Chapter 4:

William remained unmoved for a few moments. He was going to have to accompany Mrs. Brenks to visit the Brackenreids' garden. It was not much, reassured William, quietly getting up from his chair and looking at the young woman. It was not like he had to accompany her dancing.

"Would you like me to show you around this garden, Mrs. Brenks?" William asked with a false assurance that concealed his shyness towards this woman.

"I will be glad of this." smiled the young woman.

As William now walked around the table and found himself in front of the seated Mrs. Brenks, he did not know what to do. Should he hold out his arm to her? His hand? Or just wait for her to get up.

Finally, he had no time to decide on an answer to his question. Doctor Brenks' wife stood up gracefully and put her arm around his. A feeling that sent tingles straight through the detective's body and stomach.

As the young man opened the French window to the living room and gallantly let the young woman pass, he felt her perfume fill his nostrils. Why was he so sensitive to everything she was? Why did he feel so destabilized by this young woman?

When she put her arm back in his, William resumed walking and led her gently with him into the Brackenreids' garden.

"I wanted…"

William stopped and turned to Mrs. Brenks who was still holding his arm with hers. She seemed hesitant to finish her sentence. Or maybe she did not know how to tell him something important. Did she want to tell him that he seemed too instant? That his looks that he could not stop were annoying her? That she was married and that he was far too disrespectful and repulsive a man?

The young man quickly looked up to stare at the dark, star-studded sky. It was so good that night. Not a single cloud. Only a light breeze blowing through the dimly lit Brackenreids garden. Only two unique lamps hung on a plum tree.

The young man refocused his gaze on the doctor's wife whom he knew he could not take his eyes off for long.

"What's going on?" he asked worriedly.

The young woman approached the detective a little closer and resumed her sentence.

"I wanted to apologize for my husband's behavior rather… When he…"

"Looked down on me?" William breathed impulsively.

Was that what she wanted to talk to him about? From her husband?

"It's nothing…" mumbled the young man before turning back to the plum tree that was behind him.

He did not recognize himself. Why was he reacting this way? What else could she have told him?

"Please…" the young woman whispered.

William shuddered when he felt Mrs. Brenks' hand grab his arm and pull him back to her. So, he turned around, and found himself even closer to the young woman. A silence fell between the two young people as they simply stared into each other's eyes. They were so close to each other that they could feel their breaths on their faces flushed with anticipation.

Their noses brushed and William felt Julia's gentle hand leave his arm to land on his cheek. He slowly looked up at the young woman and his mouth lined up with hers. He did not know how it had happened… Or who had kissed the other… But in the end, did it really matter when the kiss was so exceptional? So passionate? So… Magic?

William took the young woman by the hips to bring her as close as possible to him as their tongues almost fought for dominance. He had never kissed anyone like that. No one had ever kissed him like this. It was so incredible that he thought for a moment he was dizzy, the smell of this woman was so… intoxicating.

Julia advanced to try to push back the young detective who found himself pressed against the plum tree whose branches shed their leaves on them. As the young man brought Julia even closer to him with her slender waist, the young woman slowly left William's mouth to move her kisses to his neck. She buried her hands in his hair and ran them gently over the back of his neck. For his part, caught up in the passion of the moment, William passed his hand under the young woman's dress to caress the top of her right thigh, near her buttocks.

"Julia!"

Note: William and Julia kissed for the first time. But who is calling Julia? Her husband ? Has he seen them ?