Lucien looked at the body of Ruby Beazley; apparently asleep on the couch, only the lack of breathing said otherwise. He did a cursory examination in situ, but this demanded an autopsy and preferably Alice Harvey to assist.

He turned to discuss the situation with the senior officer, a sergeant by the name of Moran. He seemed a reasonable enough fellow, and agreed that the doctor should take the lead on the medical side of things. He didn't like the idea of a delay but if Dr Harvey could be brought to Adelaide quickly he'd let him contact her.

'Alice,' Lucien used Christopher's phone, 'Lucien. Sorry to ring you on a Sunday but I need you here in Adelaide. I know Matthew isn't going to be happy but I have a problem. Ruby, Jean's daughter in law has died, but I'm not convinced it's natural causes.' He paused while he listened to his colleagues reply and his face brightened. Alice said she'd fly out as soon as she could.

'Right, I'll be at the Royal,' he turned when he was tapped on the shoulder by Moran,

'We'll send a car to pick her up, give her the number of the station when she knows when she's arriving.' He said.

He passed on the information,...' they'll pick you up if you tell them when you land.' After more questions from Alice, Lucien put the phone down and looked at the receiver, as if for inspiration.

Other officers came and went and Ruby's body was taken by ambulance to the hospital. After confirmation that Ruby had been seen alive, greeting Louise, after Christopher had left with Amelia, the young officer was allowed to go to his mother's cottage.

'Sergeant,' Jean touched Moran's arm, 'would it be alright if I collected some things for my son and granddaughter? They can stay at my cottage until...' She spread her hands out over the scene.

'I'll have to send an officer up with you.' Moran thought it was the best idea, the place was a crime scene and he didn't like things to be disturbed until the case was solved.

'Yes, that's fine.' Jean tried to smile but even Lucien had to admit this had hit her like a sledgehammer.

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Jean let Christopher into the cottage and man-handled the pram into the hall. Amelia would have to sleep in that, Christopher could have the second bedroom. Her first priority was to feed her hungry granddaughter and then to get them some tea. Christopher was so stunned he just did whatever he was told automatically. She had to keep him occupied so gave him the baby to feed while she put their things away and made the tea.

Amelia was difficult feed, she knew something was wrong. Christopher looked at his mother, defeated. She took the baby and managed to soothe her enough to feed and settle in the pram.

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Lucien arrived back late. Jean had put a meal of cold meat and salad out but no one was really hungry.

'Alice is flying in, overnight.' He took a drink of whisky, offering Christopher one. 'She'll help me with the autopsy. Initial examination shows me nothing.' He sat with his arm round Jean, looking at Christopher.

'What can you tell me about Ruby's health?' He asked.

'She was always tired, said she couldn't have any more children.' Christopher sighed.

'I think I'll requisition her medical records, if you don't mind?' Lucien mused. 'Any other problems?'

'If it will help.' Christopher agreed. 'Apart from what I've told you, no.' He sat and thought, 'she didn't eat much, and she used to have a good appetite. She just kept saying she wasn't strong enough to deal with a child.'

They sat in silence for a while longer then Christopher stood up.

'I think I'll go to bed, if that's alright.' He sighed, 'thank you, for what you're doing, I shouldn't really have asked...'

'Family, Christopher, family sticks together.' Lucien stood and shook his hand, 'we'll get to the bottom of it.'

'Do you think there was something I could have done?'

'I doubt it.' Lucien scratched the back of his head, 'until I know why she died I can't say for sure. Good night.'

Christopher kissed his mother's cheek and left them to their musings.

Jean watched him go, sadly. She nestled against Lucien too exhausted to do anything else.

'Do you want me to sleep on the couch?' Lucien had to ask, he didn't want her to have a 'discussion' with her son about her morals.

'No,' she looked at him and smiled, 'thank you. I'd rather have you near me, I don't really care what Christopher thinks, even with this.'

'Right.' He kissed her, 'shall I wheel madam into our room, then.'

'Yes, I bet she won't go through the night, not tonight.'

Jean was right, she was woken in the small hours to Amelia's demands for a feed. She stumbled out of bed and went to the kitchen to boil the kettle and warm a bottle.

Back in the bedroom Lucien had been disturbed by Jean getting out of bed. He picked the baby up and was keeping her amused when Jean returned. He looked at her, dishevelled curls, barely awake, beautiful. He held out his hand for the bottle,

'Back to sleep, I'll do this.' He ordered her.

'Lucien...'

