Set just after Mei Lin appears on the doorstep. A different reaction from Lucien. This was quite cathartic to write after reading Crinklybrownleaves story!

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Lucien couldn't have looked more horrified when he opened the door and saw his 'dead wife' standing there. On the verge of proposing to Jean, nervously, hoping she would say yes and at last have some happiness.

When he called out, 'My wife!' Jean had felt physically sick. she was all prepared to say yes to him, give him her heart and soul, and now this. After all the searching he had done, the late night calls to Singapore the letters from Mr Kim, and finally the one saying Mei Lin had passed. Why? Why? What was going on.

Taking a deep breath she plastered on a smile and tried to appear welcoming. Lucien ushered his wife into the kitchen and introduced her to Jean, his housekeeper.

'Jean, would you make up the spare room for Mei Lin, please?'

'Certainly Dr Blake.' And briskly off to do his bidding.

'You are a housekeeper, always were, always will be.' she told herself with a heavy sigh.

Mei Lin Looked at him, she supposed after all these years she couldn't really expect him to welcome her into his bed.

'Where have you been, Mei Lin?' He looked at her, and she had to admit he didn't look too happy, 'I've had agents looking for you, searching camps, nothing. And now you turn up here as if you'd been away on holiday!'

Mr Kim was supposed to be the best, contacts all over the place, why had he not found her?

'I've been in a camp, for enemy aliens.' she looked impassive, no emotion, as if she was giving a rehearsed speech. Lucien started to have misgivings, too much time trying to get to the truth in a case, he, oh he didn't know what he thought, but he didn't like it!

'When supplies ran out,' she continued, 'there was an opportunity to escape, it was that or die of starvation.'

Lucien stood up, his thumb and forefinger to his forehead, that movement that made Jean smile as he tried to work out what to do next. He left the room swiftly went into his office to get the letters he had been sent by Mr Kim. He needed to show her the evidence of his search.

Putting the letters down in front of her , he motioned to her to look at them.

'Lucien, I'm tired after my journey, could we do this tomorrow?' She tried to appeal to the side of him she'd always admired, the gentle, loving side. And she needed time to think.

'I'll show you to your room.' He was polite, but as if he was talking to a guest, not his wife.

In her room, Mei Lin looked round. It was comfortable, the bed was neatly made and there were fresh towels for her to use. When Derek had found her a year ago he had said he would help her find Lucien. They'd been friends together, the three of them, before the war. Partying the night away until Li had come along. Lucien was besotted with his daughter but it had curbed Mei Lin's partying. So had begun a round of her partying with Derek and Lucien looking after Li. Inevitably it had led to an affair with Derek, but she knew that Lucien had no idea. Because he had loved her he had let her have her head. Anything his wife wanted she could have, and he never knew. She had begun to feel faintly guilty, but Derek had made her feel good, more than just a mother so she had ignored the guilt and carried on. When he had found her after the war she had asked him to help her find her family and he had said that if she helped him get Lucien back into Army Intelligence he would help her find her daughter, now an adult she would be able to relate to her more. If she didn't he had intimated it would not be good for either of them. Derek had helped her get a passport, albeit a Chinese one, and bought her clothes and set her up in a little flat where they resumed their affair. She knew it was only because Derek wanted something, but having an affair with a member of the Australian armed forces gave her some protection, she hoped.

In her room, Jean stood staring out of the window. She didn't know what to think. She was well aware of the time and money Lucien had spent trying to find his wife so why on earth had she suddenly turned up now? Not normally suspicious she was concerned that something was afoot. There was a tentative knock of her door.

'Jean,' Lucien whispered through the door.

'Not now, Lucien, please.' He heard the wobble in her voice.

'Please, Jean, please,' he implored her to open the door, at least look at him.

'She was too wrung out to argue and opened the door. She looked so beautiful, but, oh so very sad. All he wanted to do was to take her in his arms and hold her 'til it all went away, but he knew that couldn't be. This mess would have to be sorted out properly.

'Jean, I'm sorry. I tried to find her, you know I did. I have problems with her story, her behaviour. This is not the Mei Lin I knew.' He help his arms out in front of him.

