Jean looked at the clock, just past two. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, waiting.

'Yes, it was a one off.' She got up and grabbed her robe rather forcefully. There was a ripping sound. 'Damn!' Examining the robe, the hanging loop had caught on the hook and ripped the neck edge under the collar.

She put it on, nothing could be done about it now: now the baby needed feeding, how anyone could sleep through that..?

She found Lucien in the kitchen putting the kettle on, but the baby was still in the guest room with her mother. She understood why he hadn't gone to pick her up, so she went up the hall. Without knocking she went into the room and picked up the wailing child. Looking at the bed she saw Ruby still asleep with an eye mask and ear plugs. She felt her blood pressure rise, how bloody stupid, she thought. She stormed out of the room and into the kitchen.

'Jean?' Lucien looked at her furious face, 'what's the matter?'

'She's wearing an eye mask and using ear plugs.' Jean hissed, angrily.

'Oh,' He sat down, nonplussed. 'Bugger.'

Jean offered Amelia her finger but it was rejected. Lucien pushed the warming bottle over to her. 'Try that.'

She tested the heat, just about, she thought. Whatever the temperature, it would appear Amelia would take it and sucked desperately on the milk.

Lucien watched her gradually calm down as the baby took the bottle. He pulled his chair next to her and stroked her back. The silence was broken only by the sound of the kitchen clock and Amelia. He felt Jean begin to relax, but knew that with everything else his housekeeper had to do, she would end up exhausted. So what to do? His musing was interrupted by him catching his fingers in the tear in her robe. Maybe she'd get rid of it, pink candlewick was not alluring and she deserved 'alluring', he thought. She turned her head, embarrassed.

'I pulled it off the hook.' She whispered.

'Will it repair?' He thought that was more likely than her going out and buying a new one.

'Not sure,' she sighed, 'I've had it years. Maybe I should treat myself to a new one.'

'That's up to you,' he smiled.

'It's a bit, well...' she searched for the word, '...sensible?'

Lucien wanted to suggest she ditch the hairnet too, but reckoned that was a step too far, if he wanted to keep his head!

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They sat round the breakfast table sipping tea. Mattie could see that Jean was not as cheerful as she had been the night before. She was giving Amelia her feed and not looking at anyone else.

'Ruby awake?' Lucien came through.

'How can I tell?' Jean asked, acidly.

'Still wearing the eye mask?'

Jean looked up at him, her expression told him all he needed to know.

'She what?!' Mattie and Charlie exclaimed together.

'...and ear plugs, apparently.' Lucien poured some tea for himself, checking that Jean had a cup.

'Oh, now that's just ridiculous.' Mattie snapped. '...and I thought she had got the idea.' She stood up, 'well I'm not standing for that.'

Lucien caught her arm as she headed for the door. 'Leave it, Mattie.' He looked at her and his face told her she wasn't to do anything about it.

'Jean,' Lucien stood up and went to her, 'now is the time to speak to her, it's been three nights, you are bordering on exhaustion.'

'I have spoken to her.' Jean was almost in tears. 'She insists that Amelia has to learn to sleep through the night.'

'Why didn't you tell me?' He put his arms round her, 'you can't do this and everything else, not even you can do that.'

'I did it with the boys,' she grumbled, stubbornly.

'That's as maybe,' he smiled, 'but, dear Jean, I expect you slept between feeds at night, then. You did tell me you couldn't go back to sleep after the two o'clock feed the first night. That means you are getting, at the most, three hours sleep.'

She leant her head against his arm, she knew he was right, but it was just easier this way.

'Now,' he helped her up out of the chair, 'Amelia can go into her pram, you are going up to your bed, for a nap.'

She gave him a horrified look, Jean Beazley did not nap during the day!

'I'm not taking 'no' for an answer,' he looked over at Mattie who came and took the baby off her grandmother, 'come on.' He propelled her gently towards and up the stairs, where he took her into her bedroom and sat her on the bed. For her it happened as if in a dream. He knelt down and removed her shoes, then lifted her feet up and lay her down, covering her with a light blanket. As he kissed her forehead, her eyes closed and she drifted into blessed sleep.

He turned and smiled at the sight, then drew the curtains across the window and quietly closed the door leaving her to her dreams.

