Afterwards she wondered: did he know she would give in eventually?

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lucien's second attempt at a proposal was as fruitless as the first. Before he could even get the question out, Jean had turned on her heel and walked away again.

"Lucien, I cannot marry you, so don't even ask!" And she slammed the front door closed, leaving him stunned and disappointed, on the wrong side of the door. What had that kiss meant then? He knew she wanted him, the kiss left him in no doubt. But she wouldn't agree to marry him.

Once she'd calmed down, Jean explained. She wouldn't agree to marry a man who was still married to someone else, and furthermore, she wouldn't marry a divorced man either.

Lucien was horrified. He could see why she wouldn't be engaged until after he was divorced, but if she wouldn't marry him even then, what hope was there for them? But she wouldn't compromise.

He spent hours trying to persuade her, but she was determined; she wanted to be married in the eyes of the church or not at all.

"You do know I'm going to keep asking you anyway? And one day you will say yes?" Lucien asked eventually. She nodded. He wasn't sure which question she was agreeing with. But it gave him some hope.

For months they continued as before; they were Jean and Lucien at home, Mrs Beazley and Dr Blake outside. There were some furtive kisses in the sun room, a few loving cuddles on the couch, plenty of crime solving all over Ballarat. And quietly, Lucien was getting on with the divorce.

And every week or so, Lucien would slip the question into the conversation. He discovered there were many, many ways to ask. He tried the very formal - "Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?". He tried playful - "Think how much fun we could have if you would only marry me". He tried casual - "Mrs Blake has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

But Jean had as many ways of turning him down; sometimes regretfully, sometimes with a kiss, sometimes firmly, always lovingly. Somehow she always left the door open a little, and they both knew he would ask again.

The divorce came through, and Lucien hoped this would change her mind, but it didn't seem to. He hid his frustration, worried that if he pushed her too hard she would withdraw from him.

One evening after dinner, the phone rang and Jean disappeared into the study to talk to Christopher. She came back thoughtful, and maybe a little distracted, and eventually told Lucien that Christopher and Ruby were expecting another baby.

"Are you going back to Adelaide then?" Lucien asked, hoping she wasn't.

She shook her head. "I don't think they need me this time. I've just realised how quickly life goes by, though."

They sat listening to the gramophone for a while, quietly together, then Lucien picked up the newspaper to read it.

Just as he started to read, Jean spoke. "Ask me again, Lucien."

Distracted, he didn't realise what she meant. "Ask me to marry you, Lucien!" She took the paper from him and grasped his hand excitedly.

He laughed nervously for a moment, then replied, "No. I don't think I will, actually." He was smiling at her though.

"Oh Lucien, you can be impossible! I've just realised we're both getting older. I don't know how many years we've got left, but I don't want to waste them. But you have to ask me!"

He looked seriously at her now. "You know it'll have to be a civil wedding?" She nodded.

"Very well. Jean, will you marry me?"

She didn't reply immediately. Instead, she kissed him as she had that day on the driveway - urgently, unthinkingly - and, as she pulled away a fraction, she breathed her quiet yes against his cheek.