As soon as Lucien got back to his house he was on the phone to Jean.
"Just wanted to let you know I landed safely, and to hear your voice," he smiled.
"I hope you're in the surgery," she laughed, "you'll give the lodgers ideas about us."
"I am. Everything alright there?"
"Yes, Amelia's asleep, Christopher is going to ring when he gets back from visiting Ruby … Lucien, we can't thank you enough, for what you've done."
"Oh, I'm sure I'll find a way," he smirked to himself.
Jean knew what he meant, and she was quite willing to accommodate him, sooner rather than later!
"Get some sleep, I'm sure the residents of Ballarat will be up to their usual tricks tomorrow."
They exchanged sweet nothings and Lucien signed off.
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Lucien thought the house was horribly quiet, he expected Alice would have gone home by now or was making use of one of the spare rooms Jean had offered her, Mattie would be in bed, Charlie would be also, or on night duty – he was the only one up and about. He undressed and put his laundry in the basket and considered making tea. He looked at the kettle, sighed and decided he'd just go to bed. As he passed the guest room he paused, surely he hadn't heard that had he?
"Sh, Matthew, I think someone's in the house." It was Alice Harvey, and Matthew?
"Don't be daft," undoubtedly Matthew, "just a creaking old house." Lucien sauntered to his own room, a huge grin on his handsome features.
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Inside the room, in the bed, Alice lay naked, with Matthew's face between her legs, sure she had heard something. This was the first time their friendship had spilled over into something more. Matthew had called just after surgery to thank Alice for her help in a recent case, she had made tea, there had been dinner with Mattie, and they had washed up together.
"Right, I'm going out to the cinema with some nursing friends," Mattie shrugged on her coat, "why don't you celebrate the end of the case in Blake house style," she lifted a bottle of whisky out of the cabinet and two glasses, "enjoy, I'm sure Lucien won't mind."
She skipped out of the house as they were pouring their first drinks.
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A peck on the cheek had Alice draw back and look at him.
"Can't you do better than that?" she raised one eyebrow. He'd expected a slap in the face, but if she wanted better …
Alice liked Matthew. She liked his gruff manner, his no nonsense approach, the twinkle in his eyes and she found she liked the way he kissed – very much.
Lips, teeth and tongues, hands, necks, breasts – all were touched and tasted.
Matthew expertly undid her bra and slipped his hand round her breast. He pulled the rest of it down with his teeth and sucked at her nipple.
"Oh god," she groaned and pushed his shirt off, "Matthew …" she raised her hips.
"Alice," he looked up, his hair falling down over his forehead, "did you say you were staying over?"
She nodded. He moved up her body and she felt the bulge in his trousers. "Guest room," she gasped.
They gathered the discarded clothing so Mattie wouldn't get the wrong idea – that was actually the right idea – and headed to the guest room.
Matthew pushed the door closed and grabbed her; she offered no resistance as he slanted his mouth over hers. She put her arms over his shoulders and gave in to the kiss. His hands pulled the zip down on her skirt and it fell to the floor in a puddle round her feet.
"That's your game, huh," she leant back and smiled. "Well, two can play at that game." She slipped her hands down and slid the zip of his trousers down, allowing his erection more room though it was still trapped in his shorts.
"Hm," she licked her lips.
"My turn," he lifted her up and carried her to the bed where they proceeded to undress completely.
"God you're beautiful," he moved down to taste her, which was when Alice thought she heard something.
He dismissed it and continued tracing her folds with his tongue, nipping the little bud of nerves that made her jump and squeak and forget about strange noises.
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Lucien lay in bed and thought that if Matthew and Alice were more than 'just good friends' then he and Jean could probably enlist their help in keeping their relationship quiet until such time as they knew what they really wanted to do. He didn't think for one minute that Jean would want to be his mistress, he would like her to be his wife, but even so until then he wanted her in his bed.
He drifted off to sleep with such sweet thoughts.
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Matthew made love to Alice until they both fell asleep in a tangle of pink and glistening limbs.
She woke and stretched and shifted an unusual weight off her stomach. The weight grunted and rolled over.
"Urgh!"
"Matthew," she whispered, "I need to get up, I've got a shift at the hospital before surgery this afternoon."
"Jeez, Alice," he blinked in the early morning light, "I'm too old for this."
