Sorry for the delay in updating this story. Work is getting in the way, I only have snatches of time to write. I hope this makes up for the silence.

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"Singapore seems to be getting itself back together," Lucien's letter read, "the water and electricity is up and running and the harbour is under reconstruction."

"That sounds positive, anyway," Jean looked up from reading the thin airmail paper, "he says he has found a good hotel, and his language skills are holding up."

"Well," Thomas hummed, "he's been gone over a week, I hope he's found out something about the Chens."

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As soon as he landed, Lucien had sent a telegram to tell his family he was safe and well and that he would write soon. He had determined he would settle into his hotel and immediately go on the search for Chen, or rather the import/export business Derek was so sure was a front for illegal immigration and drug trafficking. He decided the authorities would be a good place to start but found them unhelpful in the extreme and afterwards decided he was being followed. He took a couple of days off, headed over to where his house used to stand and where he had spent his days before the war, with his friends and his wife. It had been cleared of all debris and was now just a site to be built on. He had no claim to the land that he wanted to pursue and walked sadly away. One day, perhaps, when Li was older he would bring her back to the country of her birth, but until then this would be his only visit.

He strolled through a market, fingering bolts of silk and noting one of the suppliers were Chen. He had half expected it, after all it was what his father in law had made his money through. He chose three half bolts, one in a light blue-green for Jean, one in a blue-grey for Mary and a darker blue-green changeable silk for Li. He was sure Jean would be able to make something rather special for them all with them and chose the colours that he thought would suit each one the best, though he wasn't sure about buying such a gift for his housekeeper; even if they were 'courting'.

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After dinner, Lucien retired to his room to read the labels on the silks he had bought. There was an address for the company and he thought this a good place to start. He made his plans for the following day and wrote his letter to Jean and the family. He missed them, more than he thought he would after such a short time, Ballarat really was his home, now.

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He found the silk importers easily, so if it was an undercover operation they were hiding in plain sight. It was busy, very busy. Workers rushed hither and thither, carrying one thing to one place and returning with another. There were crates and boxes, sacks and open packages, all neatly stacked. He remembered his father in law's warehouses just so, it was all rather familiar. He was not looked upon strangely, perhaps they were used to westerners arriving, doing business with the boss. He hailed a passing worker and asked where he could find the owner of the business.

He could tell his command of the language surprised the man and he was taken straight to the office. It was set high above the main open space and was walled with glass, presumably to ensure a watch could be kept on the goings on in the warehouse. There was a young girl at a desk, a secretary, pretty in an efficient kind of way. She eyed him up and down and sighed. Another one, she thought wanting something for nothing, or a shady deal. Well it was up to the boss to deal with that. She asked him his name and told him to take a seat while she went to see if Mr Chen would see him.

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Mr Chen looked up from his desk as the secretary entered. He knew that look, another westerner, one of the BMA again. Some of these men seemed to think they could use the cover of the military to carry out some quite shameful activities, mainly smuggling.

"Did he give his name?" he murmured, knowing the walls were thin enough for any conversation to be heard, and some could speak Chinese.

"Lucien Blake," she stumbled over the unfamiliar words, "he says he is looking for any relatives of Chen Fu."

Chen swallowed, surely not? He blinked and asked her to repeat the name.

"Send him in," he stood ready to receive the man claiming to be his son in law, who he was sure had perished at the hands of the invading Japanese forces.

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Outside the office, Lucien heard just enough and smiled. So the old man had survived, now to see if he was still as honourable as he remembered him.

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Fortified by cups of tea, Lucien and Chen talked for what seemed hours. He told how he had had to hide from the forces due to his part in the building of the harbour for the British, and, as Mei Lin had perished in the raid on the hospital and he had no way of knowing where Lucien was he had gone into the countryside, to family and posed as a poor farmer. It had been hard, seeing villagers go short as the Japanese took most of the produce they grew.

"But we survived," he smiled, "as I see you did."

"Yes, well," Lucien cleared his throat, "I try not to dwell on the camp, and somehow, with the support I receive at home, the nightmares have become less a part of my nights and days. Here," he took out a photograph of Li with Jean and Mary, "see how Li has grown, how beautiful she is. The girl with her is Mary, Jean's daughter, they are sisters through circumstance and are as close as can be."

