Lucien parked up in the hospital grounds and thought for a moment. What would they do if Ruby really had lost herself? What would Christopher do? He sighed and got out of the car, drew himself up and went to the ward.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

'Good morning, Sister.' He greeted the senior nurse at the desk, 'how is Miss Ruby this morning?'

'She is well, doctor.' Sister indicated he sit with her. 'She ate the meal we gave her last night, nearly all of it. She slept well and woke perfectly pleasantly. She has eaten breakfast and been helped to bathe and change her gown. It's a bit like having a young child around. She's no trouble.'

'Well, that's not the Ruby we know.' Blake sat back, 'usually she eats little, if anything, she is acerbic, rude and unhelpful. Doesn't seem keen on the baby, yet yesterday she pronounced Amelia pretty and was happy to hold her. Did she recognise you from yesterday?'

'Yes, that she did.' Sister smiled, 'I asked her about her family, but she didn't have anything to say about them, said she wasn't sure she had anyone. Yet again, it didn't seem to bother her.'

'I noticed she wasn't wearing her wedding ring,' Lucien pointed out, 'did she have it on her? I would have thought she would have some idea she was married if she did.'

'It's not in her belongings. I did look and asked the nurse who settled her in bed, but apparently she didn't have it.' Sister too had noted this and wondered.

'I'll ask Jean to check at home,' Lucien made a mental note, 'I've never noticed her take it off, and I know Jean only takes hers off to apply hand cream.'

Sister wondered at this intimate insight into Mrs Beazley, but then she supposed the doctor was an observant sort and it was probably just something he had noticed in passing.

'Well, I'd better go and see her,' he stood up, 'thank you Sister.' He smiled as he left her.

Sister followed him into the room, she was interested in the case.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ruby was sitting up against the pillows, staring into space.

'Good morning, Miss Ruby.' Lucien greeted her, pleasantly. There was no reaction, she just stared ahead. 'Miss Ruby?' He moved in front of her then went and waved his hand across her face. 'Ruby?' He called a little louder, but didn't shout.

She blinked and shook her head, as if clearing a foggy mind. 'Oh, hello.' She smiled, 'It's Dr Blake, isn't it?'

'It is.' He smiled, that looked like a petit mal seizure to him, 'how are you today?'

'I am much as I was yesterday, I believe.' She opened her eyes wide.

'What do you remember about yesterday?' Lucien sat on the side of the bed and checked her pulse.

'I remember sitting by a lake and a young man in uniform.' She tipped her head to one side, 'I remember you, bringing me here. You said I was unwell. I met your housekeeper, and your friend.'

He noticed she did not name Jean or Christopher.

'Can you remember my housekeeper's name?'

'Um...' she thought, 'Jane or Jean, something like that.' She paused, 'Oh, didn't she have a baby with her?' She added brightly, looking pleased that she had remembered something.

'She did, Amelia.' Lucien smiled, 'It's Jean, my housekeeper. Do you recall my friend's name?'

'Oh, now,' she thought, hard, 'I'm sorry, I don't. He seemed very nice though. Wasn't he a soldier?'

'Yes he is. His name is Christopher.' Lucien patted her hand. 'Now, my dear, I would like to call somebody to come and see you. He is a specialist in memory problems. How do you feel about that?'

'Whatever you say, doctor.' She smiled at him. 'I'm sure you know what's best.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Outside the room Lucien's shoulders sagged.

'Well, doctor,' Sister watched him, 'a puzzle, don't you think?'

'I do, Sister.' Lucien sighed, 'it looked like she was in the middle of a petit mal seizure, when we went in.'

'Oh, perhaps.' Sister nodded, 'but how do we confirm that?'

'Observation.' Lucien wasn't going to use any of the methods of brain imaging available, they carried too much risk. 'I'm sorry, Sister, would it be possible to have a nurse in the room, almost constantly. Perhaps someone to keep her company, read to her, in fact see if she had retained that skill. Not a newspaper, a novel or some poetry. Suggest she may find it boring sitting in a room all alone all day.'

'I think perhaps one of the junior nurses.' The Sister decided she know of one pleasant girl. 'Nurse Richards is a gentle soul, and works well with children. I'll find someone else to change with her.'