"Oh no you're not, not after last night," she laughed, "there's life in you yet." She bent forward and kissed him before slipping out of bed and into her robe.
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After using the bathroom, she headed to the kitchen to make tea for them both. He would have to go home and change for the day, not having planned on staying the night he had no clean uniform. Perhaps when Lucien and Jean came back they should keep a change at each other's homes, if he would like to. She'd had one night stands before but not with colleagues, so if that was all it was it could be awkward, but in the afterglow of his ministrations last night she wasn't of a mind to consider that.
"Oh," she pulled up short at the sight of Lucien Blake pouring boiling water into the teapot.
"Oh, mornin' Alice," he grinned, "tea?"
She blushed furiously.
"Does Matthew want a cup?" he continued, unable to stop himself teasing his friend.
"I … er …" she cleared her throat.
"Good," but he couldn't keep it up, she was clearly mortified at having been discovered. "It's alright, Alice," his voice softened, "Jean and I understand."
"You do?" her eyebrows shot up to her hairline.
"But that's between you me and Matthew, eh? She's still in Adelaide. Ruby had a rampant abscess, in fact she had more than one, I had to perform a hysterectomy."
"Oh, Lucien, is she alright?" Alice slumped into a chair by the table and let him pour her a cuppa.
"She will be, eventually. I mean physically, yes, though understandably upset she won't have any more children. Jean is looking after the baby and Christopher while she's in hospital – I'll fly back in ten days to take the stitches out unless I get called back earlier. Jean's in a small flat." He sipped his tea.
"Do you want me to take surgery while you're there?"
"Please, feel free to use the guest room … and invite Matthew over."
"Lucien, it just happened; if I'd known you were coming home I would have controlled …"
"… Matthew? Alice, I'm happy for you, Jean will be happy for you …"
"Won't she be disappointed?"
He shook his head. "Jean … "he looked around to make sure Mattie wasn't within earshot, "Jean and I may have committed the same indiscretion – once or twice," he almost winced, and prayed Jean wouldn't mind him admitting to Alice they were sleeping together. Alice, he knew would not say a word to anyone, not even under torture.
"I won't say a word, there's enough gossip about Jean."
"And I will keep schtum about you and Matthew – but you can use this as a safe bolt hole if you need to."
"Shit!"
"Morning, Matthew," Lucien stood up and retrieved another teacup, "tea."
"Blake …"
"Oh, shut up, Matthew," Alice laughed, "drink your tea."
He looked from one to the other, "Mattie?"
"Still in bed."
"Good, I'm gonna scarper, don't want to corrupt the younger generation."
"Catch you later," Alice waved and let him go. "He's right, you know."
"That and Charlie."
"Bugger." She hissed.
It was Lucien's turn to raise his eyebrows, he'd never heard Alice curse, not even mildly.
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Jean hadn't slept very well. The bed was cold and empty without Lucien and Amelia had demanded a feed twice. Of itself that wasn't a problem it was just that she had become rather used to Lucien being there and holding her while she fed the baby, or indeed feeding Amelia while she dozed. She was glad he had arrived home safely but all the same she rather he hadn't had to go.
She spent the next week sorting out the little house on the base, making it easy for Ruby to deal with when she left hospital, feeding Christopher, and seeing to his laundry, looking after her granddaughter and getting to know Mrs Fitch. Dorcas Fitch was not nosy, she didn't pester Jean for information about her life in Ballarat, though Jean did tell her she would eventually return there as she was Dr Blake's receptionist and housekeeper.
"He's been very kind to me, after the bus accident," she hummed over tea one afternoon, "I would have been quite happy to come by train but I'm rather glad I didn't. I dread to think what would have happened to Ruby if he hadn't come."
"Indeed, a higher power, perhaps, Mrs Beazley …"
"Well, Dr Blake doesn't believe in such things, but perhaps …"
"Whatever, I'm sure your son is glad he came."
"He is. He's very grateful to the doctor for all he has done for Ruby. I'm sure we would have lost her …" Jean swallowed at the mere thought.
"She did worry me, that day."
"Thank you for staying with her," Jean smiled.
"it was the least I could do."
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"I thought I'd fly over a couple of days early," Lucien sat with his feet up on the desk in the study, "unless you don't want me."
"I'd love that," she giggled a trifle too eagerly she would think later, "but what about the surgery?"
