Chapter 2 (during 15.09 The Lady Vanishes)
After an incredibly frustrating day investigating the case involving Newsomes and their in-laws, William was very glad to arrive home and sink into a chair before a fire, cup of tea in one hand, and newspaper in another. Yet he'd been sat down for only a few minutes when Julia stumbled, quite literally, through the front door.
"William?" she called, then rounded the corner into their living area and spotted him. A grin spread across her features. "William!"
"Julia…" he responded more warily. He was almost certain his wife had been imbibing. His certainty increased as she weaved her way unsteadily around the furniture, and dropped herself unceremoniously into his lap.
"Julia…" He shifted her so she slid into the gap between his legs and the chair arm, and he could hold her more comfortably. "Are you inebriated?"
"A little." She held up her hand, with thumb and forefinger forming only a little gap between them. "I'm so happy to see you, and I have so much to tell you. But, oh!" she gasped. "How is Henry Higgins?"
"He's fine," he sighed. "Although I had to pay a visit to Mimico." He practically spat out the last word, then shook his head. "That family… I'm sure they wind up in more peril than any other family I know."
"Perhaps except for us, dear husband." She stroked his tie then patted his chest. "I dare say you and I have experienced more danger than all of the Newsomes, Helmsworthys and Higgenses put together!"
He had to concede that point, yet there was a distinct difference. "But most of our trouble is not of our own making. Theirs seems to be through sheer folly!"
Julia giggled at her husband's disgruntled expression. Her fingers carded through the hair at the back of his head in an attempt to soothe him. "What happened this time?"
"I'd tell you, but it's so ridiculous and contrived you'd need to be sober to understand." He raised a mock-scolding eyebrow at her.
She drew herself up, attempting to draw on all her training of proper ladylike deportment and behaviour. "I am not so drunk, detective."
He levelled her with a disbelieving expression, in the face of which she could hold her composure for only a few seconds before collapsing against him in giggles.
"Now," he tapped her thigh upon which his hand lay, "what was the occasion for wine?"
"And whiskey!" She straightened her back, rolled back her shoulders and tipped up her chin, looking as much like confident, no-nonsense Doctor Ogden as she could whilst sat tipsy in her husband's lap. "I have been blacklisted!" she declared, sounding almost proud. "Apparently some members of the Toronto Mercy Hospital have been warning other institutions not to employ me. I don't know the specifics, but I can well imagine the word 'hysterical' was featured strongly."
"Ah, so that is why you have been rejected from so many posts." He studied her a moment, somewhat surprised that she wasn't more upset, considering the state in which she'd arrived in his office just after being fired a few weeks previously. He voiced his surprise to her.
"Well, it just shows how rattled I made them, doesn't it. I'd rather be blacklisted than have stayed silent in the face of injustice." She paused, and her expression gradually lost some of its shine as a concern that had been niggling her began to make itself down more strongly. And with the influence of the alcohol still coursing through her system, she more readily voiced her worries than she might otherwise have been. When she spoke, her voice was heavier, and she lowered her gaze. "Are you ashamed to be associated with me now, William? I know my reputation isn't sparkling, but perhaps this is one thing too many?"
"Of course not, Julia!" he replied immediately and forcefully. He took her hand firmly in his own. "On the contrary, I should say I'm proud of you for fighting for others. And I know the truth, and will say as much to whoever needs to be told." He kissed her cheek then squeezed her fingers, gratified to see that she was no longer averting her gaze. He was determined to steer her mind from its dark path, and was still largely clueless as to how her day had progressed. "Now, what happened after you discovered that you'd been blacklisted?"
"Well, I teamed up with Effie. We discussed the possibility of taking Doctor Forbes and the hospital board to court and suing the- The-" She furrowed her brow, struggling to find a suitable insult. "The pissants! But she said that might take years."
"Not exactly helpful when you're trying to find employment."
"Indeed not. So we brought in Louise Cherry. We met in a pub, by the way." She grinned. "Why sue them when we can shame them and bring bad publicity down upon the whole lot of them!"
He nodded slowly, beginning to become concerned that this was another example of Julia's impulsiveness, despite her technically being in the right. "Is that wise?"
"Well, Effie and I thought so. Louise disagreed, and quite ruined our fun! She, very sensibly, said that another newspaper would just print Doctor Forbes' point of view, which would reinforce the message that I am just another emotional and hysterical woman."
He fought not to let the relief show on his features; a very public battle in the newspapers was not something he would have relished. "You're still in remarkably high spirits, which I trust isn't down to just the alcohol. Did you come up with another plan?"
"Yes. Or, I should say a plan found me. Kate Sullivan offered me a job at the Women's Clinic."
"And you'll accept it?"
"I believe I will! I won't have the opportunities to perform more than minor surgery. But think how much good we can do: women helping women, away from the prejudices of men such as Doctor Deakins and Doctor Forbes!"
"Well congratulations on your new job, Doctor Ogden! I think a celebration is in order, although perhaps we can abstain from more alcohol," he teased, to which she pouted. He fought to hide an adoring smile, and lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Worry not. I may have visited the bakery and purchased your favourite pastry."
"Oh!" she gasped, wriggling with joy, her eyes shining. "The tart with the raspberry jam and meringue?"
"Indeed. And those candied oranges you like." And though her happiness would have been enough, he was even more glad he'd bought them when Julia kissed him soundly with gratitude. He'd originally purchased the treats to cheer her up as he knew unemployment and constant rejection had been weighing on her. But happily they could be put to a better use, to show his wife, Doctor Ogden, how very proud he was of her. And if they served to sober her up a little, well, that was just an added bonus.
A/N: Thank you for reading. And thank you for the lovely reviews to the first chapter. Again, I'm not sure this contributed more to the storyline, but writing drunk Julia is fun! :)