'Thank you,' Lucien smiled, 'I'm going to call in a specialist from Melbourne if I can get him, but it's entirely possible she had a bigger seizure that caused the memory loss and is now having little seizures. Every time she 'drifts' or daydreams, it needs to be logged. Time and duration and any other little features, twitching, trembling, vocalising, that kind of thing. Also, anything she does that could be considered out of the ordinary.'

'Right, doctor.' They went their separate ways to find the people they needed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lucien sat in the car on the drive. He wasn't looking forward to telling Jean and Christopher what was happening, how much Ruby had remembered from the previous day.

He took a deep breath and opened the door.

'Christopher!' Jean was shouting, 'surely you can get compassionate leave?'

'I've had too much time off for her,' he shouted back, 'I can't keep taking leave!'

'She's your wife!' Jean shouted back, 'are you telling me you're giving up on her, already?'

'Mum,' he was pleading. 'It's not like that.'

'For god's sake, Christopher, I can't keep picking up the messes you boys make!'

'It's him, isn't it?' Christopher shouted, 'Blake. Oh yes, I've noticed, his arm round you, the kisses. What else, eh? Rather be with him than help your...' he didn't finish the accusation as the sting of her hand on his cheek stopped him.

'How dare you!' She practically screamed at him, at which point Lucien thought he had better make his presence known.

'Jean, Christopher,' he raised his hands in submission, 'please. Let's sit down and sort this out, quietly.'

Jean turned her face to him, angry tears streamed down her cheeks and much as he knew the argument was partly about him, he held out his arms to her and she stepped towards him, and the comfort of his arms.

'Mine and your mother's relationship is not up for discussion,' He glared at Christopher, 'I do wonder, however about yours with Ruby and Amelia.'

'I don't know what you mean?' Christopher glowered.

'Well, you've only once offered to do the night feed, last night, and you didn't argue when I said I'd do it. I don't think I've seen you pick Amelia up and cuddle her, you seem distant from Ruby, until yesterday, when you suddenly realised you may have to raise Amelia on your own.' Lucien looked at him, 'Was Amelia an accident? Did you plan to have a child?'

'Eventually, yes.'

'But not yet.' Lucien pulled Jean to sit with him on the couch, 'so who made the mistake, you or Ruby?'

'She said she was using something.' Christopher sulked, 'then, all of a sudden she's pregnant.'

'It takes two, Christopher,' Lucien pointed out, 'perhaps you should have taken responsibility for that. How was she when she told you?'

'Bloody ecstatic. Happy as Larry.'

'But you said she was having a bad time of it.' Jean accused, 'you told me she was struggling.'

'She was,' Christopher muttered, 'but said it would all be worth it in the end. Then, a difficult birth, and a fretful baby, she went off the idea. Not the romantic ideal she thought it would be.'

'So you bury yourself in your work as soon as is decent, then ask your mother to come and help.' Blake snapped. 'Even in times of war soldiers get compassionate leave, but you don't want to, do you?' He stood up and held out his hand to Jean, 'would you come to the study, please, Jean? I'd like to talk to you, alone.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He sat down and pulled her onto his knee. She felt it completely inappropriate at this time, but his arms were so strong and she was too tired to fight him.

'Now, my dear Jean,' He looked at her, 'Ruby is not doing too well. She is like a child, could not recall your name, properly, and not Christopher's at all. She remembered being at the lake and Ned. Being brought to the hospital by me, and being told she was unwell. She ate last night, and this morning, but when I went into the room she was, it seemed to me, in the middle of a small seizure. What is known as a petit mal. I'm going to send for a neurologist but I'm not hopeful she will recover enough to take care of herself, never mind a baby.'

'Christopher doesn't care.' She muttered and leaned against him, 'he obviously doesn't want the bother of a baby, and Ruby is hard work. It's down to me, again, isn't it?'

'It's down to us.' Lucien stated, firmly, 'you're not in this alone.'

'Lucien, she's my granddaughter.'

'And you are my housekeeper, and I was hoping you would become more.' He kissed her cheek, 'Mattie said it was blatantly obvious we are courting. Now, I don't want to rush you, but, perhaps, in the not too distant future, you might feel you could become Mrs Blake?' He screwed up his face, waiting for the onslaught, either physical or verbal.