"Alice says she's more than happy to take it on for a couple of days, she's enjoying it, and it would give us a little time to talk," he hummed, something he'd been thinking about since he flew back to Ballarat.
"To talk?" she coughed, she didn't have talking in mind.
"We need to."
"I suppose so," she heaved a sigh, "do you want me to pick you up from the airport?"
"No, it'll be late. I get a taxi to bring me straight to you, should be ten-ish."
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Amelia was settled and should probably give Jean about four hours before she needed a feed again. She hadn't been sure if Lucien would need feeding too before he did what she had in mind. She smiled as she thought of the difference between the relationship between her and Lucien and her and Christopher – with Christopher she would feign sleep to stop his attentions with Lucien she was determined to stay awake and had even had a short nap with Amelia that afternoon - talking was definitely not what she had in mind.
Lucien let himself in with his own key.
"Hey there," a soft voice had him look up. Jean was leaning against the door jamb to the living room wearing nothing but a light silk robe in pale blue. He swallowed, sure that was all she was wearing; his body reacted appropriately, and she raised an eyebrow.
"Mrs Beazley," he took a step forward …
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Amelia's grizzling woke him, strangely he had missed that; he rolled out from under Jean's soft body, grabbed his discarded shorts, and went to pick her up.
"Hungry, little one?" he soothed, "let's get you a bottle, eh?"
"Hm?" Jean turned in the bed and pushed her hair out of her eyes.
"Go back to sleep, love, I can do this." He placed the baby on the bed next to her and went to boil the kettle.
When he returned Jean had changed Amelia and was singing softly to her. It was an adorable sight, but one he knew he couldn't get used to. He sat propped up against the pillows and gave the baby her bottle.
"How're you, today, Jean?" he smiled down at her.
"Wonderful," she stretched. "You?"
"Marvellous," he leant over and kissed her softly. "What have you planned for today?"
"To keep you in this bed and have my wicked way with you," she looked from under her lashes and licked her lips.
"Who are you, and what have you done to Jean Beazley?" he laughed.
She joined in the laughter, "I missed you."
"I missed you too."
"How was everything when you got home? Did Alice cope with the surgery? Did she cope with Matthew, or more to the point, did he cope with her?"
"Cope is not quite the word I would use," he put the empty bottle on the side, "when I got back, I decided to just go to bed but as I passed the guest room I heard a strange sound, a sort of a giggle, then Alice's voice telling Matthew she thought she heard something …"
"Alice … and Matthew … in the guest room?" her eyebrows shot up to her hairline, "what …?" then she realised the question she was about to ask was ridiculous.
"… something like what we did last night, I imagine. She knows I know, so does Matthew, I was making tea when she came into the kitchen in her robe and teased her, asked if Matthew would like a cup."
"Oh Lucien, you know how private she is," she scolded.
"'s'ok, we made our peace, I told her you and I may have committed the same indiscretion … she won't say anything I won't say anything about her and Matthew, in fact I sort of gave them my blessing – we may need support."
"Does Mattie know, or Charlie?"
"No, I think it was the first time, and she has had no reason to stay at our house this week. You don't mind, do you, me telling her about us?"
"She's very private, as I said, I think she can be trusted, I don't know about Matthew though."
"Well, he wasn't in the kitchen when I told her, so unless she's said something he doesn't know."
"I don't know if I want to keep secrets from them, Lucien, they are our friends …"
"Nor do I – but Jean, what we have is wonderful but back home … I know there's gossip, there always has been, there was gossip about mother, gossip about Agnes Clasby being a red because she has been to Russia … but I don't want you to suffer. You are good and kind, strong – quite remarkable in every way and I love you for all that …"
"Lucien, I'm not who you think I am. Christopher is not my first-born child …"
"Jack isn't, is he?"
"No, Lucien, you think I am good, and God fearing, I go to mass and confession but … before I had Christopher I had a little girl – she came too early. Christopher, my husband … we had to get married …" she rolled out of bed, "we went against the church …"
"Jean," Lucien lay Amelia on the bed, "Jean, the past is the past, what you and Christopher did, doesn't make you a bad person – youth and exploration …"
"He … he was so insistent," she frowned, "is that the word? Persuasive? I knew it was wrong, but he said he loved me …"
"Jean," Lucien paced the room, the way he did when faced with a problem over a case, "Jean … did he force you?"
