Darcy stirred in his sleep and I was brought out of my memories and back to my window seat. I looked over at him and saw him turn over a few times. He once told me he slept restlessly when I wasn't beside him and as he reached over to my side of the bed, presumably to pull me closer to him, I saw him frown at my absence. It had been weeks since we'd last had relations. Ever since he had stopped asking me to attend functions with him and had reprimanded me for threatening his reputation, I had been making up excuses as to why I didn't want to be intimate with him and finally he had stopped trying.

It was also then that Anna Fulford had reappeared in William's life and I knew they had become close again. When I watched him escort her out of the morgue after the fake attempt on her life, I felt jealously seep through me like a disease. William had asked for my help in the whole scheme and, as a doctor, it would look far more realistic for me to feel her pulse and pronounce her dead. William's desperate cries on the dock were so real that I felt like bursting into tears myself at his loss. But I knew I was thinking irrationally. Anna was a sweet woman and I knew that she deeply cared for William. I had no right to be jealous. I had been the one to let him go and live a life he deserved after all. Now she was leaving him forever in order to be free and I couldn't be angry with that. I felt so sorry for William, losing every woman he had ever loved, through no fault of his own. First it had been his mother, then his fiancée, then his sister, then me, and now Anna. It was a cruel fate that William was dealt and I prayed he'd find happiness soon.

Darcy groaned, bringing me out of my thoughts once more. I sighed impatiently and got up, wrapping my dressing gown around me. I went downstairs to the kitchen and made myself a cup of tea. It was getting colder as October was drawing to a close. I put a couple logs on the fireplace and lit a match, watching the tinder catch the sparks and flicker into a larger flame. Sitting on the chair closest to the fireplace, I drew my legs up underneath me and sipped my tea. I was mesmerized by the flames and didn't hear Darcy approach until he spoke.

"Another nightmare, Julia?" he asked, sounding somewhat exasperated.

"Yes," I said, not looking at him.

"You should come back to bed. Sitting here won't help you," he said.

"I'm not tired right now."

"Just come lie down. Maybe you'll drift off," he insisted.

"Darcy, please. I'm not tired and I'd like to sit here for a little while," I snapped, in no mood to deal with him. He was usually a heavy sleeper and so I thought I would have a few hours of peace to myself.

"Fine," he huffed and turned to go back upstairs. I heard him pause and take a breath, then apparently change his mind and leave the room.

I looked back at the flames, watching them leap around the logs of wood, and wondered what I could do to get my life back on the right path.

I squinted at the beam of sunlight coming through the window and hesitantly opened my eyes to find that I was still curled up in the chair by the fire. The fire had dwindled down to a pile of glowing ashes and as I stood up, I winced at the cramp making it's way up my leg. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was almost seven o'clock and I would have to leave for work in an hour. I went upstairs into my bedroom and entered just as Darcy was coming out of the bathroom. He stopped when he saw me and nodded curtly.

"Good morning, Julia," he muttered.

"Good morning," I replied.

"I checked on you again early this morning, but you were asleep and I didn't want to disturb you," he told me.

"Thank you," I said, genuinely appreciating his concern.

He smiled slightly, his face relaxing, and I knew that last night's outburst was forgiven. Not that I sought it, but it made life easier.

"I have to do something about these nightmares, Darcy," I said, rubbing my forehead. My temples were throbbing from lack of sleep and tension.

"I don't know what, Julia," he replied, as he continued to pile papers into his valise. "All I can suggest is a sleeping draft."

"I can't be reliant on sleeping drafts every night forever," I said.

"I don't think the nightmares will last forever, Julia," he said, sardonically.

"You know what I mean, Darcy," I glared at him. "They were fine the first few nights and then they started up again when William told me that James Gillies had escaped. He's out there somewhere and he could attempt something again, Darcy. I can't live my life fearing him every day and night. I need sleep!" I finished, collapsing in the chair beside me, holding my head in my hands.

"I know, Julia, I know and I'm sorry," he said gently, approaching me. He pulled me up into an embrace and I rested my head on his shoulder. As much as we were drifting apart, it was comforting to be held.

He kissed me gently then, but I pulled away before he became too insistent. He rolled his eyes and stepped away, grabbing his valise from the bureau.

"Let me know if you think of anything and I'll see what I can do," he said and with that, he left for the day.

I had already thought of a solution, however, but I didn't dare mention it to Darcy yet for fear that he would quickly dismiss the idea. Despite his somewhat unorthodox practices, I knew that Dr. Roberts would be willing to help me and at this point, I was more than ready to try anything.

I finished getting ready and when I arrived at the office, after some my preliminary check ups and rounds, I picked up the telephone.

"Dr. Roberts," I heard him say on the other end.

"Good morning, Dr. Roberts, it's Dr. Julia Ogden calling," I said.

"Ah, Dr. Ogden," his tone brightened. "What a delightful surprise! How might I be of assistance? Has one of your patients started hallucinating again?"

"No, as a matter of fact, I'm not calling for one of my patients, but rather for myself," I told him.

"I see. What seems to be the problem, Doctor?" he asked worriedly.

"I wonder if I might visit you this afternoon, if you have some time?"

"Of course," he said immediately. I heard him flipping pages of what I presumed to be his diary. "Does two o'clock work for you?"

"Yes, yes that will be perfect," I said, feeling relieved at not having to wait a day longer. "Thank you very much, Dr. Roberts."

"Not at all Doctor. Good day."

"Good day."

I sat in my chair, feeling lighter than I had all morning. Of course, it was just a consultation, I had no idea if Dr. Roberts would actually be able to help me. However, I still waited for two o'clock to arrive with baited breath.