'Lucien?' She whispered.

'Well, why not?' He squeezed her, 'I mean, not just because of Amelia, and giving her a stable home, but...' he inhaled deeply, 'I love you, Jean.' There, he'd finally admitted it, simply and honestly.

'Oh, Lucien.' She sighed, 'I love you too, but do you realise what you're taking on?'

'We'll find that out, together.' He whispered then kissed her, gently on the lips.

'As you've just, in a way, proposed to me,' she smiled, 'perhaps we could do better than that.' She parted her lips a little and he accepted the invitation to kiss her, more passionately than any of the stolen kisses so far.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Christopher watched them go into the study. He'd wanted some fun before children, then Ruby has to go a pull a fast one. He thought he could handle it, but when it came to broken nights, a whining wife he couldn't. What was he going to do? He couldn't raise a child, he didn't want to, that was women's work. He hadn't unpacked anymore than his pyjamas and toothbrush last night, he could bolt, now. The doctor had contacts, they'd soon find him, damn and blast!

He watched them return, hand in hand. What did she think she was doing? There was enough talk about them. If she'd gone to Adelaide it would have worked out fine, she could have stayed and raised Amelia, looked after his 'baby' wife, it would have been so much easier.

'Right, Christopher,' the doctor spoke, sharply, 'Jean and I have agreed we will have Amelia here. I'll find appropriate accommodation for Ruby.'

'Cant' she stay here?' Jean asked.

'Not a good idea, Jean' He turned and smiled at her. 'You have enough to do and there is the chance she may go walkabout again. That and she might do something that would endanger herself if not others in the house.' He turned back to Christopher. 'I will let you know what contribution you will have to make for her keep. You will be free to see Amelia whenever you want, and we will tell her the truth about her mother when we feel she is old enough to understand.'

'Don't I get a say in this?'

'Frankly, no.' Lucien said, 'she may be your wife but you have turned your back on her at every opportunity so, in the absence of any other family, Jean and I will make all decisions about her future. As you are not so keen on being a father then perhaps it is for the best.'

'Right.' Christopher could see that it had all been sorted out. 'I might as well go then.'

'You can say good bye to your daughter,' Jean went to get the baby.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They watched him walk down the drive, no backwards glance, no wave. Amelia grizzled and Jean turned back to go and see to her feed and change her.

Lucien watched her sit with the baby in her arms, absorbed. He knew he would have to see to some legal areas, Amelia, he felt they should formally adopt her, and send copies of papers for Christopher to sign, giving permission for Dr Blake to oversee his wife's care and any treatment she may need. And he was going to make him pay towards her upkeep.

'What will you do with Ruby?' Jean broke into his thoughts.

'Oh, yes,' he smiled, 'well, not the asylum, that's for sure. There's a place for those of limited intelligence, near Mount Clear, very pleasant, homely. She might be happy there, they may even be able to make her feel useful, I think she'd like that.'

'Will you take me to see it, first?' Jean asked quietly, 'I think I need to be sure.'

'Of course.'

'And can I take Amelia to see her?' Jean stood up, 'until it becomes difficult, you know, when she starts to ask questions I'm not ready to answer.'

'If that's what you want, yes.' He put his arm round her and placed his finger in the palm of Amelia's tiny hand. The baby grasped it firmly. He smiled and bent down to kiss the little fingers, then Jean's lips.

'Alright?' He asked.

'Not really, not yet, anyway.'

'You know I suggested a trip up to the cabin, at Lerderberg Park?' He kissed her temple and breathed in the scent of her shampoo.

'That was in an altogether simpler time.' She sighed.

'Nothing to stop us going up,' He smiled, 'I know it means we will have to take madam here, but, she's too young to tell.' He grinned cheekily.

'Lucien!' She gasped, 'you naughty boy.'

'Care to be a naughty girl with me.'

She giggled, blushed then laughed. 'Honestly.' She kissed him.

'I'll take that as a 'yes', then.' He patted her bottom as he sauntered up to the surgery, hands in pockets, whistling a jaunty tune.

She watched him go, realising she had just accepted his proposition for some hanky panky, and she blushed even harder!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mattie arrived home to find Jean cleaning the guest room. Peering in she could see that the bassinet was still absent, had they gone home?

