Author's note: I suspect that series 5 will have a lot more difficulties and angst in it than I am giving Lucien and Jean. But I can't bear to make it too hard for them. I'm still recovering from series 4! Thanks as always for the messages and reviews, they are really helping me to work out where to go with this next. X
As they took some small steps together towards a new relationship as lovers, Lucien pondered on the undeniable fact that they had got parts of this in the wrong order. They may have lived in the same house for years, shared many meals and conversations, a few kisses and even a proposal (or two), but he had never taken Jean out for a drink, or a meal, or to the pictures, or anywhere in fact that wasn't connected to an investigation.
It seemed unromantic to him to turn his housekeeper into his wife without any of the usual preliminaries. He would have to give it some more thought.
The next morning he was called out to certify death in an elderly man found at the bottom of his stairs. This turned out to be an entirely accidental death and so was swiftly dealt with, and Lucien took the opportunity to buy Jean some flowers on the way home. She looked surprised but pleased, and started to arrange them in a vase, filling it with water and cutting the stems, while asking him about the death he had been to.
Lucien stopped her for a moment, stilling her hands and removing the scissors, turning her towards him. He kissed her gently, then when she responded, more definitely. "I love you Jean; I want to do all this properly. I want to go out with you on my arm, I want the chance to court you."
Jean laughed. "It's a lovely idea, but you've already caught me!" she teased him. "Anyway, where could we possibly go where we wouldn't be seen by people we know? If we went to the pictures or somewhere like that it would only make the gossip worse. I can't see how we can do that until we're married, or properly engaged at least."
She softened her words with a smile, but Lucien had to concede she had a point. Ballarat was a small town, with all the difficulties that could sometimes bring. But he wasn't one to give in easily.
"I'll find a way to manage it," he replied, "but don't worry, I won't ruin your reputation."
Jean was tempted to say her reputation was already rather damaged, but she didn't. It had been her choice to stay on as housekeeper after Thomas Blake had died, and she'd known from the beginning that working for Lucien would invite comment and criticism. That wasn't his fault; it had been her choice to make.
"Well, for this evening, why don't we drive down to the lake and take a walk. No one can think that's scandalous, surely?" Lucien asked. Jean wasn't even sure about that, but in the event the path by the lake was deserted and they strolled along for some time in companionable silence. Jean threaded her arm through Lucien's early on, but on the way back he held her hand, as she told him then about her day.
Back in the car they exchanged a few kisses, becoming a bit more daring as the sun started to set over the water. Jean stroked the side of his face softly, ruffling his beard a little. Lucien's fingers traced along her collar bone, just above the collar of her blouse, fascinated by the smoothness of the skin there, and she shivered for a moment.
"Are you cold?" he murmured, putting his arm around her to warm her up. "Not really. It was just...when you touched me..." Jean looked embarrassed to explain that he was arousing her with his touch. Lucien chuckled quietly and looked rather pleased. "We'd better go home then," he said, "before you get carried away!"