'Lucien, she's been through a lot, you can't expect her to be the same.' She took his hand, 'I can't help you this time, you have to sort it out yourself.'

'You will stay, though won't you?' His worst fear was that she would leave, knowing what a field day the gossips in Ballarat would have with this development in their relationship.

'As your housekeeper, yes, for a while.', a sigh of relief, 'but, not forever Lucien, it wouldn't be right. There's enough talk about us as it is. I couldn't take it if it escalated.'

'I promised you I will sort it out, just give me time, please.'

Jean looked at him, all she wanted to do was take him in her arms and tell him everything would be alright, but she knew she couldn't. For now they were employer and employee.

Lucien went to his study, collecting the letters and a bottle of scotch on the way.

Pouring himself a generous measure he started by sorting out the letters into date order. The story of Mr Kim's search on his behalf was set out in front of him. No indication that he had found anything. Not caring what time it would be in Singapore he dialled his number.

'Mr Kim, Dr Blake here. I need to talk to you about your search for my wife..'

In Singapore, Mr Kim rubbed his eyes, he thought his business with Blake was over. His daughter found , his wife reported dead. When he heard what had happened he was astounded. He promised the good doctor he had searched, asked all over, nobody knew of the whereabouts of Mrs Mei Lin Blake. He'd even asked the Australian Army, knowing that Lucien was a retired Major.

The Army. Lucien started to have horrible thoughts. Alderton. Surely not, not even Derek would be that callous, would he?

He'd noticed Derek in the Superintendant's office only two days ago, some army matter he was not privy to. Thanking Mr Kim he put the phone down and had another drink. What to do? He'd have to talk to Mei Lin in the morning, they were all tired. He hoped Jean could cope with having her in the house. If not Mei Lin would have to go to a hotel, although Jean would not like the gossip that would cause. He'd have to protect her from that.

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Morning dawned. Three people lay in their beds almost afraid to rise.

Jean was the first up, as usual, and preparing breakfast when Lucien came through from the study. He looked awful. 'Oh dear,' she thought, 'too much whisky .' She set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of him and a cup of tea.

'Good morning, Dr Blake.' So formal, but it was how she'd decided she could cope. Not be too familiar.

Lucien raised his eyebrows, but that hurt. She put two Bex in front of him. He gave her a wan smile, she knew him too well, his Jean. Would she ever be his Jean?

Mei Lin came in, quietly. 'Good morning, Lucien.' she greeted him, with a nod to Jean. Lucien said good morning to his wife and stood up, his courtesy when a woman walked into the room. He was not happy at her treating Jean as a servant. It had been alright and proper in the old days, but Jean was not a servant. He didn't say anything, but resolved to apologise to Jean when he got the opportunity.

'I'm going down to the station this morning,' he said to Jean, 'is there anything you would like me to pick up while I'm in town?' He wanted to save her the worry of facing the tattle tales, who he knew would have heard by now. News spread like a plague in Ballarat.

'Thank you, Dr Blake.' she smiled at him, understanding exactly what he was doing and grateful for it. She hadn't slept and was dreading facing people. 'There is an order to pick up at the butcher's and the greengrocers, which is a bit heavy to carry, as you have the car...'

'Certainly,' he smiled.

Mei Lin noticed the interplay between the two of them. Was there more to this relationship than Dr and housekeeper? And if there was could she blame them. After all she was sleeping with Derek Alderton.

'Is there anything you need, Mrs Blake?' Jean asked.

'No, but if you could give me a lift into town, Lucien, I'd like to go for a walk.'

'Of course.' So the day was arranged. Lucien would drop Mei Lin in the Botanical Gardens and meet her later for lunch at a coffee shop. Well he couldn't leave her wandering the streets of Ballarat. Some residents could be less than welcoming to a foreigner.

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Lucien went straight to Frank Carlyle and told him all that had happened the previous night, except the part about proposing to Jean.

Frank told him that Major Alderton was at the barracks and had been asking about him.

Lucien did not wait for any other information he stormed out of the office and drove to the barracks. He knew Derek had something to do with this dreadful situation.

