-Chapter 6-

Apparently setting a wedding date did not in fact settle anything.

William had to admit he was feeling a little lost and that this was an uncomfortable state of being for him in an otherwise orderly life. He looked for a reasonable solution to the problems before him, and started with enumeration in a meticulous list penciled carefully in his notebook:

1) Bat Masterson was as uneven a personality has he had ever encountered whose behaviors were obfuscating the current investigation. What to do?

2) The Inspector was, well, unaccountably charmed, by the lawman. How to address this?

3) Both George and Mrs. Kitchen seemed to assume he and Julia would be living somewhere other than his boarding house, an idea that had never occurred to him and he speculated if, at the end of the day, Mrs. Kitchen was uncomfortable about the idea of sheltering them when there would be some inevitable gossip and shunning. But where to live?

4) That was, he supposed, a conversation to have with his bride, after all. But when?

5) Their wedding day was approaching and while he had confidently left the arrangements for the ceremony to Julia, his arrangements for a Manhattan honeymoon were stalled because he could not get a confirmation from the Hotel. Why not?

Then there were other worries:

6) He hadn't had an extended private moment with Julia in more days than he could count and in his experience that usually did not bode well…

7) Worse yet, the lads were hinting about that abhorrent social variation known as a bachelor party; and of course…

8) There were the ladies from the brothel, and his reactions to them….

Or was that eight and nine? William sighed and rubbed his forehead in vexation before snapping his notebook shut with a disgusted slap. Per usual, the closer he got to actually having her, the more he had erotic dreams about Julia. Last night was particularly exciting and he woke this morning sorely disappointed…

If I am not careful, he told himself, I believe I will be whining any minute!

# # #

Julia clutched a notebook tightly in her hands walking up to the door, then turned around to flee when Margaret Brackenreid hailed her from the threshold. "Dr. Ogden, where-ever are you going? It just took a moment to get to the door!" Mrs. Brackenreid motioned Julia back onto the porch, through the vestibule of their home and directly into the parlour. "I have tea all prepared. Please, sit with me while I pour and then we can go over your wedding plans."

Julia plastered a pleasant expression on her face and allowed herself to be ushered inside and installed on stiff cushions. Sipping the pleasant beverage she could not help but wish for something stronger, but assumed that would offend her hostess, so she added more sugar and hoped for the best. It turned out Julia did not have to do more than "Mm-mm" and "Why, yes" as the other woman chattered on with ideas that were festooning the wedding and reception with evermore layers of grandiosity that she believed William would absolutely hate as much as she did. It took every ounce of Julia's diplomacy to curb Margaret's enthusiasm without hurting her feelings.

"…So, as wonderful as that notion is, William and I are hoping for something simple that our guests can enjoy, and as for the number of those guests, until I have a wedding venue we won't know how many can be accommodated." Julia smiled as sweetly as she could. "Our list is not that long as it is…"

"What is the problem then? How can I help you plan if there is no location for wedding or reception? Really, Dr. Ogden, I took you for someone who was more organized than this." She took a sip then lowered her tea cup to the saucer. "Or is Detective Murdoch balking about something? Men! Honestly, we love them but they can be so difficult at times." She shook her head and was about to launch into a dissertation when Julia stopped her.

"It is not the detective, Mrs. Brackenreid." Julia hesitated. "I have asked William's priest if we can be married at St Paul's, but I have no decision as of yet."

"A Catholic Church? Is that even possible?

"The priest says it may be—as much as I am drawn to thinking to do this for William, I am quite conflicted."

Margaret was curious. "In what way?" she asked.

"I feel I may be violating my deepest convictions just to please yet another man…"

"And has Detective Murdoch insisted on this sacrifice?"

"No—and that makes it worse," Julia muttered, looking at the ceiling.

"I don't understand the problem. You are asking for permission to marry in church and you seem to be saying you don't know if you want it even if you obtain it?"