"And Jean?" all Chen remembered was that she was his father's housekeeper, "and your esteemed father?"

"Father is a little shaky these days, a heart attack has left him frailer than he used to be, he is all but retired. Jean, hm..." he tipped his head, "how can I describe Jean. Firm, fair, strong and steady, a remarkable woman given what she has been through in her life. Abandoned by a feckless husband, thrown out by her mother, she has survived through pure grit and determination. She keeps us all in order. Li calls her 'mama', I suppose, sadly, that Jean is all she has known for a parent and she has been wonderful with her. Seen she has gone to a good school, taught her to be a strong person."

"Ah," Chen nodded wisely, "but ... Jean?"

"Jean is truly lovely," Lucien admitted, "we are courting, as much as we can. I'm sorry, I loved your daughter, but I must move on and Jean is the way for me. The girls do not know, as Mary has tried a spot of match-making and got into a bit of strife about it, but it turned out well in the end. My old friend the police Inspector and the pathologist at the hospital needed a little push in that direction."

"Mei Lin died, Lucien," Mr Chen breathed deeply, "I do not expect you to live the rest of your life a widower. We both know she was wilful, and if she had gone with Li she would still be alive. I consoled myself with the knowledge she was doing something good, and not partying with that other Major whose company she seemed to enjoy," he grimaced.

"Alderton?"

"Yes, him. He had designs on her, you know. I told her she would bring shame and dishonour to our family." Chen scowled.

"I did know," Lucien stared into his cup, "he made it through, in the same camp as me. He was injured in a fracas with the guards and I stitched him up. He wanted me to let him die, but I'm a doctor so I saved him. Why should he have the easy way out? I lost my wife, though I was lucky, I had Li to live for."

"The war did terrible things to all of us, Lucien. I have had to drag my business back from the brink. My cousin kept it going he ... the Japanese ... I am not proud of what he did, but we don't do that now. Silks and fine fabrics, it's what we have always done." Chen studied his fingers and Lucien wondered if there was something else he wanted to say. Chen looked up, "but, you are here and I am wondering why. You never did anything on the spur of the moment and I don't think it is just to look up your father in law, who you did not know had survived."

"I have been contacted and asked to look into smuggling and illegal immigration. Oh, please ... hear me out," Lucien held his hands up, "I know you to be an honourable man, and I do not suspect you in any way, but I wonder if you know of anyone using an export business for just this."

"You are still with the army?"

"No, no I'm just a caring country doctor back home in Ballarat, and the police surgeon; but once you've served they keep files on you." Lucien gave a small laugh.

"Your language skills set you apart."

"Perhaps."

Sensing he was not going to get anything more out of Chen, Lucien took his leave but invited him to dine with him at his hotel the following night.

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As he left the warehouse Lucien noticed two soldiers lurking in the shadows. Was his father in law under investigation by the Administration? He wondered what had happened to the cousin who had collaborated with the Japs, had he been dismissed, given a more lowly position perhaps? He had kept the business going and there were probably many others that had done similar, and they also would have been quite good at passing information, agents and double agents. He wanted to leave and head home by the end of the following week, he hoped he wasn't going to be dragged into some espionage business. On the surface his conversation with Chen had been amicable but he felt the man was holding something back.

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"Don't know, sir," the corporal stood at ease in front of his commanding sergeant, "white, well dressed, not someone we have seen before."

The corporal and his fellow soldier had gone immediately to the BMA office when they saw Lucien leave Chen's warehouse. Strangers were reported on, usually tailed to see what they were up to, and who they saw.

"Were you seen?" the sergeant asked.

"Don't think so," Corporal Shaw shook his head and turned to his colleague.

"Nope," the other man shook his head, "didn't even turn in our direction."

"When is the next package due out through Chen's?"

"Day after tomorrow," Corporal Innis shrugged.

"Follow him," Sergeant Riley steepled his fingers and leaned back in his chair, "find out where he is staying and if he sees anyone else."

