"May I have my lung water?" asked William.

Julia gave him the vial and quickly turned around. She busied herself putting her equipment away; keeping her back to William; trying to hide her flushed face. A few seconds later she heard the morgue door close. Only then did she turn around. Suddenly her embarrassment turned to anger.

"Blasted, bloody frustrating man." She muttered as she threw her towel across the room. She'd cancelled on an outing with her friends when he had asked her to perform the additional analysis. Then she had lied about it! She had no social life because she kept cancelling on the faint hope that he would act. He never did. Not for lack of interest she had decided a few weeks ago. She was no blushing virgin. She knew when a man was interested in her and William Murdoch definitively was. He just seemed to refuse to do anything about it. Any doubts she had, had been dismissed earlier during the testing of his latest invention. That bubble had risen pretty darn high when Henry had hijacked the questioning and asked if William was in love. Julia ruefully smiled to herself. She was glad it had not been her strapped to that chair. She would have sent that liquid flying across the room.

Her smile disappeared as her thoughts drifted to Isaac. She should have known that William would dig around her relationship with the doctor. Put on the spot like that, it had seemed safer to let William think that Isaac and her had been lovers; much safer than the truth. She took in a long breath and looked at the clock, 9 o'clock. If she hurried, she could join her friends for dinner.

Julia was going over some old reports when William walked into her office. Her hand immediately went up to her hair to smooth it down. She straightened out in her chair and waited for William to walk over.

"Good afternoon Julia." Greeted William. Julia could not hide a small smile. She liked it when he dropped his usual formal "Doctor" for her given name. She knew he only allowed himself to do it when they were alone which made it even more special.

She smiled up to him: "Hello William. You have the case all wrapped up?"

"Yes. Yes I do." Responded William. He paused before continuing. "As a matter of fact, Minerva Fairchild asked to meet. I imagine she wants to know what will happen with Mr. Briggs. I fear the worst for him. Since you know her, I was wondering if …"

Julia finished the sentence for him: "I could accompany you. I'd be happy too."

William smiled his thanks back. "I have a carriage waiting for us."

William and Julia were making their way inside the club restaurant. Julia had suggested coffee and while he did not like the stuff, he did want to spend time with her so he had agreed. They walked in and the Maitre d' was just about to say something about William when Julia caught his eye. He quickly changed his mind and greeted the couple.

"Detective. Miss Ogden. Will you want to sit inside or outside?"

William looked at Julia. "It's a beautiful day Doctor. What do you say to outside?"

Julia agreed: "Yes indeed Detective, outside would be wonderful." She turned to the Maitre d'. "Would the corner table be available Owens? The view of the lake is so beautiful from there."

The table did indeed offer a nice view of the lake, but it was the privacy it provided that Julia craved. They sat down. William was the first to speak.

"This is quite peaceful here Julia. I' m surprised you do not come here more often."

Julia smiled as she answered: "Yes. Indeed it is. It's more the members William. I'm accepted because of my family, but it does not stop people from judging me."

"Judging you?" inquired William.

"I'm a bit of a pariah here William. I'm a woman over thirty, unmarried, working and living on my own. The wives are afraid I will go after their husbands and the mothers keep their daughters away, fearing I will convert them to my "modern" ways. Even the branch of doctoring I chose does not sit well with them. They would grudgingly accept me dispensing medicine to rich old ladies, but opening up dead bodies is definitely not a proper occupation for a woman.

"Well they have no idea what they are missing out then.' Answered William.

Julia smiled back. "Thank you William. Thank you for that. "

A waiter arrived with the coffee and despite all his best effort; William could not hide his distaste of the beverage. Julia succumbed to the pleasure of teasing him. "Quite good the coffee here, don't you think William?" She asked him innocently.

William tried to lie, but he hardly had a word out than Julia had started laughing. "Oh William remind me never to pick you as a bridge partner. You are quite inept at hiding your feelings you know."

He nervously put his cup down. Inept at hiding his feeling? Was she talking about the coffee or something else? Suddenly William needed to move.

"What do you say to a walk around the lake Julia?"

She readily agreed and they left the restaurant. Julia had decided to take control of the situation and was leading him towards a quiet area of the park. After several minutes they arrived at a gazebo where they sat down. William seemed lost in his thoughts. Julia noticed and finally she could not stand it any longer: "You seem a million miles away William?"

He turned around and looked at her. "I was just thinking of Minerva Fairchild and Horace Briggs. How tragic their story is. "

He paused and seemed hesitant to continue. Julia had to prompt him: "and ….?"

"They should have known that their love affair was doomed. They came from different world, a gardener and a woman from a rich family. It was bound for failure."

Julia swallowed hard and took a few seconds to respond: "What do you say then William? That they should have walked away from each other. Not even try to make it work?"

His eyes had grown serious and he was now looking at her directly. His voice lowered as he continued.

"A man is dead. The other will probably hang. How can love be worth this?"

Julia maintained the eye contact as she answered: "How were they to know it would end like this William?" You are also forgetting the choice Horace made. He killed Richard Hartley. Murder can never be justified. You can't blame love for his lack of humanity."

Julia paused and her voice lowered as she continued: "Not all love stories need end that way William. We all have the capacity to judge, to choose. Just because he made the wrong choice does not mean that …" Julia lowered her eyes. She did not finish her sentence. She had brought the conversation back to them but she lacked the courage to voice the final connection.

"But the odds were against them from the start." He responded.

"So no attempts should be made then?" She challenged him. "How much chance did you give me William when you first heard that the new coroner was a woman?"

William blushed. How did she know that he had expected her to fail.

"Not much." He answered.

"Yet, here I am." Whispered Julia. She started to slowly move closer to him.

"Yes. Here you are. " Answered William. Mesmerized by her eyes, he watched her getting closer to him. He started leaning in.

"I told you Miriam it was Julia." The voice was loud and strident. Julia did not know if the "blasted" she uttered was in her mind or if she actually said it. She quickly distanced herself from William and stood up.

Julia greeted the two women: "Rose. Miriam. How nice to see you both." William politely stood as Julia introduced him. She waited, hoping the two women would leave. They seemed oblivious to her silent message as Rose continued blabbing about common acquaintances. Julia was only half listening, keeping an eye on William. During a pause in the conversation, he spoke up.

"Well ladies. It was a pleasure, but I must go." Julia tried her hide her disappointment.

"I shall see you tomorrow then?" she asked. He nodded an agreement and left. Julia watched him walk away, only turning after he disappeared from site.