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Charlie finished washing up and put the pots away. Ruby's breakfast, as usual, was left on the stove. They had all believed that she was getting up in the night to her daughter and had reasoned that she could be forgiven for being a late riser. Now both he and Mattie were furious. They knew Jean adored her granddaughter and would not leave her to scream with hunger or discomfort, but this was not acceptable.

'I'll take Amelia out in the pram and do the shopping.' Mattie picked up the list off the side, 'if I take a bottle with me I can take her out for longer.'

'Right,' Charlie smiled, 'I'll do the laundry.'

Mattie coughed, 'The laundry?!'

'I am capable, you know.' He grinned, 'I did stuff for mum when my brothers were small. I think I can run a boil wash through, at the very least.'

'I'm sure Jean will be very grateful to you, Charlie,' Lucien had returned, 'to both of you.'

'Well, she,' and Mattie nodded in the direction of the guest room, 'isn't going to do it, is she?'

'I'm going to talk to her.' Lucien straightened his waistcoat, not looking forward to the interview. 'Jean is asleep, so leave her for at least an hour, if not longer.'

'Ok.' Both agreed and went to their tasks.

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Lucien stood outside the guest room door and took a deep breath. He knocked and entered without being invited. Ruby was lying on her back, mouth a little open, so he knew she was still asleep. He pulled off the eye mask, took out the ear plugs and flung open the curtains with a cheery,

'Morning!'

She sat bolt upright, and blinked in the bright light.

'Wha...!'

'Morning!' Lucien grinned. 'Breakfast is in the kitchen, Amelia is out with Mattie, Charlie is doing the laundry and Jean is asleep.'

'Asleep!?' She rubbed her eyes, 'Jean?!'

'Asleep.' The doctor confirmed, 'overdone it. When you're washed and dressed I believe she was going to vacuum and dust today. You can do that for her, can't you?' He turned on his heel and left her, open mouthed, clutching her bed sheets as if he had threatened to ravish her.

Outside the door he exhaled as if he had been holding his breath, then strode through to the kitchen.

'Did you hear that, Charlie?' He asked the young sergeant.

'Erm...' Charlie wondered if he should admit he'd listened.

'Good.' Lucien took that to mean 'yes'. 'Now, just carry on as if it is quite normal for you to do laundry for Jean.'

'Ok.' Charlie thought about it then grinned, 'can I tell her if she doesn't do a good enough job?'

'Don't push it.' Lucien shook his head, 'I'm going to mow the lawn, it needs doing and I want her ladyship to see that here we are a team.'

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Ruby staggered into the kitchen and took her breakfast ungraciously off the stove. There was no tea in the pot so she did with a glass of orange juice. She ate the bacon but left the congealed egg. Charlie said nothing, just carried on with his task.

'That plate goes over there when you've washed it.' He nodded in the direction of the cupboard, quite sure she was just going to leave it in the sink.

She hummed crossly but did as directed.

'Vacuum's in the hall cupboard, duster's under the sink.' Charlie took a basket of nappies out to the garden to hang on the line.

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Jean vaguely noticed the vacuum running but just turned over and continued to sleep. She dreamed of Lucien's arms round her in the park, holding her as he had done after the picnic. She brushed her hand over her cheek as she felt a cool breeze move a curl over her face.

'Jean.' A voice, soft and low called her name. 'Jean, I've brought you some tea.'

'Hm..?' She turned over again, 'lovely,' she murmured, but didn't open her eyes immediately. Then she felt the soft touch of beard and lips on her forehead and she smiled. 'Lucien,' she breathed. 'hello,' her eyes opened and looked directly into his.

'Hello, sleepyhead.' He smiled so lovingly at her. She smiled back at him and pulled herself up to lean against the bed head.

'How long?' She leant forward and allowed him to arrange the pillows for her comfort.

'Couple of hours.' He sat on the edge of the bed, in the room he so rarely entered.

'Oh dear.' She pushed her hair off her face, he thought she looked so beautiful, 'I have so much to catch up on.'

Lucien stopped her attempting to get up, 'Mattie has gone to do the shopping, taking Amelia, Charlie has done the nappies, I've mowed the grass and Ruby has vacuumed and dusted.'

