There was a moment of quiet around the table as they absorbed this news, then Charlie spoke first.
"I knew it! I knew something had happened! Congratulations." He got to his feet and shook the doctor's hand and this galvanised the others into action. As Charlie went to Jean, he said "I'm really happy for you, Mrs Beazley," and hugged her hard enough to make her blush. Alice touched Jean's arm and offered her best wishes quietly, and Jean said to both of them, and to Rose as she joined in, "I think it's time you all called me Jean, don't you?" and they warmly agreed.
Cec confined his response to "Congratulations, sir," and a handshake, but seemed genuinely pleased. Frank said he wasn't surprised at all, perhaps remembering that he'd assumed they were married when he first met them. In fact everyone seemed to be grinning at them and talking at once.
But Matthew chose a moment after the initial congratulations had died down to suggest a toast, and soon everyone had a glass of whisky or sherry in front of them. Matthew proposed a toast, congratulating Blake and teasing Jean that at least she knew what she was taking on. As he warmed to his theme, Charlie suggested that Lawson was auditioning for best man, and they were all laughing again.
Later they all moved to the living room, Lucien refilling drinks and making sure everyone was settled. He took the opportunity to speak to Rose about their news. "I don't want to read about this in The Courier, you know," and although he said it lightly, she knew he was serious. "I understand, I won't be talking about this to anyone, not till it's all official anyway," she replied.
Jean did not usually like being the centre of attention, but she was feeling better about it now she realised their friends were genuinely happy for them. It also meant she could hold Lucien's hand openly as he came to sit next to her. She had become so used to hiding her feelings from everyone, that it felt odd to have admitted even to their friends that she loved Lucien.
Lucien was much more relaxed about openly telling everyone that he loved Jean; Mei Lin's reappearance had meant he had had to make a choice, and once it was made he was more confident that this felt right. At least now he knew they had some allies who would support them when the news of the divorce came out.
Sometime afterwards, Cec, Alice and Frank said their goodbyes and went home. Charlie and Rose wandered into the kitchen and could soon be heard washing up and clearing up in the kitchen. Lucien and Jean were left to themselves in the living room, relieved that the evening had gone well and their news had been well received. Perhaps the difficulties of recent weeks had made their love clearer, to themselves and to others.
Now they had a rare opportunity for a few minutes quietly together, holding hands and exchanging a few brief kisses, talking softly about the future and what it might hold.