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Back in Ballarat Jean found she was missing Lucien, as she would miss a lover. The evening sherry had lost it appeal so she would retire to bed with her book and read until sleep claimed her. Seeing she was missing the usual case discussion over dinner, Thomas suggested she ask Matthew and Alice over, at least it would give Matthew a break from cooking, if what he heard was true. Jean had smiled and agreed and the evening had been quite enjoyable,. Jean had suggested various people they could see and other places to look. Li checked the post each day to see if there was something from her father and when there was none Jean reassured her that he would be fine.

"No news is good news, Li dear," she hugged her, "and it takes a time to get letters from Singapore to here."

Lucien had addressed his letter to Jean so she was able to tell them as much, or as little, as she thought appropriate. Therefore, Li knew he was alright and Thomas did not worry that he was about to lose his son, again.

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The ever observant, when he needed to be, Dr Blake noticed street corner gatherings, surreptitious handshakes that may, or may not, be passing messages, small packages or just polite meetings. Some were between the local populace some between the Chinese and soldiers. He decided he was safest looking and acting like a tourist and visited 'places of interest', markets and shops, appeared to peruse the merchandise and bought small gifts for the family. A pretty jade and gold brooch in the shape of a flower for Jean, he thought it perfect for either her birthday, for which, this year, he had given her chocolates and a book she said she wanted, or Christmas - by which time he hoped he was on the way to making her his wife, if he hadn't done it by then. A whirlwind romance, tongues would wag, if what she told him about the gossips in town was true. They were both still young enough to have children and he would like that, he had always wanted more children.

He bought some Chinese brushes and watercolours for Mary and a book of paintings, those suitable for a young girl, some eastern art could be a little erotic and unsuitable. Li he found more difficult to buy for; too young for jewellery too old for toys; she didn't read Chinese so a book was out of the question, in the end he found a set for her dressing table: a tray and two little pots in silver with a raised design of a dragon circling the pots. He found a small necklace for Sylvia, who he regarded as one of the family and he didn't want her to feel left out. He reserved judgement on getting something for his father, he would know what to get him when he saw it.

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Mr Chen stood outside the hotel. It had been a long time since he had dined out anywhere and he was not surprised to see Lucien had booked himself into a smart hotel. He presented himself at the reception desk and asked for Dr Blake.

"Of course, sir," the concierge nodded, "he is expecting you, in the lounge."

He was shown to where Lucien sat with a whisky and the newspaper.

"Your guest has arrived, doctor."

Lucien quickly folded the paper and stood up, bowing politely. He ordered a whisky for Mr Chen and another for himself and they settled to talk of the old days. They ate a well prepared meal, more western than Chinese, Mei Lin had always said her father was more English than the English, and shared a bottle of wine, French, imported, no questions asked.

As they took their after dinner coffee, again in the lounge, Mr Chen decided he could trust Lucien and asked him a guarded question. Could he go with him, to the warehouse, the following day, and give his workers a medical check up.

"I do not trust some of the doctors here," he whispered, "I know you are a good doctor, I can pay you."

"Money is not necessary," Lucien nodded, "I will happily check your men over, and the ladies if you so wish and they would like it."

"No, Lucien, I insist on paying you," Chen smiled, "a proper contract, honour."

Lucien acquiesced, feeling this was more than it seemed.

They parted having made arrangements for Lucien to go over to the warehouse the following day. He was grateful he had taken his medical bag with him, it gave him a wonderful excuse to go to Chen's business.

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Lucien knew he was being followed, they weren't particularly subtle about it, but what could be more reasonable than a businessman asking for his workers to be checked for fitness to work?

In his office Chen wondered if he was doing the right thing. He wanted to expose the corruption in the BMA. or certain parts of it, and this was the only way he thought he could do it, and perhaps Lucien would know who he should talk to or even take the evidence himself.

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"I was followed, esteemed father in law," Lucien placed his medical bag on the table, "should I be worried?"

"Lucien," Chen ran his hands through his now greying hair, "while I do want you to examine the workers I also need your help."

"The soldiers around the city," Blake frowned, "they seem to be doing business or making deals with locals, at least that's what it looks like to me. I can assume this is not legal, yes?"

Chen nodded, "not many of them speak Chinese, perhaps ..."

