Mattie sat at the kitchen table nursing her tea and chatting with Jean about recent events.
Jean diced the veg for the night's shepherd's pie in an uncharacteristically fierce manner. She had been reciting the younger doctor's latest antics for the lodger's judgment as the veg pieces grew smaller and smaller. Finally, her tirade culminated with, "Once. If I could get my hands around his throat just once ..."
She was cut off by rapidly approaching cries, "Jean! Jean? Where are you? I need … Ah, here you are! Ah, good, Mattie, you're here as well, then. I'll need you to watch carefully and tell me what you think."
He didn't see the angry flashes in his housekeeper's eyes, and continued in a rush, "I need to test a theory, Jean. If you'll just put that down, and step over here like so ..." He put his hands rather familiarly on her waist to position her in front of himself, but released them just as quickly to lift her hands to the top of his chest. What cheek!
His hands lingered on hers while he explained, "Now, I'm trying to see under what circumstances a person of about your slight frame would be able to overcome someone much larger. So what I need you to do …" Jean caught on and began to squeeze his neck, and he dropped his hands to his side since he thought she understood. "Yes, Jean, just a little higher, then."
Her hands tightened a bit more, and his eyes got large with surprise when he caught the dangerous look on her face. He tried to ask her to let up, but only a slight splutter came out. What was going on? Her hands just squeezed a bit tighter. He didn't think she realized just how tightly. His eyes showed a bit of fear now; he'd have to do something quickly but he didn't want to hurt her. He started to raise his hands to her shoulders to push her back lightly, but a moment late, as his knees buckled beneath him.
He barely heard Mattie call out, "Jean? Jean! What ..."
It all had taken only a few seconds. Lucien was still sitting on the kitchen floor, now sipping a bit of water.
Jean had moved to a chair on the far side of the table, and slumped into it, somewhat frightened by her actions. What had come over her?
"Lucien?" Mattie asked softly, a weightless hand on his shoulder as she crouched next to him, "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Certainly," he croaked, taking another sip and looking over at her with an embarrassed smile. He lifted himself from the floor, slowly, assessing himself, then set the glass in the sink.
He made his way to the shocked housekeeper, and spoke her name gently, "Jean? … " waiting for her to look up and meet his eyes. "Thank you. I think I learned something valuable, just now. I'm sorry ... I hope I didn't scare you too badly.
"If anyone calls, I'll just be in the study," and with that, he retreated ever so quietly.