'I can cope without the sleep, and I can do this.' He leant over and kissed her. She slid gratefully under the covers and almost immediately fell asleep. Lucien smiled, good, she would need the rest. The next few days would be hard.

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Alice was already at the mortuary at the Royal when Lucien arrived.

'So even in a different city with me having the longer journey I'm here first.' Alice smiled and touched his arm. 'I'm sorry, Lucien, sorry for Christopher and Jean. How are they bearing up.'

'Not well.' He admitted, 'Christopher didn't sleep last night, Jean's keeping going for them. We're just totally at a loss as to why a seemingly healthy young woman should die like this. Thanks for coming, by the way.'

'That's alright. Matthew's a bit grumpy about it, but he'll do anything for Jean.' She picked up a file of doctor's notes.

'These are Ruby's medical notes. Nothing unusual. Healthy, well fed. Problem free pregnancy, but a bit low during it. Easy birth no stitches, should have no trouble with further children.' Alice read the basics, because that's all there was.

'She told Christopher she couldn't have any more children. Jean said she did nothing round the house, claimed she was struggling after a traumatic birth, which was what she was told when the babe was born.' Lucien stood looking at Ruby, 'Jean did get a bit cross with her, and it was even worse when she heard Ruby shout at Amelia, wishing she'd got rid of her.'

'So it would appear Ruby resented the child,' Alice passed him a scalpel and watched him make the first incision, 'not a natural mother.'

'Well, some women don't take to motherhood easily, but with help from a husband, and she got that, the baby blues can be got over.' Lucien dropped the scalpel into the offered dish.

'Did she want to, though?' Alice watched him peel back the skin revealing what appeared to be perfect internal organs. The heart and lungs, liver and kidneys showed no sign of disease.

Lucien and Alice started to examine the organs one by one.

'It looks as if everything just stopped, but why?' Alice wondered.

Lucien started to remove the stomach, he needed to see the contents. If Louise had called maybe they had had tea. Alice held a bowl to catch whatever was there. The contents did indeed look like tea, and perhaps a biscuit.

'I'll send this to toxicology,' Alice took a sample, 'there may be more than we can see.'

'Hm.' Lucien started to close up. There would be no one to view the body, Christopher had confirmed identity at the house.

'What will Jean do now?' Alice asked, 'There's the baby to think about.'

'Yes, well there always was. I was on the point of suggesting we take Amelia, as Ruby didn't want her. Jean couldn't stay permanently, you see.' He finished stitching and covered Ruby with a clean sheet.

'Couldn't she?' Alice raised an eyebrow, 'why not?'

'Because we plan to get married and she will be coming home to Ballarat.' Lucien stated the fact as if she should have known.

'About bloody time.' Alice smiled, 'congratulations.'

'Thanks,' Lucien turned, 'but I don't know what we'll do now.'

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At the cottage Jean had given Christopher chores to do. He hadn't commented on the sleeping arrangements, his main concern was what he was going to do with Amelia.

Jean needed air and took Amelia out for a walk and picked up a few things that they needed. It gave her time to think, she couldn't leave now, could she? She would have to stay until Christopher was settled and Amelia taken care of. At the moment all she could see that she would have to look after her granddaughter, either stay in Adelaide, or take her to Ballarat. She didn't want to deprive her son of his last link to his wife but there was her and Lucien to consider. A mess, a rotten mess and Jean found herself blaming Ruby. She half wondered if she had done it herself, and that she had really had a bad case of baby blues, but she didn't see it. Ruby had not appeared depressed, just lazy and sulky, nothing unusual for her. Her rant at the baby made her think that actually it was not the blues at all, just that she wasn't ready to be a mother. One of Jean's friends, years ago, had had severe post natal depression, cried all the time, said she wasn't a good mother, loved the baby but didn't know if she was looking after him right. It had taken months for her to believe in herself, but she had made it eventually and the child grew into a strong, well balanced young man. No, Ruby was just a spoilt young lady.

Having talked herself round, as usual, Jean arrived back at the house with the things she needed, to find Louise there. She had come to see if there was anything she could do since the police had visited her and questioned her about her visit to Ruby. She was at a loss, they were planning a trip to the cinema the next night, to see a new film, 'Butterfield 8' with Elizabeth Taylor.

Christopher had been happy to see someone who knew Ruby well, was her friend, he had asked her what they had done.

'Oh, we had tea.' Louise said, 'your neighbour brought round some biscuits. Ruby had one but I don't like coconut so I didn't.'

