During the afternoon, Jean found some time to sit at the kitchen table and write to Mattie. She had written often before, but this was the first letter that contained only good news. Jean missed Mattie, especially missed having another woman in the house, someone who knew her well enough to see below the surface.

From Mattie's letters it was clear to Jean that she was homesick, and although the work was going well she was finding life in London more lonely than expected. Jean wrote her a long and cheerful letter, telling her about the wedding and how they had surprised people with it. She did not seal up the letter though, thinking Lucien might want to write to her too.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

An hour into the party virtually everyone they knew in Ballarat had arrived. It seemed that word had got around and plenty of patients and neighbours had turned up to shake their hands and share a drink.

Jean found herself telling the story of their wedding many times to people as they came and went, but only Charlie really knew all that had happened while Mei Lin was in Ballarat, and even he didn't know about the first, interrupted, proposal. Jean had shared that only with Mattie, and then probably only because she was safely many miles away. Again, she felt a pang of regret that Mattie wasn't there.

Lucien was wisely not drinking as much as usual, and he was careful to keep an eye on Jean and whether she was enjoying herself. She was lively and smiling, even relaxed, and his heart ached with love for her as he watched her. As the party quietened down a little he went over to speak to her, and saw a flash of relief in her eyes as he approached. He made an excuse for drawing her aside and they moved out on to the balcony, away from everyone else.

"Are you enjoying it?" he asked.

"Yes, mostly, but I don't think I can face talking to many more people." Jean smiled to soften the remark, but Lucien could see she meant it. She seemed suddenly worn thin by too much company. He found himself feeling very protective of Jean, though he wasn't sure she necessarily wanted that, but he couldn't help it. So much had happened to them in the last weeks and months.

When he hugged her though, she rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, enjoying the moment of calm and his very solid presence against her cheek. She could feel desire start to stir in her. "Hmm, I might just stay here," she said, and he stroked her hair gently.

"Maybe we should go back in and start to say some goodbyes, so we can go home," he replied, and he lifted up her chin a little so he could kiss her.

They rejoined the party and Lucien started to go round thanking people for coming, and most of them took the hint and headed for home. Soon they were left with just a small group of friends, chatting amiably as the party wound down.

Rose came up to Jean with an envelope and handed it over. "This is a little wedding present for you both. There will be some more after this evening too, but I'll bring those over tomorrow."

Intrigued, Jean opened the envelope to find several copies of a photo of Lucien and her on the registry office steps after the wedding ceremony. They had been talking to Charlie, though he wasn't in the picture, and none of them had noticed Rose taking the photograph.

"It seemed a shame that you wouldn't have any wedding photos, so I just took a few shots when you weren't looking. This was the best one, I think."

In the photo Lucien and Jean each had an arm around the other and they were laughing at something Charlie had said. It captured a moment of happiness perfectly.

"I took some more photos this evening so I'll let you have those tomorrow," Rose looked embarrassed for a moment, then kissed Jean on the cheek and left.

"What was that about?" Lucien asked, as they put their coats on to go home.

"I'll show you later," Jean promised, and they went out to the car with Charlie.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

She waited to show him until they were alone in their bedroom. Jean finished brushing her hair and climbed into bed, bringing the envelope with her. Lucien came to join her and he looked at the photo for a moment, puzzled. "I don't remember her taking this," he said, and looked at Jean.

"She took it as a surprise for us. I think it's rather good; I might send one to Mattie with the letter. Oh, and I thought you might want to write to her as well, so it's not posted yet."

Lucien took one of the photos and propped it against the mirror on the dressing table. "Rather nice to have a wedding photo, isn't it?" He looked at it with pride, before turning off the lamp and reaching out to hold Jean.