Julia looked at the other woman and decided to say out loud what she had been thinking. "All men have been doing my entire life is ask me to settle for less than what I want or deserve. They needed concessions from me or to compromise my beliefs in order to have peace or get ahead, or to fit into the concept of what society says I should be—as a woman, as a doctor." Julia set her tea down with a clatter. "First my father, then at University, my male medical colleagues, the city Fathers when I was coroner, the men who run the asylum, even Darcy…it is endless and so very frustrating." She set her mouth in a tight line. "I cannot imagine a vow of obedience…"

Margaret Brackenreid eyed her companion skeptically, absorbing such a surprising outburst. Really, she thought. What is it with high-strung individuals? No common sense!

Resolving conflicts was Margaret's forte after all, honed by long productive years as mother to sons and wife of a proud, difficult man. She thought for a moment on the right approach to get through to this stubborn woman on her settee. Sometimes it is not a matter of resolution as much as…finagling.

Margaret fixed her skirt, brushing imaginary crumbs off. "Dr. Ogden. The inspector and I have been married many years and the key to sustaining our marriage is a certain amount of… we shall call it, negotiation." She reached over to pat Julia's hand. "What I have learned is, that it is for whomever the need is greatest that the other must give way. Do you think your philosophical objections are greater than the detective's faith?"

Julia was in mid-objection when the question penetrated her mind and effectively silenced her argument. She sat there blinking with the quiet expanding between them. "No, I suppose not," she said softly.

Margaret gave a satisfied nod. "Compromise is not surrender. Dr. Ogden – it is a gift to the other. Is there a way you can both be contented?"

# # #

Julia paced the room, light blue paper flapping in her outstretched hand as she waved Ruby's letter in agitation. This whole wedding imbroglio is getting out of hand… Emily, Mrs. Brackenreid and now Ruby to boot! Julia definitely felt another headache coming on.

Ruby, who had sworn her calendar was free and nothing would ever get in the way of seeing her married to William, sent a terse apology and included a forwarding address as she boarded a ship for the Azores of all places. Ruby's only advice was that Julia should certainly buy the dress she wanted and to please herself "for once."

Julia knew, at heart, that comment was merely sarcasm flung in her direction through the post. In fact, that had also been the topic of Ruby's previous letter, chastising big sister Julia for unnecessarily complicating things, saying it was time to come down off her "high horse" -Thank you Ruby for that flattering metaphor, she grunted.

William was not a man to go back on his word, once given. William does not need a priest to marry us. Julia sat down with an exasperated gasp. So, then, why am I so sure it is important to do?

On top of it all, she had been drawn back to contemplating Father Clements' question again and again, almost against her will. But probably not in the way the priest intended, Julia guessed.

# # #

Julia sought out William at his work, pausing in the Station House vestibule a moment to take in the sight of him and enjoy the delight that always stole over her when he was near. He sat there behind his desk with a serious, focused look on his face, occupied by tidy piles of reports. She appreciated all the little details of his appearance and precise hand movements as he flipped the pages one by one. She even followed the arc of cufflinks glinting at his strong wrists, remembering the feel of those hands which were, at present, unconsciously smoothing the tone-on-tone patterned silk tie she had recently given him, blue being the colour that, in her opinion, set off his eyes to advantage. Her heart thrilled with pleasure at the thought of him holding her with those hands, looking at her from under fringed lashes. She sighed and promised herself, One way or another we are getting married.

Julia started out of her reverie and approached about the same moment that he was picking up the telephone. His face lit up, warm brown eyes enlarging. "Doctor, I am so happy to see you, please come in." He rose and gestured to her as he put the telephone down, offering her one of the chairs in front of his desk after squeezing her hand briefly while giving her a peck on the cheek. "I was literally just calling you…" He looked at her fondly, resting his backside against the front of his desk, and burying his hands in his pockets, to keep their conversation on formal terms. I am expecting a report from Constable Crabtree any minute, after all.

"William," addressing him informally, "we have to talk." She gazed up at him and saw him wince. "No," she laughed, "nothing terrible, I promise." She saw him relax a bit. "But I have been thinking about our wedding."