"No, I gave in, I was weak …"
"Never, ever say you were weak. You say you gave in; you say he said he loved you – but wasn't it was self-preservation? What would have happened if you hadn't given in, eh? Would he have forced you, or would he have gone away?"
"I don't know," she stood and looked out of the window, it wasn't much of a view, "maybe. I know you think we were happy, I'm not sure, not now, not after …" she waved her hand over the bed, "you …"
"I love you, Jean, I want you with me." He went over to her and pulled her close, "we should get married, not to prevent gossip – I doubt that will stop - but because I want you as my wife."
"Is that a proposal, Dr Blake?" she wiped the tears from her face with her hand.
"Not the best," he smiled, "would you like me to get down on one knee?"
She giggled, "no, no, Lucien, you're right. I would like to marry you; I wasn't sure if you just wanted …"
"Never, Jean. I mean – yes, I do want this -but I want more, I want to be able to take you out, to take you to dine at Henri's as my wife, to walk hand in hand with you down Sturt Street, to kiss you in the house without looking over my shoulder – I love you, Jean, very much."
"Well, we shall have to see about a wedding then," she kissed his jaw, "we have time, all the time I am here in Adelaide."
"We could get married here, y'know, while you are looking after Christopher and Ruby, and of course this little angel, then I can bring you home – as Mrs Blake."
"Alright, I suppose that would work."
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Lucien spent the morning checking Ruby's progress. He found her able to walk around the room when Sister wasn't looking, she was brighter, almost pain-free and healing well.
"It's so good of you to come all the way from Ballarat to see me, Dr Blake," she smiled.
"Well, phone calls are all very well, Ruby, but it's so much easier to do my job with the patient. And can I tell you a secret?"
"Oh please," her eyes lit up with spirit, "what are you up to? Jean says you are rather impulsive."
"Not impulse, no," he smiled, "but I have asked Jean to marry me."
"Oh, oh how wonderful!" she clapped her hands with delight, "she deserves some happiness. Christopher worries about her, he worries she isn't happy."
"He probably thinks I take advantage of her, and I wouldn't blame him, a lot of people think that, at least the ones who think it is unseemly for a widow to share a house with a widower."
"Small minded, if I may say so, doctor." She shrugged, "but no, he doesn't think you take advantage of her. He said, when he came back from her birthday visit …"
"Oh, you mean …?"
"… yeah, the one where the actress was killed, he said you seemed to really appreciate her. You were kind to her and to him when he wanted to call me – don't say you spoke to me but I'm sure if you wanted him to give her away, he would be pleased to be part of it."
"Well, we would both like you to be a big part of the wedding, which we think will be here in Adelaide, so it won't be until you are fit to attend in whatever role Jean plans for you."
"Oh, I will be sure to get well quickly, then," she laughed. "You know, doctor, the nurses are so quiet around me, as if I have suffered a bereavement, and I suppose I have, but … Dr Blake, you saved my life, you gave me the chance to watch my daughter grow up. Christopher and I wanted children, right from the start, Amelia is all we could have imagined and though I can't give her siblings, we think we are very lucky. So, as you are going to marry her grandmother, that makes you her grandfather – well it does in my eyes, and I shall make sure she sees you as someone to look up to as she grows."
Lucien sat down in the chair with a thump. This was more than he could have hoped for.
"Do you think, as she grows up you would let her come to stay with us, I mean we would love you to come see us, but …"
"Grandparent privileges? Of course, we would love that."
"Right, well before sister throws me out," he stood as Ruby burst out laughing, "I'd best take my leave of you, for now. I'll be back in a couple of days to remove those stitches and set your recovery programme in place – get you back home, eh?"
"Oh, please."
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"I know," Jean smiled when he told her of his visit to Ruby. "What did you put in her anaesthetic?"
"Nothing, but people change. Look, Jean, let's sort out a wedding here for, say, three weeks? It won't be fancy, maybe only the registrar's office …"
"… legal."
"Do you want a church wedding?"
"Your faith is dented; I don't want you to do anything you feel uncomfortable with. It's not as if we have to wave the marriage certificate around."
"Quite, but if you look at it like that all you have to do is change your name …" he teased.
"I'd like to be Mrs Blake, for real, if that's alright with you," she snuggled close to him on the couch.
"More than alright," he wrapped his arms round her. "Is Amelia asleep?"
