A summer Scottish rain had kept us all inside today, much to my displeasure. I had begun to enjoy spending my day down by the river or walking through town. It was peaceful up here, the only reminders of war being in the papers or the families that had men off fighting. People in town had been getting to know me as Will's wife, and usually had a kind word to say. But during this dismal rain, I was trapped inside.

Agnes sat in a corner of the parlor, knitting and coughing discreetly into a handkerchief. From what I had gathered the cough had been lingering since last winter, and Agnes was reluctant to see a doctor. Sam had ignored the rain to go to work at the chandlers in Kirkcudbright, Peg was setting out her texts for when her school opened and she could go back to teaching and Samuel was brushing out Rigel while I looked through the mail that had arrived for me.

Sylvie sent her love, and her hopes that Lights would be angling for a posting closer to home after some hints in his latest letters, and any mail from the Southampton house and offices. Welton had started sniffing around for any influence that Campbell may have tried to set up in the business, and sent on Mother's letters. According to her everyone in New York was doing well, and she had come up with a new hobby of making Henry Reichster look like a fool while she covered for Sophie and Morris to meet.

It was the letter at the bottom of the pile that drew my attention, typed but signed in a flowing hand.

Mrs. Murdoch,

I am writing to cordially invite you to a dinner being given to honor the completion of my husband's, Vice Admiral David Beatty, First Battlecruiser Squadron. Given that your husband is a captain, it would only be appropriate for you to join us in this celebration. The dinner will be held August 10th, at the North British Station Hotel. The dress code is formal, although some allowances will be made if you are unable to conform. A note from your husband is included, at his request.

Regards,

-Ethel Beatty

I felt a grin break out as I reached for the small piece of paper that had fluttered out of the envelope, Will's handwriting a familiar comfort.

Ana,

Come as quick as you can, I've got a room for us at the North British Station. I need to see you, wire when you're on the train.

Your Jolly Sailor Bold,

-Will

I must have made some noise of happiness, for Samuel looked up from where he was brushing Rigel. "Good news?"

"Oh yes," I smiled, standing. "Will wants me to come visit him in Edinburgh, Admiral Beatty is having a dinner and Will wants me as his guest." I looked to the hallway, "I'll need to go pack, I want to be on the train as soon as I can."

Peg looked up from her books, "Will ye be comin' back?"

I paused. "I'm not sure, but I will write." I gave all of them a wide grin. "But I need to go pack, Will asked for me to come as quick as I could." Rigel panted on the floor, and I patted my leg to call him. "I'll be taking this monster too."

By the next morning, I was fully packed and ready for the train. Sam would send the empty trunks back down to Southampton, and I promised that I would have some of my food shipped up to them, in crates this time. Agnes and Peg sent me off with a bit of breakfast wrapped in a napkin. While I still felt closer to Peg, Agnes at least hadn't tried to fight with me. Perhaps it was because we were all worried about Will, that we had something in common. Samuel took me to the station, sending both Rigel and I off with a kiss and a hug.

At the first stop the train made, I rushed off quickly to send a wire to Will. The rest of the trip seemed to take longer than it had before, no doubt because I was excited to see Will. My foot bounced, I fidgeted, and Rigel whined and barked the whole way. As soon as the doors were opened, I launched myself out into the station, knowing that a porter would be following shortly with my trunk.

I had hardly made it five steps before a pair of arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me into the air. A pair of lips kissed the side of my neck, and I was slowly set back down. "Oh Ana, I've missed you so."

I leaned into him, wrapping my hands around his. "I'm so glad to be back with you."

"Let me look at you." Will turned me around, taking me in. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, Ana."

"And you are incredibly handsome," I brushed my hand over his cheek. "Even if I do miss the whiskers somewhat." I let my hand linger on his chest. "No new scars?"

"None but the one on my heart from having to be parted from you." He brough my hands up, kissing my fingertips.

I rolled my eyes, snorting. "You know you don't have to be quite such a romantic, husband."

"It's been two months at least, wife, forgive me if I've missed you." He tucked my hand around his arm, leading us off. "You know I hate to be away from you."

"I know," I gave his arm a squeeze, "Maybe, once the war is over, you could stay home for several months straight? So, we can make up for lost time?"

He drew me closer, "I'll stay until you have to force me out for driving you mad." He had obviously told a cab to wait for him, for my trunk was quickly loaded and we were on our way to the hotel. Edinburgh seemed a city of close stone buildings, narrow streets and everywhere Navy men going about their business.

Unfortunately, I didn't get much of a view, for our hotel was fairly close. I admired the tower rising up from it, a massive clock face on it. Our cabbie helpfully explained it was set to be a few minutes fast to assist people catching trains since it was right by the station. A number of bellboys, too young to send to the Front but not too young to work, were waiting and swiftly had my trunk unloaded.

