Jean concentrated on the other bedrooms, only coming back around to his when she was sure he was busy in his office. She did a swift job this time to avoid any more awkward conversations. She kept to herself the rest of the evening and much of the next day as well. On top of everything else, Jean had been feeling poorly for quite some time. She suspected it was the weeks of emotional hardship. She hated to admit it to herself, but even Jean Beazely could be worn down with enough pressure. However she was determined to not give Lucien one more thing to worry about. The following evening, Jean was sitting on the couch with knitting in her lap. She wasn't making much progress, her thoughts were lost as they often were these days in trying to find a way forward for Lucien and herself. She hadn't even noticed that the subject of her thoughts had sat down next to her and was looking at her with great interest.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Jean started. "Oh!"

She forced a smile, "Nothing worth that much I'm afraid."

Jean picked up her knitting and resumed her work in earnest. Lucien rested a hand on her arm, stopping her.

"Jean, I'm afraid you've been unhappy the last few weeks, and I'm the reason why."

Jean set down her knitting and took his hand. "No Lucien, it's no one's fault. It's just how things worked out."

"I've been thinking, Jean. Maybe you should go to Adelaide for a while. You had always meant to go back and help care for Amelia."

Jean looked shocked. "You want me to leave?"

"No! It's just the opposite." Lucien turned so he could face her on the couch, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I want you with me every day. I want to," his voice cracked, "I want to care for you, and I want you to be my wife. But I see how unhappy you've become. I know what sort of gossip you have to deal with in town, and then here I haven't made things much better."

Jean looked at him sympathetically, "Lucien,"

"Please hear me out Jean. Go back to Adelaide for a few weeks, or a few months. Spend time with Christopher and your family. I'll pay for a place to stay so you won't have to worry about running out of funds. That will give me time to sort out the divorce while you can escape some of the pressure. And I can come visit you in Adelaide. As I recall I rather enjoyed my last trip there."

Jean blushed furiously.

"Promise me you'll think about it?"

Jean nodded. "I will."

Jean allowed herself to lay her head on his shoulder, a luxury she hadn't dared since Mei Lin arrived. It broke her heart that they had gotten to the point where it was simpler for her to leave than to stay. But everything he said had made sense. A few weeks later she packed her things and prepared for another trip. They decided to employ a house keeper for a few days a week just to keep things tidy. Lucien said he could eat at the club or Charlie and he could fend for themselves at home. Jean was concerned he wouldn't eat right and made no secret of her concern that he'd drink all his meals instead. Lucien assured her that it would only be for a short time and he would be fine. Lucien and Jean said goodbye at the house, knowing that when he dropped her off at the bus stop they could not be seen together, not the way they wanted to be. Lucien held her close, promising to call and write, talking already about their next visit. Jean was in tears and hesitant to let him go.

"My sweet Jean," he breathed into her hair, "It won't be for long. This is the right thing to do, I promise. You'll get to see Christopher and Amelia, and I'll see you soon."

Jean straightened up, dabbing at her tears with his handkerchief, readjusting her clothes in an attempt to regain her former composure.

"Let's go then."

She left the house and headed to the car, with Lucien trailing behind with her suitcases.

Lucien bore the absence well. The first time she went to Adelaide he felt like it was the end, his own stubbornness cost him a chance at happiness, and he found Jean's loss nearly unbearable. He missed Jean now, but he was confident they would see each other soon. They spoke by phone once a week and Lucien wrote often. Jean did not write as frequently, she was busy minding her family as well as getting settled in town. When she did write, she made no secret of how much she missed him. Lucien would stay up late at night in his study, reading and re-reading her letters over a glass of whiskey. Sometimes he caught himself lingering in the doorway of his bedroom staring down at the black bed covers, imagining the day that he would turn in for the night and find Jean there, asleep and beautiful, waiting for him. He knew without experiencing it that he would slide into bed, careful not to wake her up, but she would roll over anyway and curl up into his arms and put her head on his chest. Instead of nightmares, he would fall asleep happy, his mind too full of Jean's presence to let any demons in. The short absence they endured now would be a small price to pay for a lifetime together.

Eight weeks after she left, Lucien arrived in Adelaide. Jean seemed happy to see him, greeting him affectionately in a way that they could not do in Ballarat. However for most of the visit she was distant, even cool at times. Lucien's attempt to take her out on the town, or even enjoy a late evening together was mostly met with claims of tiredness, or a need to take care of family matters. Lucien tried not to call her reasons into question, he knew the separation must be hurting her. With his trip complete he received no more than a polite farewell from Jean. He made the long drive home with a growing knot in his stomach. He knew in his heart he was losing her. He vowed to do everything he could to make it up to her when she returned to Ballarat.