Lucien nodded and proceeded to check each worker, conversing with them in their own language and writing down his findings in characters. He would ask questions about their health, their families, their position in the company and from it gleaned quite a lot of information that surprised him greatly. Namely, some of the BMA soldiers had discovered export businesses like Chen's were ideal ways to get drugs out of the country, jewellery and in some cases weapons. The used blackmail techniques, threatened families or threatened the holders of the businesses.

Chen had been targeted by Innis and Shaw, led by Sergeant Riley, and their merchandise of choice was drugs. The small packets were easy to slip into a bolt of silk in a layer and sent to a specific company, in their case, in America. So far he had resisted, but some of his workers had been pushed into agreeing to do their bidding. Chen had thought of sacking them, when he found out. A bolt of silk was dropped and became unrolled, a sheet of little packages slipped to the floor creating a huge disturbance. The man who had been loading the silk had grovelled and whined and told how his wife and teenage daughter would be harmed if he did not do Riley's bidding. They had hidden the bolt in question and were thinking how they could stop the smuggling when Lucien had arrived. Now, Chen hoped, it could be stopped, or at least these three could be.

"Is there anything to prove that this Sergeant Riley is sending this particular batch through?" Lucien asked, still speaking in the local language.

"Only by catching him in the act," Chen sighed, "and how I am supposed to do that, I don't know."

"They come at night," the shaking worker snivelled. "Tonight, another delivery."

"Right," Lucien hissed, "this is what we'll do."

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Riley looked around. It was dark in the warehouse but up ahead he could see Lau with the silk ready to be loaded with opium. He patted the front of his uniform jacket and motioned Innis and Shaw forward.

Lucien and Chen, together with a few workers who were willing to help subdue the three soldiers and bring them to justice, waited hidden by some crates nearby. The trick was to catch them with the drugs on them and putting some in the roll of silk. They knew these men were the tip of the iceberg but it was a start and Lucien knew one of the higher level men in the Governor-General's office he could trust.

It was all over very quickly, and Jean would have been happy to hear that Lucien did not get hurt in the process; for a change. He and two female workers had lengths of rope they could use to bind the hands of each soldier when they were subdued by an onslaught of legs and hands and well aimed kicks to the back of the knees.

They bundled them into one of the trucks that took the merchandise to the docks and Chen drove them to the Governor-General's headquarters.

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Two o'clock in the morning is never a good time to waken one's superiors but Lucien and Chen had nowhere to keep three soldiers until 'office hours' so they trundled up to the compound and announced themselves. Lucien gave his title as Major L R Blake, retired, and demanded to see the man in charge.

The guard on duty looked at him. Well dressed, his documents proved he was who he said he was so they were escorted into the building. The three soldiers they had with them were dragged along by Chen's workers and one of the women followed respectfully behind with the bolt of silk that had been tampered with.

The Governor-General's batman was summoned and told what Lucien and Chen had found out. They showed the evidence and watched while he took notes.

"Right, well I'd better go and wake him, though he won't be pleased," he sighed, "wait here."

Lucien and Chen sat down and waited. They knew that they could have entered a snake pit of corruption but Lucien had a feeling that this was the right thing to do. They had been let in to the compound without an argument, when, if it had been a case of this being the top of the organisation of corruption they would, in all likelihood have had the soldiers taken from them and sent on their way, no proper questions asked.

The Governor-General appeared, wrapped in a thick tartan dressing gown, his hair sticking up from where he had been lying on it.

"Blake," he extended his hand, "don't want to stereotype but you have to be him, and Chen?" he looked at Lucien's father in law.

Chen bowed respectfully.

"Sit," the G-C waved his hands at the chairs they had just risen from, "now what's all this about?"

"Well, sir," Lucien began and proceeded to tell how he had become involved, without mentioning Derek, and what he had found out. Chen added his part to the whole story, pausing only when they were interrupted by the batman returning and whispering in his boss's ear. The G-C nodded and motioned for Chen to continue.

".. and that's how we come to be here," Lucien finished off, "this corruption has to stop. Mr Chen is not going to be railroaded into breaking the law just so men such as these can line their own pockets with ill gotten gains. I believe they are not the only ones, I have heard that some are using the export trade to ship illegal migrants out of the country. Human trafficking is an appalling thing."

