Linford Hall
Julia thought the scratch across her cheek added character. She was damned lucky to have escaped with minor scrapes and bruising. No broken bones, no lacerations requiring stitches, and after her exam she was given a change of clothes and sent to the showers with orders to report to Col. Kalb immediately afterwards.
By 9:00 pm that night, Julia waited in the Linford mess tent while William, who had finished debriefing, was getting his medical clearance. She'd left him a message where to find her, leaving her a generous amount of time with Ruby for catching up.
"So what did Col. Kalb have to say?" Ruby asked as she blew on her tea.
"It seems that Lt. Col. Newsome-Burnside may have gone too far...I don't understand what he did, but he is being discharged and sent back to wherever the hell he's from," Julia shrugged. "Kalb offered me my old job back; said I could be transferred back here. He was sorry he couldn't give me Newsome-Burnside's position, but honestly, I wouldn't have wanted it. I'm happy with my old position, and I accepted it."
"Well, I was jealous of you being in France where all the action was, but the mobile surgical hospital you were at doesn't really exist anymore, does it?" Ruby asked. "Stars and Stripes thinks it's far too dangerous to send a woman to a forward fighting area," she scowled. "If they only knew," she giggled.
"Yes, if they only knew indeed," Julia laughed. "So things are back to the way they were, it seems."
"Not everything, sister. You're holding back on me, and I know it. I know that look, Julia, and I saw how Captain Murdoch was looking at you, I'd wager things have progressed nicely on that front," Ruby teased.
"Come again?" Julia asked with a twinkle in her eye.
"Don't play bashful with me, you've bedded him. And he certainly seems taken with you, so he returns your interest. He is a fine specimen, Julia," she grinned before frowning at the tea in her cup. Looking around, she took a flask out of her bag and poured some whiskey. Julia slid her own cups towards Ruby for a tipple. It was the closest thing she was going to get to a drink tonight.
Leaning back in her chair, Julia smiled, and blushed, calculating how to deliver her news to get the best reaction from her sister. "I'll do you one better, Ruby. Not only has he shown me a very good time, he's asked me to marry him, and for once I'm going to be spontaneous and jump!" Julia told Ruby, watching and laughing as her sister snorted and choked on her tea.
"A bigamist, Jules? Or did you finally get your divorce?" Ruby asked with a laugh.
"I got an annulment. He got his girlfriend pregnant and wanted out ASAP, so I named my terms, and as I haven't heard anything back from him, I'm assuming it's in the works." Julia smiled, showing her left hand and the gasket ring.
"Julia!" Ruby gasped.
"Oh dear, Ruby. We do have a lot to catch up on. Now...about your turn as a reincarnation of Mata Hari..."
William had no idea what time it was, or, if he was honest, the day, when he finally, wearily, dragged himself into the mess, thankful for a shower and clean uniform. The debriefing had seemed to go on forever, as if he was an enemy prisoner being interrogated, rather than a commissioned officer who just came back from a successful intelligence gathering mission.
A mission I didn't even want.
Or maybe it was just Meyers-Flagg's personal style that was so grating, he thought sourly. No wonder Col. Brackenreid has such a low opinion of the man.
William was gratified that the intelligence he just delivered was valuable. At the end, Col. Meyers-Flagg even mentioned, albeit grudgingly, the possibility of a commendation coming his way. But nothing lifted his exhaustion until he spied Julia, sitting alone at a table, pushing biscuits around on a plate. He was so glad she waited, he teared up.
"William!" Julia rose and hurried over, enfolding him in her arms. She pulled him to the table, sat him down and insisted on fetching some food.
He was dying for a steak, but accepted the sandwich and fruit she brought him, methodically devouring it in silence. Julia, bless her, waited patiently for him to finish and down a pitcher of water.
He set his empty glass aside and took her hands in his across the table, meeting her gaze. "How are you, Julia? Have I told you lately how impressive you are?" He offered her a tentative half smile. "Is…." he cleared his throat. "Is everything O.K. between us? I mean, I accused your sister..."