"Yes."
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They spent the next couple of days seeing the registrar and buying an engagement ring for Jean. A square cut emerald surrounded by small diamonds and set on a gold band. Lucien also made the decision to wear a ring for her and chose matching wedding rings which he gave to her.
"I'll only lose them," he smiled, "you know, at a crime scene, or forget to bring them with me on the 12th."
Jean wasn't sure why he would have the rings at a crime scene but agreed he would probably forget to bring them with him.
The night before Lucien flew back to Ballarat, he had Ruby discharged from hospital on the grounds that Jean would look after her and see she didn't do too much for the next four weeks.
"No housework, no lifting," he signed the necessary paperwork, "I'll see you in a couple of weeks."
"But tonight, you will dine with us, doctor," Christopher held his arm out for his wife, "I've booked a table so mum's not cooking either. We must celebrate your engagement before you go back."
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They had a lovely evening, the food was lovely, and Christopher insisted they toasted the happy couple in Champagne, or lemonade in Ruby's case as Lucien warned her against drinking with the pain medication she was still on.
"You can take as little as you want," he smiled as he handed her the bottle, "but no more than the recommended dose."
"I'm not a huge fan of medications, doctor," she dropped the bottle into her handbag, "Christopher has to nag me to take anything for a headache."
"I'm hoping you don't need them, but best be prepared."
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"So," Lucien passed Matthew a whisky, "that's what's happening. Jean will stay with Ruby and Christopher until Ruby is able to look after the family herself. She's recovering well, remarkably well but an operation like she has had takes time."
"You will be going over, then," Matthew relaxed in his seat.
"Well, I have to go over in three weeks, for our wedding …"
"Wedding!" Matthew spluttered.
"Yeah, me and Jean," Lucien grinned like a Cheshire Cat.
"Bloody hell, mate, that's marvellous! Congratulations."
"Thanks, Matthew, of course it would be lovely if you and Alice could be there, it's only going to be a small affair …"
"I think we might be able to fly out, I'll ask her." He frowned for a moment, "does Jean know … about me and Alice?"
"She does, and she's happy for you both. We won't say anything," Lucien nodded.
"Well, we don't stay over here, it's her place or mine, usually hers."
"Well, I know how to get hold of you, then."
Matthew flushed slightly but agreed he could use it as a contact.
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"It would have to be an overnight stay," Matthew explained to Alice after he had told her Lucien and Jean's news. "If we get a locum for Police Surgeon and Bill steps in for me, with Charlie, we should be able to cover everything. For those that won't be there, Mattie has suggested a party when Jean is home."
"That sounds like a lovely idea; do you really think we should both go?"
"I certainly do; firstly, to see for my own eyes that Jean Beazley is really going to marry that old reprobate …"
"He's your friend, Matthew."
"He's my best friend, Alice, we were at school together … I want to see him marry Jean, she's good for him." He smiled and wrapped his arms round her, "and a night away with you … sounds good to me." He grinned.
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"Oh, that's lovely, darling," Jean smiled down the phone, "is Matthew booking the hotel?"
"Yeah, he's booking the one we first stayed in, best he does it, he and Alice can work out how they want to do that." Lucien sat with his feet up on his desk – Jean would be appalled – and mused on that, "I wonder if they will marry."
"Matthew is an honourable man, Lucien, but he won't push Alice to do something she doesn't want to do or feels uncomfortable with. Leave them be," she hummed. "They're still invited to dinner, whatever they decide to do."
"So, have you found a dress yet, or are you making it?" he changed the subject.
"Mine to know and yours to find out," she laughed, "but we have found a lovely dress for Amelia."
"Ah, I expect she will look beautiful."
Jean and Ruby had gone out for the afternoon, just strolled around a couple of shops to look for a dress for Jean. They had found two or three she liked but were going to think on it overnight. Ruby had treated herself to a new dress, Christopher had insisted, it was drop waisted, which was comfortable for her, with a pleated skirt in a pale mauve. Jean said it suited her beautifully.
Christopher was surprised and delighted that his wife and his mother seemed to be getting on, but Ruby had changed, she was more confident, less of a worrier than she had been. When he spoke to her about this, how she was stronger.
"I love you, Ruby," he pulled her to lie on his chest, "I always have, but you seem more likely to just get on with it."