'Oh.' She accepted the cup of tea, 'Oh, right.' She wrapped her hands round the cup and sipped the hot drink.

'We're fairly sure we've got it right, but...'

'Right, well, thank you, for whatever you've done.' She leant back against the pillows.

'Well...'

'I must thank everybody...'

'Mmm...'

She put her cup down, 'First you,' she put her arms round his neck and kissed him, 'for mowing the grass,' she kissed him again, this time inviting him to deepen the kiss, an invitation he gladly accepted, 'for doing whatever you did to make me feel better.'

'Thank you, but..,' he grinned, 'I hope you're not going to thank the others like that.'

'Silly boy,' she pushed her forehead against his chest and sighed, then inhaled his particular scent as he pulled her close and let her rest there.

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Jean wandered downstairs, hair brushed and makeup refreshed.

In the kitchen she checked the appointment's diary and then went into the surgery to see if Ruby had cleaned in there. She hadn't; but even if she had Jean knew she would have done it again, they were more on view there than anywhere else in the house.

She found Ruby in the living room, reading a magazine from the waiting room.

'Thank you for vacuuming for me.' She said softly. 'I didn't realise how tired I was.'

Ruby just shrugged her shoulders.

'Perhaps if you did the two o'clock feed?' She suggested.

'She should sleep through the night.' Ruby didn't look up.

'She's not ready to.' Jean sat down, 'she is still trying to catch up.'

'I need my sleep.'

'I know you had a bad time.' Jean was getting angry, 'I know you were invited here to recuperate but I am running and home and a surgery, I don't have the luxury of a lie in, or to put my feet up during the afternoon. You are Amelia's mother, certain responsibilities come with that territory. Your laundry is done for you, she is taken out of the way during the day, the least you could do is the night feed. You must have been doing it when you were trying to feed yourself. The eye mask and ear plugs go!'

She got up and went to get the surgery ready for the afternoon, unaware that Lucien was watching her from the doorway. He hid as she stormed off, smiling.

Ruby just sat there in shock, what a way to treat your guests, she thought, dreadfully rude!

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Jean put out lunch when Mattie came back with the shopping and the baby.

'Thank you, Mattie.' Jean smiled, 'it's a great help.'

'No worries, Jean.' Mattie put the groceries away, 'I hope you don't mind, I added some plums to the order, they looked so nice.'

'You just want me to make a cobbler for desert.' Jean smiled.

'Well...' Mattie did her little girl lost look, '...but I could help.'

'You can halve and stone the fruit.' She handed her the knife and colander.

'Right.' Mattie sat down at the table and set to work. Jean watched her, they were nice fruit, plump and juicy.

It was unusual to have everybody at home during the day, Mattie and Charlie's rest days rarely fell together and when they did they were usually out of Jean's way, today she was glad they had stayed home. Even if she hadn't had to have a nap it would have been pleasant to have them around.

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Ruby had to look after her daughter that afternoon, everybody else seemed to be busy. Jean was greeting patients and sitting in the waiting room, doing paperwork, Mattie was in the surgery with Lucien and Charlie was in the kitchen apparently getting things ready for the evening meal. She found it strange that the lodgers did things like housework and cooking, and why didn't they employ a gardener to cut the grass, why did the doctor do it?

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Jean saw the last patient out and closed the door. Really, Agnes Clasby could talk the hind leg off a donkey!

She returned to the surgery to pick up any receipts or papers that the doctor had generated, passing Ruby in the living room on the way.

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'Everything ok, Jean?' Lucien watched her sort the financial paperwork and file the notes.

'Fine.' She avoided his eyes, but felt him move over to her.

'Jean?' He put his arm on her shoulder. She looked up and tried a small smile.

His head bent to hers and he kissed her lips very gently. They parted and she looked at him. He lips parted and he bent to her again and she accepted his kiss, his tongue, her breathing quickened, her heart felt as if it would leap out of her chest. Their arms were round each other gripping firmly, lost in their desire, which they would have to curb or there would be trouble.

'Oh,' she gasped, 'Lucien.' She blushed.

'I feel the need for another picnic,' he smiled, 'just you and me.'

Really he felt the need for a hotel room, but not in Ballarat!

