"What is on your mind Julia? You've seemed distracted for the last few days ..." William said as they rode in the carriage to the magic show.

"I received a letter from Ruby at the beginning of the week and she said she would be in town soon."

"And why is that a problem?"

"She doesn't want to stay at Father's. She wants to stay with us." Julia announced.

"We have a spare room for guests that is never used, it's perfect."

"You don't get it William! I had to announced that I had been married for five years in my last letter and now she wants to stay with us!"

"I'm sorry Julia but I don't understand anything." Willaim said turning to face his wife. "How can your sister staying at our house be a problem?"

"You don't know her William. There are two possibilities. Either she is mad at me for … hiding you from her and she will find a way to make me pay for it, or she is coming to spy on us and ..."

"Julia, be serious." William laughed. "Your sister is a grown woman, not a child."

"You don't know her William. You'll see. I'm always right when it comes to my sister."

"Well, for now try to relax. Let's enjoy a nice night out before tornado Ruby comes crashing in our lives." William laughed, hopping out of the carriage and helping Julia out.

They enjoyed the show, even if William was more interested in discovering the tricks than actually watching. Julia brought him back to the show several times but he couldn't help it. He had to understand how they were doing it. What really got his attention was when Julia gasped in surprise. He looked at her and saw shock on her face.

"What is it Julia?" he asked, following her eyes on the stage.

"It's Ruby. On the … flying table. It's Ruby. And she's practically naked!"

The case was finally over and William had been given three consecutive days off work. He cycled back home and was surprised to find that no one was there. He went upstairs in the bedroom to get changed and finally decided to take a bath. When he was clean and in more comfortable clothes he went back downtairs and decided to prepare something to eat. As he was settling at the dining room table with his eggs and toasts, the newspaper next to him, he heard the front door open and saw his wife and her sister come inside.

"Good evening ladies." he called from his chair. "Could I interest you in some eggs?"

"No thank you William, we just had dinner." Julia said, kissing him on the cheek. "I didn't know when you would finish so we didn't wait for you, sorry."

"Don't worry Julia, even I didn't know when I would finish. And I'm sure your dinner was better than mine." he laughed.

"Don't sell yourself short William, your eggs are much better than mine."

"That's not hard." he said, catching Julia's hand before she could hit him. "But I love you anyway." he continued, kissing her hand before letting go of it.

"I'm going to make some tea. Ruby, do you want some?" Julia asked.

"No thank you. I think I'm going to go to bed. This has been a rather eventful day. Good night." Ruby said, turning around and walking up the stairs to her bedroom.

Julia went to the kitchen and prepared tea for herself and William and joined him at the dining room table.

"I thought you had already eaten." William said as Julia picked some eggs from his plate.

"I have. But maybe I want some more." she teased.

"You always seem to want some more, Mrs Murdoch."

"Are you complaining?"

"Not in the least."

"I love your hair like that." Julia said, running her hand though it. "Uncombed and natural." she pushed his plate away and sat on his lap. "Would you like to undo my hair William?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

As always, William quickly set her hair loose. And as always, his hands moved on their own accord to the rest of her body.

"Not here William." Julia sighed, pressing her lips against his. "Ruby is just upstairs."

"So? We are further away from her here than we are in our bedroom." William rationalized, his hands traveling under her skirt.

"William, come and meet me in the living room. And lock the door after you." Julia said, getting up and walking away form him.

Ruby had been studying them for over a week now. At first, she had been more than surprised by her sister's choice. Her husband seemed very … cold. She did not see the man Julia had described in her letter. But her opinion had changed on the first evening she had spend at their house. The man she had met there was completely different from the one she had dealt with at the crime scene. It seemed there were two sides to William Murdoch, a very professional and rigourous detective, and a very attentive and loving husband. Even now, at the breakfast table, she couldn't help but smile when she looked at her sister and William. They were so great together.

At first, she had tested William, trying to seduce him. But he had resisted and made it very clear to her that if she were to continue with this type of behaviour, he would have no choice but to throw her out of his house. Ruby had been surprised when Julia had come in her bedroom, furious with what William had explained to her. Apparently these two had no secrets for each other. The two sisters had gone to dinner to talk things out and Ruby was convinced that her sister washappy and well loved by her husband.

And if she had not been convinced after their dinner, she was when she came down to get a glass of water only to find the dining room deserted and the living room closed the night before. Curious, she was about to open it when she heard sighs and whispers coming form the other side. She quickly got her glass of water and went back upstairs.

This morning, she caught them stealing glances and kisses every time they thought she was not looking.

"Why are you smiling like that Ruby?" Julia asked, sitting really close to William on the sofa with her cup of tea.

"You look so happy it seems to be contagious." Ruby laughed.