'Ruby was always fond of a coconut biscuit,' Christopher admitted, a faraway look in his eyes, 'I be she had more than one.'

'A couple maybe.' Louise agreed.

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Jean brought tea in, noticing her son had failed to offer some, and a bottle for Amelia which Louise offered to give her.

'May I ask if you know how Ruby died?' She looked at Jean.

'Not yet.' Jean looked at the girl who had openly flirted with her married son in front of his wife, wondering if she had something to do with it, but somehow her intuition told her she was barking up the wrong tree. Louise just wasn't the type to deprive a child of its mother.

Louise left before Lucien and Alice arrived from the morgue. They told Jean and Christopher what they had found so far and that they were waiting for the toxicology results, tomorrow, hopefully.

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'Where are you staying, Alice?' Jean asked as she served dinner.

'Lucien had managed to get me a room at the hotel he was staying in.' Alice smiled, 'and, it may not be appropriate, but congratulations.'

'Thank you, I wish I could put you up here, but I'm afraid...' Jean looked round the table at both her fiancé and son.

'Please, Jean.' Alice looked surprised she should even think it, 'you have enough to do with a baby as well as Lucien and Christopher. I wouldn't accept even if you could.'

Alice stayed for a while and they discussed the case. She watched Jean do what Jean did, see to a baby, some domestic chores and manage to be a perfect hostess. She must take lessons one day!

Amelia seemed to have settled, a fact Alice remarked on, how well behaved she was. Both her father and Lucien credited Jean with that, she went a little pink but accepted the compliment, she had always had a way with children, she told them.

Lucien walked Alice back to the hotel.

'Thank you, again, Alice.' Lucien turned to her at the hotel steps, 'it helps to have someone I am used to working with on a case like this. I suppose I owe Matthew a rather large bottle of whisky when I get back.'

'Make it two and he might, just might, forgive you.' Alice smiled. She entered the hotel and turned to see her colleague wander back down the road.

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Amelia slept through the night, much to Jean's delight. She and Lucien had lain awake discussing what they were going to do, as things had changed rather dramatically. Lucien suggested they actually get married as soon as possible, there, in Adelaide, if she could stand a civil wedding rather than a church affair.

She had thought about this during the day, but hadn't wanted to bring it up, feeling callous that she should think of herself instead of Christopher and Amelia. There was a funeral to arrange for Ruby and arrangements to be made to clear out the house and, hopefully, settle her son in barracks. He wouldn't leave the army, there was nothing else he could do, he didn't like farming.

'Can it be arranged so quickly?' She asked.

'Well, we would need to see, but if so, would that be alright with you?' He kissed her, feeling he was doing her out of a special day.

'I don't see why not.' She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him, 'would you be happy if we perhaps had the wedding blessed later, if that's even possible. But even so, at least we'd be married.'

'Whatever you want, darling.' Lucien pulled her down to him.

'Well...' she drew the word out, 'it might be best, I've been meaning to talk to you, but, don't get your hopes up, I'm late for, well, you know...' She blushed.

'Really?!' Lucien's eyes opened wide, 'do you think..?'

'Maybe, but at my age it could be the start of the change.' She had to be realistic.

'Yes, I suppose so,' and he looked rather despondent at the thought.

Jean had giggled at his face and leant over to give him a rather passionate kiss.

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Lucien headed to the mortuary to meet Alice leaving Jean, Christopher and Amelia finishing breakfast. Although the reason for Ruby's sudden demise was as yet unknown, Jean had to bring up Amelia's welfare. It was going to be a difficult conversation and she didn't really know how to start it.

'Mum,' Christopher spoke quietly as he dried the dishes for her, 'I have to sort out Ruby's funeral, I'd like her to be buried on the base, and the service at the chapel.' He paused as he tried to gauge her feelings, 'I spoke to the padre yesterday while you were out and he can do that for me, for us.'

'Right,' Jean dried her hands, 'if that's what you want, dear.'

'It is, also,' he took a really deep breath, 'will you take care of Amelia for me? I've thought a lot about it, even before Ruby died. With you marrying the doctor I suppose it forced me into some decision-making. Ruby didn't want the baby, she told me just as I was taking Amelia out for a walk, yesterday. She told me to tip her into the sea. We rowed about it'

Jean covered her mouth, open with horror, and gasped.

'Oh Christopher, I knew she didn't want her,' Jean started to say,

'You did!?' He stood up straight, 'how?'