The woman holding the bolt of silk stepped silently forward and placed the fabric on the low table in front of the men, she retreated, walking backwards and bowing. The G-C lifted a corner of the silk and a strip of small packages dropped out. As he bent to pick it up Lucien stopped him and took a clean, pressed handkerchief out of his pocket.

"Fingerprints, sir," he smiled, "you pick up a thing or two working with the police."

"Yes, of course," the G-C nodded.

They were thanked for bringing the situation to the Headquarters' attention, though Lucien was fairly sure they knew it was happening, and shown out of the compound.

"What happens now?" Chen mused, "I can't see that this is the end of it."

"It's in his hands now, and, as I said, if any harm comes to you or your workers I will go even higher up the chain," Lucien stepped out of the truck outside his hotel. "I would like to get back to Ballarat as soon as possible," he continued, "I have commitments there, not least to Li and father. Perhaps, one day, you would like to come and meet your granddaughter?"

"I would like that very much," Chen smiled, "do you think I would be able to?"

"I see no reason why you should not be able to make a visit to Australia," Lucien nodded, "you do not have a criminal record and it would be a holiday, not a business trip."

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Even as he took his leave Lucien knew he had not uncovered more than the tip of the iceberg but if it kept Chen and his workers safe then he considered his job done. Now he had to report back to Derek, or rather set his mind at rest, that it wasn't Chen who was instigating this smuggling racket. He was fairly sure he would have trouble convincing him that it was the BMA who were at the root of it, or some on the ground personnel, anyway. Derek had always been unswervingly loyal to the army.

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His last evening in the hotel was spent eating a meal and thinking of what was waiting for him back in Ballarat. Images of Jean floated past his eyes as he sipped a whisky in the lounge. What would she say when she picked him up from the station? She would be proper, cool towards him, perhaps, outwardly. They weren't advertising their feelings for each other to the wider populace. He would be courteous, a little aloof perhaps, until they got home, then he planned to take her in his arms and kiss her - thoroughly, regardless of whether the girls and his father were watching. Actually, he mused as he drifted off to sleep, perhaps they could take a detour round Lake Wendouree ...

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Jean stood on the station platform waiting for the train to arrive. Lucien had telegrammed her to let her know what time he would be arriving, and asked her if she would kindly collect him from the station. When she had opened the small envelope her heart had done a little back flip, well, several in fact. She chided herself for her adolescent feelings and set to planning the meal she would serve that night and sitting with him in the studio with their evening drinks.

She had dressed conservatively, as befitted her station in life but nevertheless had paid attention to her make-up and hair. She may be a housekeeper but she was still a young woman after all.

She hid her excitement as best she could as the train drew into the station. She must be proper in her greeting, now more than ever before, there were so many people about.

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The train screeched to a stop in a cloud of smoke and steam. Carriage doors started opening and people spilled out, waved to those who were waiting, husbands and wives kissed, grandparents offered their cheeks to grandchildren and Jean waited. She spotted Lucien alighting from a carriage at the rear of the train and look around. She waved, but not too eagerly, just to attract his attention. He couldn't wave back as he had the three half bolts of silk under his arm, though he did smile broadly and strode over to her through the crowds.

"Mrs Beazley," he nodded formally, "thank you for meeting me."

She nodded and hid a smile, just, "of course, Dr Blake, I hope your trip went well."

"As well as could be expected," he fell into step beside her as they headed to the car, "I hope you didn't have to wait too long, at the station."

"No, not really," she looked at him, noting the twinkle in his eye, "I did set off early, there's quite a lot of traffic and your father's car needs a service, it's been difficult to start these past few days."

"Well, we can see to that in the next few days."

"Of course," she took out the keys as they arrived at the car, "let's see if she will start ... this time."

He laughed and stowed his suitcase and package on the back seat while Jean got into the driver's seat and turned the ignition on. It started, with a cough, but at least she didn't have to offer up prayers this time.

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Lucien was surprised how busy Ballarat was until Jean reminded him it was market day. He suggested they go via Lake Wendouree.

"I know it's the long way round, Jean," he watched her waiting for a gap so she could pull out onto the main road, "but at least we'll keep moving."

"You're probably right," she sighed, "and it's a pleasant route."

"It is, and while we drive you can tell me what's been going on here." He smiled a small smile and thought about his idea of driving round the lake instead of going directly home. How fortuitous it was that it was market day.