Alderton was out when he got there. Finding out he would be back that afternoon, he made an appointment to see him later.

In the Botanical Gardens Derek was meeting Mei Lin. In a secluded spot away from prying eyes he asked her how she had got on the previous night.

'He was shocked,' she told him, 'he looked angry. Derek he knows something's not right!'

'Don't worry, I told you, get him to come back into the fold and everything will be alright.'

'What then? Derek I don't think he wants me anymore.'

'Do you want him? It would be a small time life in Australia. No partying, Lucien is more a home body these days.'

'I don't know. You know I didn't like being a housewife.' Mei Lin had to admit she didn't know anymore what she wanted, all she knew was that Lucien had rejected her the night before.

'Derek, do you know of a hotel I could stay in for a while? I feel uncomfortable at Lucien's.'

'I'll get you a room at Soldier's Hill, but you mustn't let him know it was me that booked it. Tell him, no, thank him and that infernal housekeeper of his, that you think you all need space to work out the right thing to do.'

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Lucien and Mei Lin had a light lunch at the coffee bar, but had little to say to each other. Lucien didn't want a public argument and Mei Lin, well she just didn't know what to say.

Lucien dropped her back at the house and gave Jean the groceries she had asked for. She was faintly surprised that he had remembered. It was a bit of a domestic task, maybe he really did care.

Mei Lin went to her room, she was going to pack and go to the Soldier's Hill Hotel. she'd ask Jean to order her a taxi, when Lucien went back out again.

Lucien went out for his meeting with Alderton, he was convinced he had something to do with this whole sorry mess. He wasn't able to tell Jean what he was doing in case his wife heard, but he'd tell her as soon as he could. One thing that did bother him was that Mei Lin seemed quite well dressed for someone who had escaped from a prison camp for enemy aliens. This fact played on his mind.

'Jean, would you order me a taxi,' Mei Lin didn't bother with please, that was for friends, not housekeepers. Lucien would not agree, he was always unfailingly polite to everyone. He wasn't even blatantly rude to criminals.

'Yes Mrs Blake.' Jean didn't ask where she was going, it wasn't her place in Mei Lin's world to question her employer's wife.

'I will be staying at the Soldier's Hill Hotel until this... this situation is sorted out.' Mei Lin coldly informed her. she did not thank Jean for her hospitality. If Lucien had heard the discourse between the two he would have been incandescent with rage, nobody, but nobody spoke to Jean like that!

'Very well, I'll inform the doctor when he returns.'

When Mei Lin left, Jean, like the good housekeeper she was stripped the bed, but with a little more vigour than usual. Throwing the linen into the laundry basket to await the next time she put the washer on, she sat down for a cup of tea. She looked at the cup and sighed, it wasn't really a cup of tea moment. She did something she thought she'd never do at two thirty in the afternoon, she poured herself a measure of Lucien's whisky and downed it in one! As it hit the back of her throat she burst into a long coughing fit that was still going on when a bad tempered Blake came back. Derek had been evasive, feigned surprise that Mei Lin had turned up, claimed he knew nothing. Blake believed none of it. Hearing Jean apparently choking he ran to find her in the sitting room, still hold the tumbler.

'Jean!' he stopped. Jean drinking, a) whisky and b) in the middle of the afternoon. She must be traumatised. He put his arm round her to support her as the coughing subsided.

'Lucien,' she gasped, 'sorry, I just needed something more than tea.'

'So do I, but for you to drink at this hour of the day is unheard of.' He smiled, he couldn't help it. 'Sip it slowly next time.'

'Mei Lin has gone to stay at the Soldier's Hill Hotel until this is sorted out.' She informed him.

'Oh, right,' he scratched his head, 'I'm sorry Jean, I'd better go and check she's alright.'

'Of course you must,' Jean agreed, 'She is your wife.'

His shoulders dropped, 'I know.' and before she could move he kissed her cheek and left.

She wished he hadn't done it, kissed her, but...

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Lucien dragged his feet as he climbed the steps into the hotel. He asked for Mei Lin's room number at the desk .