Rigel drew his usual stares as we entered the lobby, but he hardly seemed to notice. He was practically dancing in front of Will, barely avoiding getting stepped on as he tried to get attention from him. For his part Will managed to not trip, only leaning down to give Rigel pets once we were in the elevator.

The attendant took the elevator as far as it would go, stopping with a slight bow. "Here we are sir, the concierge has placed the champagne you requested in your sitting room."

I waited until we'd entered the sitting room and he was holding out a flute to me before speaking. "Champagne and the largest suite in the place?"

He leaned forward, pressing his lips to mine and flicking his tongue against my lips. "I intend to host you in style, hopefully it will entice you back more often."

"And I assume you're sending the bill to the office." I chuckled, sipping my champagne as I took in the sitting room. It was all dark wood and rich reds and green, tartan everywhere. It wasn't the Murdoch tartan though, so I looked back to Will. "You couldn't get them to switch it out for our plaid?"

"I'm afraid they're deadest on the Royal Stewart." He shrugged, "But if it would get you up here again-"

I reached up, drawing him down into a kiss. I smiled to feel his hands wrap around me, and I pulled back briefly. He shivered when I brought my hand to his cheek, and I leaned over to whisper into his ear. "I'm already your wife, you don't need to play the Bonnie Prince to get me to come see you. Any time you ask, I'll come."

He tightened his grip, drawing me up against him. "I swear to you, Ana, I will always want you up here."

"Perhaps I should buy a house."

"Perhaps you should get these clothes off." He plucked at my shirtwaist. "We can discuss houses after."

I giggled, unbuttoning the first few buttons. "You know, I do need to see a realtor to start looking for an estate near Dalbeattie, I'm sure a small home here wouldn't be too much."

"An estate near Dalbeattie?" Will stepped forward, gently pushing my hands away so he could get my shirtwaist open quicker. "Why would you need that?"

"I thought you might like to have a place to stay when we visit your family," I shrugged out of my shirtwaist, hastily untying my brassiere. "We need plenty of room for our children to come with, and that means nurse, governesses, tutors, staff. You're lucky I'm not trying to buy a town."

Will didn't even reply to that, instead clasping my breasts in his hands and pulling me towards the sofa. He sat with a groan, pulling me down to straddle him. I kissed him hungrily, my lips wandering to his ear to nibble on it slightly. In response he jerked my skirt up around my waist, and my own hands went to his fly.

When I sank onto him, we both gasped with relief to be finally joined, and he buried his head in my shoulder. "I love you, Ana."

"I love you, Will." I whispered back, beginning to rock my hips. He groaned, straining up against me. His hands cupped my bottom through my skirt, guiding me in a rhythm and his lips suckled at my breasts. I cursed and moaned as he did, his teeth grazing my nipples while his tongue drew circles across my skin. I knew Will wouldn't last long, not with the way he was panting and thrusting into me.

He came with a harsh groan when I bore down on him, my hands on his cheeks so I could keep his head up and watch him come. It was interesting to watch him find his pleasure, his mouth open for a moment, his face straining before he let his head rest against my breast. He kept his arms around me, holding me in his lap as he breathed harshly against me. It was a moment before he could speak, "I'm sorry, you didn't-"

"It's alright." I kissed his cheek, "You can tend to me next time."

"I just, I just wanted you so badly."

I chuckled, pulling his head up so I could kiss him properly. "Will, darling, it's alright. You can owe me, how about that?"

He nodded, kissing me. "I can do that." He shifted underneath me, "Although, perhaps we could move to the bed?"

I readily agreed, and Will seemed to find it amusing how my steps were rather unsteady as we went to the bedroom. I availed myself of the attached bathroom, coming out fully undressed and having rubbed the travel dirt from my skin. Will had stripped off his uniform, turned the blankets down, and was waiting for me. He sighed happily as I laid next to him, resting my head on his chest. I reveled in the feeling of his arm around me, pulling me even tighter to him.

I let my hand travel across his chest to hold him, breathing him in for a moment. "So, this dinner, what should I expect?"

He snorted, "A party at the gates of Hell."

"Oh, come now, I can't be that bad."

"You haven't met the hostess."

Will had been relieved that he had received over a week of leave, Beatty's dinner smack in the middle. Although he supposed it wasn't much of a leave, since he would be in Edinburgh the entire time and not an hour from the Unicorn. But he was still glad for it, for it meant Ana would come visit.

In fact, he was waiting outside Beatty's shore quarters with a request.

As opposed to his quarters on the Lion, the same quarters as Will's, his house was something else entirely. When he had asked to be driven to meet with Beatty, the driver had taken him past the bridge over the Firth and into Fife. Aberdour House, apparently purchased by Beatty for his residence while he was in Edinburgh, was quite large for only one man.