"I've had a second chance," she hummed, "leastways that's how I see it. If it hadn't been for Dr Blake, for Lucien, I wouldn't be here, so I have decided to live life to the hilt instead of mourning the loss."
"You're bloody amazing," he kissed the top of her head.
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Ruby's recovery went well; Lucien made the excuse of checking his patient every week in order to fly to Adelaide to see Jean though after he removed the stitches, he could have asked the district nurse to do those checks, but he didn't.
"You know, Jean," Ruby set her teacup down, "when you get married next week, you should go back to Ballarat with Lucien."
"You won't be ready to do everything, Ruby," Jean couldn't deny the idea was tempting.
"But Christopher can help and … well … I spoke to Dorcas, next door, and she has said she will help. Jean you can't put your life on hold for me. I'm incredibly grateful for all you and Lucien have done, we are incredibly grateful, but now you must start your new life. Lucien makes you happy, even Christopher says he hasn't seen you this happy for years." Ruby reached across the table and squeezed her hands, "go on."
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"I agree with you, and I agree with Ruby," Lucien swirled his drink round, "so, as we haven't even thought about a honeymoon why don't we do a road trip, or something, maybe go along the coast …"
"So, we would be closer if anything happened?"
"Well, closer than Ballarat," he shrugged.
"Hm …"
"I'll take you on another trip, later in the year … round the world?"
Jean smiled, she thought he took her round the world every time he made love to her – but there was no need to make him feel smug about it!
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It was a simple ceremony; Jean and Lucien arrived at the Registrar's Offices together where Alice and Matthew and the little family Jean had come to help, waited. They recited their vows, signed the register, and had their photographs taken, and headed to a restaurant for a long, lazy, laughter-filled lunch. Christopher had organised that they have a private room where they could sit and talk, tell stories and see that Amelia was content, which she was, mainly in her grandmother's arms and occasionally her new grandfather's.
"We won't be away for long," Jean assured Christopher.
"Honestly mum," he laughed, "you go and enjoy yourselves; we'll be fine, we can manage a week with Dorcas' help. You've done so much for us you deserve a break."
Ruby agreed with him and almost shoved them into the car, "now go," she huffed, "go be newly-weds."
Jean grinned and tossed her small posy of roses, rosemary and Paris daisies deliberately in the direction of Alice, who caught it and blushed furiously.
"We could, y'know," Matthew whispered, "no fuss, no bother just a quiet visit to the registrars."
"Shut up," she hissed back.
He wouldn't push her, that was the quickest way to lose her.
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At first Jean was worried about leaving Ruby. Worried she would do too much and end up back in hospital and she would have to stay even longer in Adelaide. She loved the family, truly, but she was starting a new life with Lucien.
"It'll be alright," he seemed to read her thoughts, "Ruby will be fine, we'll be back soon enough and if it makes you feel easier you can ring them each night."
"Sorry."
"No need to be sorry, you came to Adelaide to help them, and things took a different turn. I love you, Jean, things will be just fine."
And he was right. They drove along as near to the coast as they could, stopped and booked into hotels along the way. Had picnics, lovely dinners, walked hand in hand and made love whenever and wherever they could. Jean had never felt so loved and cared for, and free to show that she loved him just as much.
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They returned to Adelaide just over a week later. Jean had phoned Ruby often enough but not every day and was content to leave visiting them until the following day. For this night, they would stay in the little flat and Jean set to sorting out the laundry and making a light meal.
"Hey," Lucien caught her elbow, "why don't we see if we can get a table at a restaurant …"
She shook her head, "no, thank you darling, I just want something simple and to relax."
"If that's what you want," he slipped his arm round her shoulders, "how can I help?"
Jean checked the fridge and was pleased to see Ruby and Christopher had bought all the things she had asked for in her last phone call, but they had gone just that little bit further and there, in a casserole dish, was a rabbit stew ready to be reheated.
"Oh …" she gasped.
"What?" Lucien peered over her shoulder, "ooh, nice."
"I asked for a few essentials," she sniffed.
"Seems Ruby wanted to say thank you. Shall I turn on the oven?"
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"That was tasty," Jean placed her knife and fork tidily on her plate.
"Very good," her husband agreed, "almost as good as yours."
"I should hope so," she laughed, "I gave her the recipe."
"You did? And here I thought your recipes were closely guarded secrets."
