Why did it have to be Joy McDonald at the door? With her smart outfit, perfectly done make up and neat hair she made Jean feel...well, untidy. Dressed for housework in her apron and favourite beige cardigan, she was not expecting anyone. Lucien had no patients that afternoon. She was also aware her hair was a little untidy. On days when she was not doing the housework she was more tidily presented very much aware she should appear professional for Dr Blake's patients. Her pride permitted no less.
She found herself being antagonistic, pointedly addressing her as Mrs McDonald when Joy had called her 'Jean'. Some of the local residents of Ballarat still called her Mrs Beazley and they'd known her for years.
Back in the house she put Joy's note on the kitchen table and went back to her tasks, but the thoughts stayed with her.
Why did she care that Joy and Lucien were becoming friends? Dr Blake was her employer, nothing more.
He was a drunk, sometimes thoughtless, often unreliable, handsome...oh god!, did that just enter her head?
Did she like him? In a way, yes. She liked that he wanted the truth, justice, however hard it was. She liked that mischievous twinkle in his eye, his little boy lost look.
When he'd touched her leg, trying to re-create a murder scene she's jumped; it had sent a jolt to her brain she hadn't felt for a long time.
Dear god, surely she wasn't falling for him...
'Yes, Jean,' she said to herself, 'you're jealous!'