I came out of the bathroom, tying the knot of my dressing gown sash tight around my waist. I walked into the bedroom and sat at the chair of my dressing table and started pulling the pins from my hair. Darcy came in with a cup of warm milk, a glass of scotch, and his medicine bag.

"This is for you now," he said, handing me the scotch.

I downed it in one gulp and coughed slightly as the warm liquid burned my throat. It felt good and soothing.

"This is for when you're in bed," he said again, putting the cup of milk on my bedside table.

"And this," he held up his bag, "is for when you're ready to go to sleep."

I smiled gently. "Thank you, Darcy."

I finished with my hair and then went to my closet, pulling out one of my nightgowns. My head was splitting and I couldn't wait for the sedative that Darcy intended to give me. I needed as much sleep as possible.

I climbed into bed and sank against my pillow, bringing the milk to my lips. I finished it quickly and Darcy came over with his stethoscope, sphygmomanometer* and syringe. I rolled up my sleeve and waited as he finished testing my vitals and felt the sedative course into my system. Curling up with my pillow I closed my eyes and prayed that a restful sleep would come next, although I knew I was hoping for too much.

"Help! William! Help!"

"Julia!" I could hear his voice. It was distant, like it was still above the ground while I was trapped under it.

"William!" I screamed again, desperately trying to alert him as to where I was.

"Julia!" I heard it again and felt someone's arms shaking me. Suddenly, his voice changed and I saw James Gillies' face above me, smirking triumphantly as he closed the lid to the coffin, sealing the darkness around me.

I started thrashing my arms, trying to force myself out, but it was no use. The lid was being closed and there was nothing I could do but listen to Gillies' chuckle of revenge.

I was once again gasping for breath and screaming for William to help me. My eyes shot open and I was enveloped in darkness once more. My heart was pounding and I was sweating profusely. I felt someone holding onto me and tried to fight my way free, but Darcy's voice drifted through to me, past the hazy vision of a receding Gillies.

"Julia," Darcy said frantically. He gripped me tighter to him and once I realized I was safe again, I collapsed into him, choking out a sob.

"It's alright, darling," he said softly, stroking my hair. "You're safe here with me, it's alright."

My heart was slowing down, but I still felt the need for air.

"Open the window," I gasped.

Darcy immediately jumped out of the bed and pushed open the window. I followed him and leaned my head against the pane, drawing in as much fresh air as I could. Darcy stood behind me, his hands gently rubbing my arms. I shivered, though I wasn't sure if it was because of the cool night air or his touch. He wrapped his arms further around my body and I did feel comforted. I turned around and wrapped my own arms around his waist, burying my head in his chest. His hand came up to hold my head and he shushed me gently, trying to calm me down.

"Darcy," I whispered.

"Yes, Julia? What is it?" he asked, placing a kiss on my hair.

"I…" I didn't really have anything to say, but it felt as though if I said his name aloud, I would realize I was awake and not stuck in that nightmare. I breathed in his scent, now aware of reality. "Nothing."

"Are you okay now?" he asked gently.

I nodded and he helped me back to bed. I crawled under the covers and felt him come up behind me, his body pressing against mine and his arm wrapping around my stomach. He continued stroking my hair and murmured that I was safe with him and that he wouldn't let anyone harm me. I listened to his soft voice until I drifted off once more.

Upon waking the next morning, the events of the previous day came flooding back to me in a gut-wrenching wave. I had momentarily forgotten what had happened, but the memory sprang back into my mind and I shuddered. I turned over and found that Darcy had already gotten up and I leaned over to check the time. The clock read half-past eight. Despite the first nightmare, I had slept soundly once I fell back to sleep.

I pulled on my dressing gown and walked slowly down the stairs. I could hear Mrs. Weller in the kitchen. Truth be told, I wasn't overly fond of Mrs. Weller. She seemed rather attached to Darcy and while I wasn't jealous by any stretch of the imagination, she also seemed to have something against me though I couldn't put my finger on what. However, she did her job well and was always pleasant and polite, if reservedly so, and I couldn't fault her for that.

I walked into the kitchen and she turned at the sound of my footsteps.

"Good morning ma'am," she said, offering me a sympathetic smile. "I'm so glad to see you're up and about. I imagine that was quite the ordeal. I'll get you some tea."

Perhaps it was the circumstance, but she seemed especially kind this morning. "Thank you Mrs. Weller, I would appreciate that," I said. "I'll be in the parlour."

She nodded and I left, entering the sunlit room. Darcy was sitting in a chair, reading the newspaper. I could see the headline "TORONTO DOCTOR SAVED AFTER BEING BURIED ALIVE". I scoffed under my breath and Darcy looked up.

"Darling, you're awake. I thought you'd be asleep for another few hours yet. I gave you another sedative once you fell back asleep," he said, rising to embrace me.

"Thank you, Darcy," I replied, accepting his kiss. "It seems bad news really does travel fast, doesn't it?" I motioned to the paper.

"It's quite the circumstance, darling." He picked it back up and tossed it on the table. "But don't pay any attention to it. It'll soon blow over and you need to concentrate on moving on from it."

I smiled and nodded, knowing it would be easier said than done.

Mrs. Weller came in then and deposited the tea tray onto the table. "There are some biscuits there as well, ma'am. I thought you might be hungry."

"Thank you," I replied, sitting in front of the table. I was rather hungry, not having eaten anything since Gillies had attacked me. I poured both Darcy and myself a cup of tea and held it out to him.

He took it from me, silently watching as I fixed my own. He sat across from me, on the edge of his chair, still watching my every move as though I would suddenly break apart at any second.

"Darcy, I'm fine," I said, exasperatedly, finally looking him straight in the eyes to prove that I was telling the truth. I hoped he'd believe it.

"Very well, Julia," he said, leaning back in his chair. He relaxed somewhat and changed the subject. "I have to go to the hospital for a few hours, but I'll be back before dinner. What will you do?"

"I think I'd like to take a walk," I said. "I feel I need wide open spaces right now."

"Understandable," he replied. "Please be careful though."

"Darcy, James Gillies is in custody, he can't hurt me anymore."

"I know, but I worry," he said quietly.

His face scrunched up painfully and I suddenly realized what this meant for him as well. After all, he did love me and I had almost died. I wasn't the only one affected by it.

I leaned forward and held out my hand to him, which he took immediately. "I'll be careful, I promise," I said reassuringly. He bent down and pressed his lips to my hand.

He sat back in his chair again and sighed. "Julia," he began cautiously.

"Yes?"

"I'd like to ask you again," he approached it gently. "Why and how did this happen?"

I braced myself for my explanation, knowing that it wouldn't make him feel any better, but he deserved to know the truth and I saw no need in lying to him. I had done nothing wrong and had no reason to be nervous. Nevertheless, my heart started beating faster and I took a deep breath.

*Blood pressure cuff – I figured Julia would use the proper term, but wanted to clarify here