Will had quickly corrected himself on that when he had been greeted by a butler and told to wait while Admiral and Mrs. Beatty were informed of his presence.

When Will had been admitted into their presence, Beatty had raised an eyebrow. "I had to admit I was expecting you to be off enjoying your leave, Captain Murdoch."

Will ducked his head, "I intend to sir, however I have a request, if I might be allowed."

"Oh Davey, you have to." The lady of the house said, drawing Will's attention. She was pretty, he could admit that. Dark hair swept up into an airy style, an elegant straight nose, clear brown eyes and pouting lips over a pointed chin. Will would have no problem if Beatty demanded some compliment to his wife, but she didn't hold a candle to Ana. "I'm signing the invitation to his wife right now, you know."

Beatty held up a hand, "Just a moment, dear. What is your request, Captain?"

Will nodded towards Mrs. Beatty, "I suppose my request is more for your wife, sir. I was wondering if she would allow me to include a note to my wife in her invitation. I would like her to come up as soon as she can."

Mrs. Beatty simpered, "Oh, of course you can, Captain Murdoch. Here, you can even use my stationary." She slid a paper over for him on the table she was using, a number of typed invitations waiting for her signature. "I was actually about to ask for the address to send to, my secretary hadn't managed to find it yet."

"She's in Dalbeattie at the moment," Will replied, quickly finishing his note. "I can address it for you."

Admiral Beatty joined them while he wrote it down, "Dalbeattie, I haven't heard of that town."

"It's a small town west of here, sir." Will watched as Mrs. Beatty folded up the note to include in the envelope. "My home town, actually."

"Oh, I did include that it's a formal event." Mrs. Beatty looked up, "If she can't afford a decent dress, she could always borrow one of my older ones."

Beatty frowned, "Ethel, there's no need for that."

"I'm sure she doesn't want to stand out as some Scottish bumpkin." Ethel tossed her head, drawing Will's eyes to the massive diamond earrings that almost brushed her shoulders. "Have you found somewhere decent for her to stay? I can come around to whatever inn you've found to give her some instruction if needed. I certainly hope she knows how to behave in polite society, we even have some nobility coming up for this."

When the admiral didn't say anything to that, Will scrambled. "Oh, well, Ana should fit in quite well, I assure you."

"Try not to let her wear anything too drab," Ethel stood, clearly dismissing him. "I can lend her some jewelry as well; we can't have her showing up in paste!" The butler walked Will back to the door, and his car took him back to the Unicorn.

Sharpe had found Will packing his own bag, being sure to take care with his formal uniform. "Can I be of any assistance, sir?"

"You can." Will had looked over his shoulder, "Call the finest hotel in town and book their most expensive room for me." If Sharpe had stayed he would have heard his captain muttering to himself as he packed, "Scottish bumpkin, as if my wife isn't better bred than she is. Paste jewels, Ana could go buy out half the London stores and she still would call them paste."

Will didn't like to spend Ana's money frivolously, but Ethel had clearly booked the hotel for her party to show off how much money she had. He wondered what she would think when he and Ana came down from the room he had booked, a fine set with a view over the Firth and an appropriately obsequious staff.

He had spent two days dreaming of Ana's arrival, but even his dreams couldn't compare to when he saw her.

Ana's hand tracing over his chest drew his attention back to the present, "Will, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," He replied, shaking his head. "But this dinner will be very formal. Do you need to go shopping before?"

She rocked her head, trailing her hair over his chest as she did. "I brought the blue gown as you requested, and Mother sent over some jewels."

Will caught her hand with his own, entwining their fingers. "Perhaps we should go out and get something new. You always like to shop."

She rose up, smirking. "You are scheming, my love."

"Ana, if you had met that woman." He shook his head, "She thinks you're some fishwife she's going to have to coach so she doesn't look like a fool. She offered an old dress of hers for you to wear, like you would show up in rags."

"Ethel Fields," Ana laid back down, "I've read stories about her in the gossip pages back home."

"Fields?"

"Her father created Marshall Field's, the department store. He only left her a bequest in his will, although enough for her to live comfortably." She smirked, "You know she's divorced, right?"

"The only people who gossip as much as your set are sailors." He chuckled, "I know about as much as you do."

"And now you want me to show her up." Ana smiled, leaning back onto the pillows. "You want to walk into that party with your rich, beautiful wife on your arm and put her to shame."

"If she hadn't acted as she did," Will trailed off, "You don't think less of me, do you?"

"Not a bit." She gave his hand a squeeze. "We'll go shopping tomorrow, maybe we can find something she's had her eye on and swipe it out from under her."

"Now who's scheming?" He teased, making her laugh. Ana's laugh made him want her again, and the way she curled herself around him made him think she wanted him too. The next round was slower, and he enjoyed teasing her to her height again and again until she was breathless and begging for him.