'I heard her, shouting at the baby, saying she wished she'd tried harder to get rid of her.' Jean's eyes filled with tears at his repelled expression. 'I'm sorry, Christopher, I wasn't going to tell you. I was going to offer, we were going to offer,' she had to let him know it would a joint decision between her and Lucien, 'to have her, until such time as you both felt you could look after her.'

'We rowed a lot,' Christopher finally knew he had to admit his marriage was not a bed of roses and, if it were not for Amelia, he and Ruby would have gone their separate ways. 'Even more after Amelia was born. She took too long to recover from the birth, the neighbours whispered about her, saying she was a wimp, weak and spoiled.'

'You could ask Lucien, he's got her notes,' Jean suggested, 'you deserve to know the truth.'

'I don't know if I want to know, really.' He sat down heavily in a chair, 'if I believe she was unwell it makes it easier.'

Jean put her hands on his shoulders and started to rub them, soothingly. She was wondering where to from here when there was a knock on the door.

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'Hello,' smiled the stranger, 'sorry to interrupt, I know you have enough to do, but I just wanted to say how sorry I am about Ruby, I used to bake these for her, so I brought some round for you.'

Jean looked puzzled.

'Oh, how dreadfully rude of me.' The woman smiled again. 'I'm Dilys Wells, I live next door to your son.'

'Mrs Wells?' Christopher came up behind his mother. 'Hello.'

'I'm so sorry, dear,' Mrs Wells said, sympathetically, 'I won't stop, I just thought you might like these.'

'That's very kind of you,' He took the plate, 'we'll have one later.'

'Let me know if there's anything I can do.' She turned and left, a spring in her step.

'Well, she's...' Jean tried to think.

'A nosy, interfering busybody, but Ruby did like her coconut biscuits.' Christopher smiled, for the first time since Sunday.

The phone rang.

'Jean Beazley.' She answered, relatively brightly, considering. 'Oh hello Lucien.' She paused to listen to the doctor, 'Yes, she's just brought a plate of coconut biscuits round, but she didn't stay.' Her face changed to one of horror and she looked towards her son, just about to bite into a biscuit.

'NO!'

He dropped the plate and the biscuit he had in his hand, caught, he thought, like when he was a child.

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Lucien, Alice and Sergeant Moran arrived in a car driven at speed.

'You didn't eat one?' Lucien grabbed her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes, fear written all over his face.

'No.' She leaned into him, 'Christopher was about to bite into one, that's why I shouted.'

He wrapped his arms tight round her, the mere thought that he could have lost her and his (maybe) baby, filled him with dread.

Alice was picking up the broken plate and pieces of biscuit and putting them into a bag, for testing, she said.

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'Are you sure neither of you ate any of the biscuits?' Lucien looked at Christopher over Jean's head.

'Absolutely.' Christopher was visibly shaken, 'what's going on, doc?'

'We believe that there was something in the biscuits, coniine; it comes from carrot fern.' Lucien released his hold on Jean, just.

'But...' Jean pushed against him, embarrassed at his obvious worry, 'these came from Mrs Wells, Christopher's neighbour.'

'Indeed.' Lucien looked down at her and kissed her head.

'Lucien.' She whispered, urgently, reddening.

'Sorry.' He smiled and let her go.

Carrot fern grows wild in the field by the base.' Christopher put his hands in his pockets, as if to hide the evidence. Mrs Wells often made those biscuits for Ruby.'

'It's fast acting, so, if she is the one, then she did it yesterday.' Lucien said, 'this was not premeditated, but it has been thought about.' He turned to Sergeant Moran, 'I suggest you talk to the neighbours, individually. We have found, in Ballarat, that if you gather a group, such as the neighbours, then the real suspect feels more confident and makes mistakes.'

'Good idea, and we need to search every house, too.' Moran nodded, 'evidence.'

'Right.' Lucien let him out of the cottage, saying he would stay with Jean and Christopher. There was nothing left for him or Dr Harvey to do. Ruby's body had been released for burial. He would go with Jean and Christopher to see the padre and organise a short service.

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Louise asked if she could attend the funeral, as Ruby's friend, she would like to say goodbye.

Ruby was buried in a sunny spot watched by her husband, in uniform, Lucien and Jean, Louise and Amelia, who, obliging grumbled all the way through. Jean jiggled her gently and kissed her but was glad when it was all over and she could take her away and feed her. Out of the little chapel the baby settled, the warm sunshine seemed to lighten her mood. Jean mused that she would have felt the emotion in the atmosphere. Louise joined her on a bench while she gave Amelia a bottle, and they sat in silence together. Louise had offered to act as nanny to the baby, when she had gone to see Christopher and she had found it hard to hide her disappointment when he had said he was asking his mother to raise her, at least for the time being.