"Not much," she admitted, "Matthew and Alice seem as close as ever, if not closer," she grinned, "they have been over for dinner a couple of times, to talk about a couple of cases, all solved now. Matthew took your father to the club, for a change of scenery and he seems to be doing fine. Alice checked him over last Friday and said his recovery is going splendidly."

"The girls?"

"Fine, though Li looked for a letter or postcard every day. I told her you would beat them back and that no news is good news."

"Pull over here, Jean," he pointed at a secluded spot.

"Sorry?" she turned and looked at him, eyes wide with surprise.

"Pull over here," he smiled, "let's talk. We won't get chance at home, and ..." he inhaled, "I've missed you," he blushed, "quite a lot."

"Lucien," she hissed, "what will people think?"

"They're all at the market, look" he waved his hand to show it was quite deserted.

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She repaired her lipstick and wondered at his idea of 'talking', they hadn't done much actual talking. She looked at him as he straightened his tie, which had somehow become loosened and his top two buttons were undone ... here in the car, in daylight!

"Here," she took the handkerchief and wiped his mouth and beard, "Mary and Li will get ideas."

"I've got a few," he grinned.

"Behave, doctor," she giggled, "I thought you wanted to talk."

"You didn't argue," he teased, checking in the mirror to see that he had removed all the lipstick. "Seriously, though, Jean," he cleared his throat, "I did miss you ..."

"I missed you, too," she blushed, "evenings in particular weren't the same."

"I wondered if we could take our courtship to the next level, perhaps dinner out ..."

"Not in Ballarat," she muttered, "sorry, Lucien, but the way the gossipmongers go on they'll have me leading you on, getting above my station ..." she looked down.

"You'd think they'd have something better to talk about than the life of a housekeeper, especially one who has three children to look after, one elderly and infirm man and a wayward doctor, and runs the home and the practice - doesn't give you much time to lead me on."

"When you put it like that," she laughed, "it doesn't give me much time to sleep, either."

"So how you would have time for any sort of love life ..?"

"... and still they would find some snippet that has me in your bed." She blushed, furiously.

"We'll find a way, sweetheart," he stroked her cheek, "perhaps picnics out of town ... where do you take your annual leave?"

"Er, I don't really bother, too much," she murmured, "I've always had Mary and Li to think about so if I did take a break it was usually a weekend in Melbourne, with the girls, or a day to do some special shopping. I've no family to go and visit, that will have me, anyway."

"I think you should start and take a week off, in the summer ..."

"...and what do I do with the girls?" she raised her eyebrows.

"I think they are of an age where they can do a lot of things themselves, can't they?"

She knew that Mary and Li were perfectly capable of washing and ironing, and cooking quite a lot of meals but she didn't feel she could just swan off to Melbourne or somewhere and leave them. What if Thomas needed help, or was taken ill again? Because wherever she went she had a good idea Lucien would suddenly find himself in the same town and someone would put two and two together, and make five.

"Perhaps a picnic, out of town," she hummed.

"Lovely," he patted her knee, "now, this delay should have given Mary something to think about, perhaps we'd better get back."

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Mary had indeed be wondering why it seemed to be taking so long for her mother to bring Uncle Lucien back from the station. Was the train late? Had they had an accident? She was just wondering if she should phone Uncle Matthew and ask him to look out for them when there was the sound of tyres crunching on the gravel. She rushed to open the front door, just in time to see Lucien kiss Jean's hand and smile at her. Li ran after her, abandoning her homework at the kitchen table and skidded to a halt behind her sister.

"What...?" she gaped, "oh," she giggled, "shall we say we saw them?"

"No, don't" Mary turned and put her hand on Li's arm, "I don't want to embarrass either of them."

"Where do you think they've been?" Li persisted, "they took a long time getting from the station, didn't they?"

"Traffic?" Mary clutched at the first thing that came into her head, "or the car."

"Suppose so," Li shrugged, "it wouldn't start yesterday morning, would it?"

"No, must've been that," Mary agreed and they just stood waiting for Jean and Lucien to alight from the car, before greeting Lucien appropriately, that is with hugs and kisses.

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"I think we've been rumbled," Lucien whispered seeing the two girls standing on the doorstep.