Slowly walking up the stairs, not wanting the journey to end he found himself outside a bedroom door. The door had a frosted window quite high up, so he couldn't see in.

knocked and went in, he didn't wait for an answer, she should have been alone, she knew no one in Ballarat.

The sight that met his eyes stopped him in his tracks. There in the bed was his naked wife being made love to by Derek Alderton!

Mei Lin screamed, Derek vaulted off her and out of the bed, covering himself with the top eiderdown, to be met by Lucien's right fist delivering a sharp uppercut to his jaw, which sent him sprawling against the opposite wall.

'Lucien!' Mei Lin shouted.

'How long?!' he bellowed. 'How long has this been going on?' He was scarlet with rage, how long had he been a cuckold?

'Really, Lucien, did you really think life was that simple?' smirked Alderton through his daze. 'Allowing a beautiful woman to party with you friend while you look after the baby.'

'Friend, what friend? You are no friend of mine, Major. You, you...' he couldn't think of anything bad enough to call him.

He turned to Mei Lin, 'I want a divorce! '

'Lucien, please,' she pleaded, this wasn't supposed to happen. '

forget it, Mei Lin,' he looked at her with disgust..

She knew in that moment it was over, she would have to work out with Derek what she was to do next. She had hoped for a quiet divorce but this was going to be bad.

'I'll give you the divorce, but I don't want all the details known.' She shouldn't be making demands she knew, but she had to salvage some of her reputation.

Lucien turned on his heel, 'My lawyer will contact you.' He snarled. 'I take it you will be here for a while?'

'Yes, I suppose so.'

Blake stormed down the stairs, into the car and drove, rather recklessly home. He felt humiliated. What would Jean say? God he hoped she would stay. He needed her more than ever. Although he had decided to ask his wife for a divorce he hadn't envisaged it would be like this. Just seventeen years or so estrangement. A no fault split. He wasn't sure whether it would be a divorce and annulment, or just a divorce. Theirs had been a civil ceremony and Mei Lin wasn't catholic. He was still a catholic, even if he didn't attend church.

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Jean heard him slam the car door, then the front door and head straight to the whisky decanter. She nervously peered in to the sitting room and saw a broken man. What on earth could have happened?

'Lucien?' she spoke tentatively, 'what happened?' Her voice was soft and gentle.

He turned, threw the whisky down his throat and poured another one before trying to answer.

'Oh, Jean...' and the tears poured unashamedly down his cheeks.

She ran to him and pulled him onto the sofa before he fell down. Holding him tight, she rocked him like a child, 'It's alright, we'll get through it.'

He sobbed and told her everything. How they'd had an affair for years, how he caught them in her room, how Derek had sneered, looked smug. She laughed when he told her he'd hit him. It was about time the smug, insincere bastard had his comeuppance.

Her laugh brought him round. He looked at her with renewed love. She was on his side. She agreed he should divorce her. Originally she was not sure this was a good idea, but she had made a fool of him and Jean wasn't going to let him pay the price for that. Mei Lin's behaviour would become common knowledge, she knew that, it was Ballarat.

Jean told Lucien to go and wash his face before he called his lawyer.

'Why? He can't see me over the phone.'

'No., but you'll feel better.' She kissed his tear streaked cheek and patted his hand.

While he did as he was told Jean prepared a light supper for them, fortunately Charlie was out on a call, so they had some time to themselves to talk. She heard him call his lawyer and then another call. She wasn't listening but she heard him ask for the local priest. He was asking if he needed an annulment as well as a divorce if he was to remarry.

'One step at a time, Lucien,' thought Jean, 'let's not rush things.' She wasn't sure Mei Lin was a catholic anyway so their marriage may not be recognised by the church. If Lucien still wanted to marry her she was past caring what the church thought. As long as he was legally divorced she would marry him.

Lucien came out of the study looking considerably calmer than when he went in.

'The lawyer says I have grounds for a divorce, it is up to me if I want to settle anything on Mei Lin, but he doesn't think she has any claim on my money after what she has done.'

'Come on, we both need to eat.' She took his hand and led him to the kitchen where they sat in the quiet eating the light supper Jean had prepared.

Later they would talk. She would let him know that he had nothing to worry about with their relationship. she would always be there for him.