Thanks for the reviews. As ever, these are not my characters.
if anyone has any suggestions for how they would like me to continue this story, or better still for a new Lucien and Jean story, do please let me know!
When Charlie arrived for breakfast the following morning, he was struck by the change in atmosphere in the house. Jean was moving around the kitchen rather as if she was floating 6 inches above the floor, and Lucien was looking what could only be described as smug, as he watched her fry his eggs and bacon.
Whenever they caught each other's eye, they seemed to be communicating something without words, in a language Charlie didn't speak. They barely seemed to notice his arrival.
He decided to plunge right in. "Congratulations," he said. "When is the wedding?"
That certainly got their attention. "Which wedding would that be?" asked Lucien, at exactly the moment that Jean said," I don't know what you mean!" Then with a resigned look at each other they turned to Charlie together. "So much for keeping it quiet," murmured Jean.
"Well, if you didn't want anyone to know, you shouldn't have fallen asleep on the couch wearing a new ring!" teased Charlie. "Anyway, I won't tell anyone if you'd prefer nobody knew."
"Just for a few days, please Charlie, till we've worked out how to manage this," said Lucien, and he and Jean started on the silent communication again.
Charlie finished his toast and stood to leave. "Thanks for breakfast, Mrs Beazley, and I think it's wonderful news." He walked round to Jean and kissed her on the cheek, making her blush a little, then followed up with a handshake and congratulations for the doctor.
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After a mercifully quiet morning surgery, Jean brought a tray of tea in for Lucien, with an extra cup for herself. He was seated as usual behind his desk, and normally she would have sat in the patient's chair, but Lucien stood and took her hand and led her round to his side of the desk he had inherited from his father. As he sat down he drew her down with him, so she was sitting across his lap, her arms naturally circling his neck to help her balance.
Holding her firmly round her slim waist he kissed the side of her neck, and along her neckline, tickling her with his beard and making her wriggle a little in his lap.
"Lucien! What if someone sees?" she chided him, but rather half-heartedly. There was no one to see, and what did it matter really now anyway? Lucien slid his hand down to her hip and held her even closer, and she turned her head towards him and kissed him softly on the lips. "So, how are we going to explain this to everyone?" she continued.
" I think we should fix a date for the wedding, then tell the people who really matter. Everyone else will hear soon enough through the Ballarat grapevine."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Jean replied. "The grapevine could cause us both some trouble; plenty of people already think the worst of us."
"Well, then we'd better pick a date that's soon. How about a month or so from now? Will that be long enough to invite your family?" asked Lucien. "I don't have any family who would be able to come anyway." Her moving in his lap was making it hard for him to concentrate now.
Jean thought for a moment. "Yes, that should be long enough, I don't suppose Jack will come but I'd like to ask him. Do you think Matthew will be well enough to come by then?"
Lucien continued running his hand over Jean's hip, his fingertips straying further over the back of her leg. He replied, "Yes, I should think so, if he doesn't mind using a walking stick."
Jean kissed his beard, high up on his cheek by his ear, and whispered, "I think that's far enough, don't you, Lucien?" And he reluctantly moved his hand back to safer territory.
"All the more reason to marry me very soon," he smiled.
"I'd love to ask Mattie, but I don't suppose she'd come back all that way for a wedding, it would be so expensive to fly back," pondered Jean.
"Well, it'll only be a small wedding, neither of us have many people to invite, so we could offer to pay for her ticket, if you'd like her there. If she can take the time away from work, of course." Lucien offered. Jean kissed him in agreement and slid off his lap to stand in front of him.
"Now you'd better ring the priest and fix a date." Jean handed Lucien the phone, drank the remainder of her tea, and left with the tray, fully aware of the way Lucien's eyes ran over her as she walked away.