"Let's ignore it, for now," Jean smiled back, hidden by Lucien's broad shoulders, the girls couldn't see her go a little pink.

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After dinner, just the family, Lucien unveiled his gifts for the immediate family. Mary was delighted with the painting set, and Li stroked her fingers over the raised design of the dressing table set, but one of the most touching things, for him, was the reaction of Sylvia to the little necklace her bought her. She was sitting out of the way in the studio, watching the scene play out, not expecting anything and then he had, quite tenderly, presented her with the gift box. She was speechless and near to tears that he would deem her part of the family enough to think of her while he was so far away. When she protested that she was just a friend he had this to offer:

"We are all family in this house, Sylvia," he smiled, "whoever rests their head here is one of us, Jean, Mrs Beazley, showed me that when I returned. You do not have to bear the name 'Blake'. but you are one of us."

She fell into his open arms and above her head he saw Jean smile, knowing he had truly come home.

Once everyone else had gone to bed and his father had stopped effusing over the seal he had presented him with, the Chinese symbol for family in wax, he and Jean settled to their, resumed, ritual of whisky and sherry in the studio. She had been embarrassed at the silk he had chosen for her, and muttered that it could be difficult to sew, but she would do her best to make special dresses for the girls.

"And you, Jean?"

"I'll think of something," she smiled, "in the fullness of time."

"Well, until you do, this is for you. I didn't want to give it to you while the girls were down here, you know Mary would read something into it," he passed over the box containing the brooch. He had thought about it on the journey home and decided to give it her now, rather than wait for her next birthday, or Christmas.

The box was about two inches square, in a way she was relieved, it wasn't a ring box, that would have been a step too far, just yet.

"Lucien, you shouldn't have, the silk was extravagant enough," she slowly lifted the lid, and gasped. "It's lovely."

"I'm glad you like it," he seemed to have gone a little pink.

"I do, thank you," she leant in to him and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Jean," he stroked her cheek, "um, I er ... I thought about you, and me, while I was in Singapore, and, well, I know this is a bit of a whirlwind, but," he ran his hand over his head, nervously, "I really was wondering if you would consent to be my wife, at sometime in the future ... the near future, maybe ..."

"Lucien," she whispered, "today it was a picnic, now you want to marry me? We only met months ago ... I ran headlong into a relationship once before, it didn't go so well."

"I know, and I quite understand I'm rushing you, but I promise I will not push you to do anything you may regret," he raised his hands, "I do love you Jean, I have never been so sure of anything in my life, as I am of my love for you."

There was silence as she processed his declaration. She was sure of her feelings for him, even though it had only been months since her had returned, some things, she knew, did not have to take long. Marrying Dr Blake would be a step up, a big step up, in her social level and there would be talk; gold digger for instance.

"I will wait, for as long as you want me to wait, Jean," he broke into her musings.

She looked into his eyes. There was something of the little boy in them, the hope that he would get the best chocolate in the box if he was patient enough.

"I will marry you, Lucien," she half smiled, "but can it be a secret engagement, please. Living under the same roof as my fiancé there will be more talk than I can take and moving out would be impossible."

"I will not have you hounded out of your home, if necessary I will move out ..."

"That's even more ridiculous," she scowled, "no, neither of us will move out, we will keep quiet until we need to say something, perhaps a month before we decide the time is right. Either one of us moving out separates the girls and there is your father to think of, and Sylvia. Family Welfare will not countenance her living with a single man or a divorced woman, it was only that we can care for her, together, that had her placed with us. Your father needs looking after - what if you have a call in the night, waking in up in the morning with no one in the house could be worrying for him and that would not help his recovery. If Alice and Matthew can share a house I'm sure we can." She drew herself up and he smiled, this was a sign she had made her mind up and the rest of the town could go hang! He loved this strong side of Jean, Mei Lin would have been more concerned about how it would look, to outsiders, but even then she had been seen out with his friend more than himself. Still Jean had run the gauntlet of gossip when she divorced Christopher he would do his best to protect her from the gossip of her living with an eligible bachelor.

"A secret it is then," he pulled her close, "but when everyone is in bed?" he raised his eyebrows and she giggled.

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Note: BMA - British Military Administration