'I'd like that,' she smiled.

'Dinner in half an hour!' Charlie's cheerful voice broke the mood. Jean giggled,

'That's my line!' she called through, kissing the doctor on the cheek and squeezing his arm.

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Ruby settled Amelia in the bassinet and joined the rest of the household in the kitchen. She noticed there were still faint traces of dark circles round Jean's eyes, and, while she recognised it was probably her fault, she also tended to blame the baby. Nobody had told her that she would be up in the night, that babies were hard work. She had only seen the romanticised side of motherhood, not the broken sleep, the endless nappies the interruption to 'normal' life.

Charlie had done a tasty roast and it went down well. Mattie had followed Jean's instructions and finished off the cobbler. Jean pronounced it an excellent job, and Lucien scraped the sweet crispy sides off the dish. Ruby did not eat any of it, claiming she did not eat deserts.

'Shame,' Lucien mused, 'best bit of dinner.'

Jean slapped his hand gently with her spoon. 'Doctor, behave.'

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Peace at last, Jean leant back into the couch, and sipped her sherry. The others had gone to their rooms so it was just her and Lucien. He went and sat next to her.

'You alright?' He kissed her head.

'I think so,' she leaned against him, 'until two o'clock ish.'

Lucien raised his hand, from which dangled an eye mask, and in his palm two ear plugs.

She laughed, ''How..?'

'Waited for her to be in the bathroom...' He grinned. 'But...'

'...no guarantee.' She smiled.

'About that picnic.' He shifted his position so they where comfortably nestled against each other. 'How do you feel about Lerderberg Park?'

'Lerderberg?' She looked at him, 'why Lerderberg?'

'I have a cabin there.' He stated, as if she should know. 'Spent 'that week' making it nice for hiding in.'

'Oh, so you didn't...'

'Hole up in a pub?' He squeezed her, 'no. Somehow it wasn't what mother would have wanted me to do. It's not much, but there's a couch, a small camping stove a bedroom area and a bathroom, a bit rudimentary but...'

'It sounds lovely.' She stopped him, touching his mouth with her finger. 'I'd love to see it.'

'Then we shall run away together.' He laughed and kissed her.

'Oh, Lucien,' she returned the kiss, 'you are silly, sometimes.'

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Jean heaved the pram into the hall in time to hear the phone ring. If only Ruby would answer it, but no, and Jean had to run and lean in through the hatch to catch it on the last ring.

'Dr Blake's surgery,' she gasped.

'Mum?' Christopher's voice came down the line, 'you ok?'

'Yes,' she took a deeper breath, 'sorry, had to run to catch it.'

'I'm on my way back today,' he told her, 'is that ok? Thought maybe Ruby would be ready to go home.'

'Well, you'll have to ask her that.' Jean tried not to sound too uppity, 'Amelia isn't sleeping through yet, but she feeds a lot better.'

'Right.' He sounded unsure. 'Well, I should be with you in time for dinner.'

'Good, we'll see you then.' She put the phone down and turned to go and bring the groceries off the pram. Amelia was awake and ready for a feed.

'Ruby!' She called, 'Amelia needs feeding!' She took the shopping to the kitchen but there was no sign of her daughter in law.

'Ruby!' she called louder and put the kettle on to warm the bottle and make tea. Still nothing.

Jean put the bottle to warm, changed her granddaughter while she waited, then, after pouring herself some tea, sat down and fed the baby, all the while wondering where on earth the ungrateful, selfish girl could have got to. Until surgery that day she was on her own. Mattie and Charlie were at work, Lucien was out on a case, she expected Ruby to be somewhere in the house or garden.

Amelia over her shoulder, Jean started to wander about the house. She went, first to the guest room, no, no sign of her, upstairs nothing; no indication there was another being in the house. The garden was similarly deserted. Now Jean was worried, Ruby rarely strayed far from the house unless she accompanied Jean into town, now she was nowhere in sight.

She called the station and asked to speak to Lucien. He could hear the worry in her voice as she told him she couldn't find Ruby.

He reassured her there was probably nothing to worry about, but he would get the lads out and he would head home to 'hold her hand'.

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So where has Ruby gone? Will Jean and Lucien ever get to Lerderberg Park?