Author's note: thanks for all the comments and reviews. I've got a busy week ahead so may not update for a few days now, but I've got ideas for a few more chapters and they will follow when I can write them! If you 'follow' this story you'll be notified when I update, if that helps. If anyone wants a particular scene or idea to appear, let me know and I'll see if I can work it in for you!

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Over the next day or so, it became clear to Lucien and Jean that they would have to be honest with Charlie about their not-quite engagement. Not only had he seen Lucien caressing Jean's cheek through the bars of the police station cell, but he could not now fail to notice a new level of intimacy between them.

They had always been quite tactile with each other, but now they seemed to touch every time they were in the same room; just his hand on the small of her back, or her fingers smoothing his collar, but always with an undercurrent of attraction between them. And they both looked happy, as if some weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Charlie realised he hadn't seen Jean smile for weeks, yet now she was laughing as she served dinner, over an anecdote Lucien had told.

Charlie looked from one to the other, growing more thoughtful as the meal went on. This wasn't just about Mei Lin leaving, he thought. Something more had happened between them. Charlie didn't comment, but Lucien noticed his interest.

Later, when he and Jean were alone in his study, Lucien raised the subject. "I think we should consider saying something to Charlie. He's sharp enough to have seen a difference in us, and he does live here, it's only fair...and actually, maybe we should tell our close friends anyway. I don't want them to think I'm taking advantage of you."

"If they are friends they won't think that anyway," replied Jean, "but maybe we could ask some of them to dinner, and tell them then. Perhaps thank them for all they did to help sort out the mess Derek Alderton made too."

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The following evening, Jean set the kitchen table for eight, checked on the roast in the oven, and went to change her dress. She'd insisted they should eat casually in the kitchen, not wanting to remind anyone too clearly of the painful and rather formal dinner they had endured when Mei Lin first arrived.

But she still wanted to look her best, and admitted to herself she was rather nervous as to what the reaction would be to their news. Would they think it was too soon?

Charlie arrived home and looked surprised at the number of places laid at the table. "Mrs Beazley, do you need a hand?" he asked. "I didn't know we had company coming to dinner."

"That's all right, Charlie, it's all done now. But you could answer the door," she added, as the first guests knocked.

Rose and Matthew arrived first, with Matthew on crutches but still managing to carry the obligatory bottle of whisky. Alice was next, Frank came a few minutes later, and finally Cec, who had managed to arrange an evening off for himself at the last moment, curious as to why he'd been invited.

As they all gathered at the table and Lucien started to carve the meat, he thanked them all for coming and said that he'd asked them all so that he could thank them for their recent help in the case, in particular for trusting him, and for helping Jean and Mei Lin.

That didn't quite explain why Matthew was there, but everyone took the little speech as their cue to relax, and as they ate, conversation flowed and new connections were made. Lucien and Jean exchanged a few secretive smiles, and at one point he may have been stroking her knee under the table, but anyone who saw was polite enough to pretend they hadn't noticed.

By the end of the meal everyone was full and relaxed, Cec and Matthew were discussing whisky, Rose and Charlie were verbally sparring as usual, and Frank was discovering that Alice was a surprisingly good listener to his tales of past adventures. Jean touched Lucien's hand where it lay on the table, and he nodded. It was time.

Clearing his throat to get their attention, he stood and thanked Jean for a delicious meal, and then paused for a moment.

"Actually, the main reason we've asked you here tonight is to tell you that I've asked Jean to marry me and I'm delighted that she has accepted. We don't know when we'll be able to marry yet, and so we're not going to be properly engaged until the divorce comes through. But we hope you'll be happy for us both." Holding Jean's hand, he pulled her gently to her feet and kissed her cheek, hugging her to his side for a moment. Only then did he dare look around the table to see the reactions of their guests.