That night, when he woke up and traced his hands down her side, kissed her shoulder, and took her on her side, was even slower.

The morning found a late breakfast being delivered to their sitting room, Rigel whisked away for his own breakfast and a walk, and Ana quite content to spend her time cleaning almost every plate. Will had raised an eyebrow when Ana had reached for the phone, "Calling to have things taken away?"

"And for a maid to help me dress." She replied, popping one last grape in her mouth.

"I can help you dress."

"Then with my hair, and maybe some powder." Ana craned her head to examine herself in a mirror. "I feel like I've gotten darker."

"You're perfect," Will leaned over, kissing her. "And you know that." He managed to hold his tongue as he laced her into her corset, although he didn't tie it tight. He hated getting her out of it and seeing the marks of the bones on her skin, he much preferred her in brassieres. Not only did they not leave marks, they were much easier to get her out of.

If anything was going to leave marks on his wife, it would be him leaving bruises from his kisses on her.

Fortunately, Ana hadn't chosen an overly tight dress to wear, and the maid quickly had her hair pinned up in a style that was quickly covered by a familiar hat. Will smiled to see the forget-me-nots and white feathers, they suited the powder blue wool suit she was wearing with its froth of ivory lace at her throat. Will didn't need help to get into his uniform, although Ana was glad to help button his jacket.

She may have stolen a few kisses while she did, and he may have stolen several squeezes.

It was only after they disembarked their cab at the fine department store Will had visited last year that Ana brought up a good point, "What are we going to buy?"

"What did you bring?" He held the door for her, taking a moment to admire her walk.

Ana waited for him to rejoin her, taking his arm. "I have the opal necklace Oscar gave me for Christmas at the cabin, and Mother sent over my diamond earrings and bracelets." She shivered slightly, "I haven't worn them since, well, that April but she thinks I should."

Will pursed his lips, "You don't have to, we can find some here."

"I want to." Ana set her jaw, looking straight ahead. "I don't want to be afraid of it anymore, or dwell on it."

"That's my girl," He brought his hand up to cover hers, "Which I think means we're only missing something for your hair." A shopgirl was more than glad to lead them to the jewelry department, where a salesman was quite pleased to direct them to the tiaras on display.

He showed them half a dozen pieces that either he or Ana discarded; he because they weren't enough or his wife, Ana because she didn't like the style. Finally he brought out a box, unlocking it with a key from his pocket before withdrawing a work of art. Three tiers of platinum, covered by diamonds and topped by diamond flowers along the top edge. Diamonds and pearls dangled from the upper tiers, catching the light and gleaming in the empty space before the next layer of diamonds started. The lowest layer was a ring of perfect pearls, and they shone with a luster that made Ana sigh. The salesman angled it to catch the light, "We do have this piece, although there are a few other parties that are interested."

That caught Will's attention, and he reached for the tiara. "May I?" With the salesman's nod, Will lifted the tiara out of its box. Ana had already set her hat on the case, and she shivered slightly as he settled it on her head. "Heavy?"

"No, it's very light." Ana turned to the mirror the salesman held, "Oh, it's beautiful." Will had to admit that it did suit her, the height of the tiara complimenting her own height, and with the jewelry she had brought Ana would sparkle at dinner.

Will looked to the salesman, "We wouldn't be putting anyone out if we bought it, would we?"

"Well, an earl was in here for it the other day." He shrugged, "But mostly it's been the admiral's wife that's been eyeing it."

"We'll take it." Will smirked, far too glad. "And we'll take it with us." Ana gave him a smile that said he was likely to get hauled back to bed when they returned to the hotel, and the tiara was swiftly packed away.

They didn't leave the hotel, let alone the bed, for the rest of the day.

The night of the dinner, Will let Ana have the maid lace her as tight as she wanted and entertained himself while she readied. His formal uniform was ready for him, his sword shined and his coat pressed. But he was only half dressed without his wife, so when she emerged from the dressing room, he stood.

Ana was entrancing in her dress, so dark a blue it almost seemed black, but for the spray of gold beads around the hem that wound up the skirt to twine about her waist. Her bosom was covered by the net of a necklace she had received from Oscar, moonstones mirroring the pearls in the tiara and opals shimmering in the light. But with the diamonds in the tiara, her earrings and her bracelets, Ana sparkled and twinkled as she moved through the light of the room. She posed, lifting her chin, "Well?"

"I don't want to go to the dinner," He admitted, coming forward to collect her in his arms and press a kiss to her rouged lips. "I don't want anyone else to see you looking so beautiful."

"Selfish man," Ana teased, kissing the tip of his nose. "We're only going to be there for a few hours, you have me for the rest of your life."