Julia smiled. "You did warn me you were single minded and truthful, including that it was not always going to be pleasant. On the other hand, as the colonel said, you were correct. Looks like there will be two spies in the family then." She came around to sit next to him. "Ivy Cottage is still assigned to me. Come, you are staying with me tonight."
He brightened at her choice of words, "two spies in the family." She still wanted to marry him.
Regulations against public displays in uniform be damned, the two of them walked to her cottage holding hands. Unlocking the door, they saw the cottage was much the same, minus her personal touches. She ushered him into the bedroom where he unrolled the mattress while she found a set of sheets, making the bed in the dark. He would have liked to have made love to her, but he knew they were far too exhausted.
He helped her undress and then shucked his own fatigues, falling into bed with her and he was asleep in minutes as she stroked his hair.
No wonder he looked so concerned at the farm...he was worried I would leave him over accusing Ruby. 'You won't be rid of me so easily, William," she whispered softly.
Though they'd escaped almost certain death earlier, she was still keen to marry him as soon as possible. Tomorrow she'd check on her correspondence and wire her attorney for an update.
Laying her head on his shoulder, she soon fell asleep herself.
July 23, 1944
Col. Brackenreid's Office, Bletchley Park
1000 Hours
Finangling the use of a private car from none other than Col. Kalb himself, William had run back to his bed-sit to redress in his Khaki dress uniform and present himself to Col. Brackenreid by 1000 hours, as commanded.
"At ease, Captain. Christ, have a seat. You still look like hell, man," he nodded towards the seat and poured two glasses.
William raised his eyebrows at the early hour for alcohol. He guessed that this act was the gruff man's way of showing kindness and accepted the drink he brought him, not intending to finish it. He made himself relax. It appeared that he was not going to be chewed out again.
"I just finished reading the outbrief you had with Col. Myers-Flagg. Sounds like you had one helluva time, man," he said, gesturing a report stamped 'top secret' and 'eyes only' . "Of course, war typically is, but you know that by now, don't you Murdoch. When you found out you were getting stationed here at Bletchley, I bet you never thought you'd see actual combat?" he asked, motioning for William to drink his scotch.
"Perhaps," William agreed. "But when I enlisted I assumed that I would have been stationed with the MPs," he shrugged, taking a sip.
"You are far too much of a brainbox for that, me old mucker," Brackenreid grinned. "Well, you've seen it now, awful sport, isn't it?"
"Yes. I don't know that I'll ever get over the old men and the boys sir...they should have still been in school or telling stories to their grandchildren," William almost whispered. He knew those images would replay in his mind for the rest of his days.
"And that's what makes you a good soldier, Murdoch. It's one thing to say you're peaceable, but until you choose peace and civility over violence, you're merely harmless. Remember that," Brackenreid said, raising his glass.
Raising his glass in return, William joined his commanding officer by taking another sip. He knew that this was the man's way of telling him well done, and William appreciated earning the man's respect in this way. Brackenreid was a soldier's soldier who had found himself in charge of code breakers. He now viewed William as a soldier, like himself.
"So, you didn't sleep at your boarding house last night, did you?" Brackenreid's eyebrows wagged.
"No, sir, I did not," William blushed. He knew it was the masculine way to brag of your conquests, but he had never really been one to do it. Besides, Julia wasn't a mere conquest.
"Be careful, me old mucker, remember what I told you," the older man cautioned.
May as well tell him, he was going to see the paperwork soon enough.
"Actually sir, I'd like to inform you that we are soon to be wed. As soon as her marriage is formally dissolved," William proudly told the man. It felt good to share that news with the world.
"I'll be damned," the man laughed. "In that case, this calls for congratulations and a celebration. You will have a ceremony, won't you?" the man asked.
"Yes, sir. A small one, but yes, I'd like to mark the event," William agreed.
And he did. Of course he'd have to discuss the matter with Julia, but surely she wouldn't object to a small party. One with dancing...
"Then get out of here, Murdoch. You still need to recover as does your bride-to-be. Report back in a week to your old job, old schedule," he ordered.