that you would come, he said, smiling broadly, I see you came along. Detective. Good evening.

-Doctor, William replied bitterly.

-It has been so long that you're not coming to this kind of evenings, the marriage would he have made of you a housewife?

-I only have a lot of work and I spend much of my free time with my husband, Julia answered quickly by tightening fingers on William's arm to prevent him to intervene.

He immediately understood and he just gritted his teeth.

-I see, Isaac grumbled, oh now I got you, come with me, Amélie is here too, she did not seen you for ages.

-Indeed, it should well up to ten years already, Julia replied smiling, what has he become?

-She married today, definitely I shall have married either of the two most beautiful women of the University. I take her from you Detective, Isaac continued pulling Julia by the arm away from William.

Julia met his eyes and placed a single kiss at the corner of his lips.

-I will not be long, she whispered before walking away with Doctor Tash.

In response, he merely smiled at her, looking through the crowd on the arm of this man he could not stand. Although he had always known that Isaac was not the man with whom Julia had had a relationship with the University, although he remembered that he had saved her life and that he was eternally grateful for this, he was deeply jealous of him. Jealous that he had known her intimately, like friends, but close friends. Today William was her husband, the man she had chosen to marry, the one who had the right openly to love her, to kiss her, to spend every night with her, and yet he could not help being jealous of all the men she had known before him. Especially Dr. Isaac Tash.


To be continued...