"Ha ha," she nudged him, "when she and Christopher were about to get married she asked what his favourite foods were …"
"… so you told her and gave her the recipes?"
"Some," she hummed and set about clearing the table.
It seemed to Lucien that Jean and Ruby had had a complicated relationship that now was evening out due to the nature of the visit to Adelaide in the first place. Funny how things turned out, he thought, and went to pour their after-dinner drinks.
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The following day they headed to the little house on the base; they took flowers to thank Ruby for her thoughtfulness, a soft toy for Amelia and an open invitation to visit them in Ballarat whenever they thought it possible.
"Jean!" Ruby opened the door with a huge smile, "you look wonderful."
"You look the same," Jean hugged her daughter-in-law. "How are you, Ruby?"
"I'm very well, come in, I'll put the kettle on, and you can play with Amelia for a few minutes. Come, sit down," Ruby pulled her into the living room, all tidy and just as Jean would have it. "Doctor, please."
"Ruby," he smiled and followed his wife into the room.
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They had tea, played with the baby, talked and Ruby even let Lucien examine her briefly in the bedroom.
"So, Lucien, how do you find me?"
"I find you in rude health, Ruby, you have been taking care of yourself, that is obvious; but how do you really feel?"
"I feel, grateful, Lucien, to you, to Christopher for letting you help me, and though I know there will be times I struggle, times my thoughts may be dark, but I am determined to live life to the full, to enjoy being Amelia's mother – take each day as it comes. Without you, Amelia would not have had a mother; I would never wish that on any child, so …"
"You are a remarkable young lady, Ruby, and if there is anything I, or Jean, can do to help as you raise Amelia please do not hesitate to ask. And if you need my help, as a doctor … I will be here as soon as the plane can get me here."
"Thank you." She leant forward and kissed his cheek, "I don't usually kiss my doctors," she giggled.
"Glad to hear it," he grinned, "shall we go and see how much Jean has managed to spoil Amelia in the past ten minutes or so?"
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They handed the flat back to the agent and loaded their suitcases into the car. They had spent a happy week with Christopher and the family before finally taking their leave and heading back to Ballarat as man and wife. They would drive the same route they had driven those fateful weeks ago, stay in the same hotel in Bordertown and arrive back home the following evening. The only people who knew they were husband and wife were Matthew and Alice, Mattie and Charlie. They had been forbidden to say anything to anyone, not to Lucien's patients or Matthew's men; an announcement would appear in the Courier and a celebration would be arranged for their friends later in the month. Until then they would weather the gossip and the stares.
"Thanks, mum," Christopher kissed her cheek and shook Lucien's hand, "doc."
"Come and see us, please," she smiled, "when you can get leave; we'd love you to come and stay with us."
"We will, promise," Ruby smiled, "now, get going, or you'll be in Bordertown after the hotel closes. Drive safely and ring us when you get there."
"You sound like my mother," Jean laughed, "but we will."
"It's what Christopher always does when he comes home, and when he's away – he rings those he loves." Ruby kissed her cheek, "and we love you."
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The house was quiet and still when they finally got home. Lucien followed his wife with the suitcases down to the kitchen where she was automatically setting the kettle to boil.
"Jean," he smiled.
"Tea?"
"Yes, why not, Mrs Blake."
She laughed and went to wrap her arms round him.
"Hello, husband."
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It didn't take long for word to get round Ballarat that Dr Blake had married his housekeeper; most were not surprised, some sniped a little but for the most part people were happy for them and those that weren't didn't matter – at least that was what Matthew and Alice huffed one evening.
"And plenty have accepted the invitation to celebrate with us at the weekend," Jean put a roast leg of lamb on the table.
"Looking forward to it," Matthew grinned, "kind of you to invite us as we're …"
"Oh, shut up, Matthew," Alice nudged him with her elbow, "nobody knows 'cept these two and Mattie and Charlie. You've proposed, I've said 'yes', we'll get round to the legalities one day."
"There's no need to rush, is there?" Lucien pulled a cork from a bottle of wine.
"Nope."
"Lucien!" Jean glared at him, "what a thing to ask."
Lucien shrugged, they were his friends, they gave as good as they got and would do over the years. Matthew had asked him and Jean to be witnesses at his wedding to Alice when it eventually happened, but he couldn't help teasing sometimes.
Things would happen in their own good time – he and Jean were proof of that.