He shifted uncomfortably. "As have I."

The wince is back, Julia observed. She continued, putting on a bright aspect for his benefit. "Mrs. Brackenreid has graciously offered to set everything up, just the way we want it." She paused, hoping he would take up the theme. She waited smiling. William smiled back, forcing the grimace off his face, but he did not take the bait. Julia tried again. "So, she needs to know what we want, William. She is wondering what kind of reception we want and what kind of flowers? My goodness she has a whole list." Julia allowed her voice to rise up nearly an octave and hoped her face was conveying an invitation for William to jump in. As for as she could tell he was just staring at her with a studiously pleasant expression, giving nothing away about what he was thinking.

What William was thinking was that Julia was beautiful in her blue suit which nipped in so attractively at the waist…so he a-hemmed to distract himself. I can always retreat to the other side of the desk if I need more help resisting her…. He deduced Julia wanted something from him with no clue what that might be, having only an abstract idea how a wedding like theirs was supposed to be arranged. Also because, in all his years, he had never actually been to a wedding—at least one that had not been interrupted by a murder. This fact was something he had heretofore neglected to admit to Julia, embarrassment about his lack of experience weighing heavily. He did know that his acquaintances from St. Paul's, even Mrs. Kitchen and Sargent Seymour could not attend a civil ceremony, and some of the more conservative of his protestant fellow officers would not, which he understood sadly but completely: it was just not within propriety to do so. Therefore he had left it open to his closest workmates which totaled less than a dozen who might be willing to come to a reception. Julia's list was not extensive either, but encompassed a wider circle of true friends who had remained throughout her tribulations. Deferring to her seemed therefore wise.

"Whatever you desire, Julia. We know the few to invite, and I am sorry, by the way, that Ruby cannot attend. As for the ceremony we only need two witnesses and perhaps the yellow flowers we discussed? For a reception, I was thinking something simple. You said you did not need another large wedding and I certainly do not. And is it not the bride's wishes that are paramount?" He smiled, picturing her taking vows with him. "I am sure you will make the right decisions. I am just happy we have a firm date. Er…as soon as we know the location, I can let the judge know." Julia nodded but did not add anything to his hint about venue, so he continued. "I assume the ceremony and reception will be in the same place, unless you want to go directly from the courthouse…?"

"It's just that Mrs. Brackenreid seems to have…expectations, William, and I am not certain what to tell her." Julia was coming to the conclusion that her fiancé was going to be no help with these sorts of plans and was also not going to rescue her from the decision she needed to make about their actual wedding. She tried not to sigh. She might cobble together what to tell Mrs. Brackenreid but had no good notion where to start with Father Clements.

"Oh, I see," he answered, seeing actually nothing but not sure what else to say. He had absorbed the Inspector's and a few other married colleagues' admonitions that his role was to buy the ring and show up at the appointed time. That and the honeymoon- arrangements for which were frustratingly still not in writing, no matter how many telegrams he sent. "Perhaps allowing Mrs. Brackenreid to have some parameters and then let her help plan the small party would be a good idea after all. Both of us seem to be quite busy. Speaking of which…"

He fished for his timepiece and set his lips together. "Doctor, I had been about to call you…" He looked about and then closed both of his office doors. He had only so much time and ducking wedding questions was, in his opinion, wasting it. As soon as this case is over we have to really talk… he promised to himself.

Julia wondered briefly if William was going to turn romantic, and gave a sly, "Yes, Detective?" in answer. She was soon disappointed.

"I need your professional opinion. It's about this case and more specifically Mr. Masterson. If I am not mistaken, I think he has been less than forthcoming and I don't understand why he feels the need for deception. I am hoping you can shed some light on his motivation….."

Julia suppressed a groan. While she devoted some attention to William's question and offering her psychological insights, a whole other part of her mind was churning in preparation for a return trip to St. Paul's. It took some time before she got caught up in the moment, intent on solving the puzzle with William, their minds sparking together in perfect union.