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It had been a long morning and Lucien was glad that part was over. He now had to go to the station and observe the interviews. He strode into the room where Moran was interviewing a neighbour he hadn't been introduced to. She was just saying that everyone heard Ruby shout at the baby when she didn't feed. The arguments with Christopher were common knowledge and no one was surprised when he asked his mother to come over to help, the only surprise was that it took so long.

The last suspect was Mrs Wells. She was sweet, more than happy to help, to talk about poor Mrs Beazley. What a time she had with the baby. She did get quite cross with her. Mrs Wells remembered how she had trouble with her first, a poor feeder but she had got over it. She had tried to help but Ruby, she had to admit, had been rather rude at times..She'd put it down to tiredness and when she had found out that Ruby liked coconut biscuits in particular she baked some for her. She felt they had formed a small bond. Not as big a bond as Louise, but she was closer in age.

She looked rather pleased with herself. Like everyone else she had not been told that Ruby had been murdered, just that she had passed away, suddenly.

'The thing is, Mrs Wells,' Lucien took a chair and sat at the end of the interview table. 'Ruby was poisoned.' He waited for this information to sink in. Mrs Wells looked suitably aghast.

'No!' She put her hand to her mouth, 'oh my goodness, how dreadful.'

'Indeed.' Lucien leant on the table. 'Coniine. Comes from carrot fern,' he added conversationally.

'Oh.' She looked fascinated, 'there is some in the field.' She added.

'Mmm, I know.' Lucien leant his chin in his hand, 'easy to get hold of, the seeds, that is.' He looked up at the young constable, who reminded him of Danny, 'Like these.' He nodded and the officer tipped out a few seed like bits.

'Oh my goodness!' Mrs Wells backed away, 'those are dangerous.' She scowled at the doctor, as if he should know better.

'True,' he murmured, 'but if you wear these,' and he produced a pair of surgical gloves, 'you can handle them quite safely.' He picked a few up and gazed at them, 'of course, in a kitchen, a spoon does the trick.'

'Why are you telling me all this, doctor?' She pulled back.

'Well, the thing is, Mrs Wells, Dilys,' he smiled his most genial smile, 'we found all these things in your kitchen.' He sat back and folded his arms, waiting.

'Well, I'm sure I don't know what you mean.' She had denial in her voice.

'I mean, Mrs Wells,' Lucien said, darkly, 'that you deliberately poisoned Ruby Beazley, depriving a child of her mother, good or bad.'

'Dr Blake!' She stood up, angry now, 'I don't know how you could say such a thing. Preposterous!'

'Really,' Sergeant Moran joined in, 'Mrs Wells, let's face it, Ruby Beazley was not a happy person, when it came to her baby, you heard all the arguments, the way she spoke to her child, and you wanted to do something about it. So why not get rid of her. Lieutenant Beazley obviously loved his daughter, you saw him walk her on numerous occasions, and on this Sunday you had your opportunity. While he was out, after another row, and while her friend was there, you took around some of Ruby's favourite coconut biscuits, knowing she wouldn't be able to resist them.'

'Probably wanted to incriminate Louise Bennett,' Lucien observed.

'Highly likely,' Moran agreed, 'in fact, what a good way to direct suspicion away from yourself.'

'She was a bitch.' Dilys spat, 'the way she treated that sweet little baby, the way she spoke to her husband and he the perfect gentleman.'

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A month later:

'You know I'm happy to look after Amelia while you and Lucien have a break.' Mattie said. 'It's supposed to be your honeymoon, and while Europe isn't possible this time a week away from Ballarat will do you both good.'

'I know Mattie,' Jean smiled as she finished packing her case. It was true, with Amelia staying with them and her own baby on the way, for it was not the change of life, Europe was off the cards at the moment. She and Lucien had decided that when Amelia was old enough they would take her on a educational tour to Europe. Not quite the honeymoon she and Lucien had planned all those weeks ago, but Lucien had promised, hand on heart, that he would show her Edinburgh and his youthful haunts at some point. She didn't mind, at least one of her wishes had come true, a baby, hers and Lucien's. Even though at the moment, nobody but the two of them knew.

'Jean!' Lucien called through the house, 'we'll miss our train.'

She giggled with Mattie, for once it was not her waiting for him!

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It's rather interesting looking for poisons on the internet.

There will be an epilogue for this story. Hope you like it so far. Thank you for the reviews.