'Jean?' She went in to help remove the pillow cases. 'Have they gone home?'

'Mattie,' Jean smiled and sat on the bed, patting it to indicate she should sit with her. 'No, and yes. I had a blazing row with Christopher, turns out he was the one who didn't want a baby, yet, Ruby fell out with the idea when the birth was traumatic and Amelia didn't sleep. Christopher has left, gone back to work, Ruby; well Lucien is looking into her going to a place in Mount Clear, home for...for those with intelligence issues.'

'I know the place,' Mattie smiled and touched Jean's hand, 'there are three houses with house mothers, former nurses. The occupants are mainly those with less severe issues, some mongols, and some who are just, well, not all there. It's really quite nice, and everyone is well care for.'

'Oh, good. We may not have seen eye to eye, but I don't want her to be ill used.' Jean smiled with relief, 'anyway, we're going to raise Amelia and,' she took a huge breath, 'Lucien has asked me to marry him.'

'Jean!' Mattie flung her arms round the woman, 'you have said yes, haven't you?'

'Of course.'

'That's wonderful, I'm so please for you.' Then she looked at Jean, 'it's not just because of Amelia, is it?'

'No, Mattie, I wouldn't do that to him, nor him to me.' Jean stood up, 'now this room needs cleaning, dinner needs sorting and Amelia will need feeding.'

'Ok, would you like some help?'

'That would be lovely, thank you.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Life settled down in the Blake household. The engagement was only talked about in the house, Jean knew there would be all kinds of tittle-tattle if they made it public, so they decided that their wedding would be a quiet affair, probably in Melbourne, one weekend. For now she kept house as usual, looked after Amelia and organised the surgery.

The consultant Lucien asked to see Ruby confirmed Lucien's suspicions, that Ruby was not going to recover. The petit mal seizures continued and sometimes affected the little memory she had. There were changes in her behaviour, all to the good, as Jean said, she was a nice little girl.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

'Doctor Blake,' Sister caught him before his daily visit to Ruby, 'glad I saw you before you went in.'

'Oh, problem, Sister?

'No, actually.' Sister sat and indicated he should too, 'yesterday, she was reading a book, a children's story book with bright pictures. She said she would like to draw like that.'

'Oh, really?'

'Yes, so nurse got her a piece of paper and a pencil and suggested she have a go.' Sister smiled, 'turns out, she's rather good. Did a pencil sketch of Nurse Richards.' Sister passed him the paper. On it was a lovely, sympathetic drawing of a nurse. Lifelike, quite beautiful, Lucien thought.

'It's amazing.' He breathed, as memories of his mother flooded his brain.

'She asked if she could have some colours, crayons, we thought would be best, then perhaps paints, but for now...'

'An excellent idea, Sister.' Lucien stood up, 'I'll see what I can find for her.'

'Thank you, doctor.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Arrangements were made for Ruby to move to the house at Mount Clear. She just accepted that Dr Blake thought it was for the best.

'There will be lots of new faces for you to draw, Ruby,' he smiled. 'You will make friends, and perhaps learn some new skills.'

'Do you think it's for the best, doctor?' She asked, with the innocence of a small child.

'I do, my dear.' He squeezed her hand, 'I will come and see you, about once a week, and perhaps Jean and Amelia will visit, if you'd like them to.'

'Oh, I would, doctor.' She smiled, 'Jean is so kind, finding me these clothes and Amelia is so sweet.'

Lucien smiled sadly, the clothes were hers but she had no recollection of them, nor the ones she had been wearing the day she had walked off. Her wedding ring had been found, on the sink in the bathroom. She must have left it there after washing her hands. They gave it to her on a chain, to wear round her neck, telling her it belonged to another Ruby they once knew.

'I will drive you out, tomorrow.' Lucien told her, 'with all your painting things as well. They have given you a room on the ground floor with plenty of room for your easel and sketchbooks. If you need more supplies just ask your house mother, she will give me a call and I'll arrange it.'

'That's very kind of you, doctor.' Ruby smiled.

'My mother was an artist.'

'Oh.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Well, this time it's Christopher who's the problem, really, the selfish one. I think I might continue this story, after all, we have to get to Lerderberg, don't we!