With Jean, Li and Lucien in Melbourne and Thomas at the hospital, Genevieve had the peace and quiet she needed to finish the piece she had shown Li the previous day and check the others for the exhibition. She expected no callers or deliveries and was just parcelling up the first painting when there was a knock on the door.
She sighed a frustrated sigh and went to see who was disturbing her. If it was a social call she would put them off politely and suggest another day, if it was a patient she would make an appointment for them and send them on their way.
"Oh! M'sieur Clement," she gasped. Jock Clement, one of Thomas' Freemason friends. She didn't like him, he was too forward for her liking, tried to flirt with her and flatter her, suggested they should become closer than was seemly. "I'm afraid my husband is not here."
"Oh, I know that, Genevieve …"
"Mrs Blake, if you don't mind, M'sieur," she reminded him, frostily.
"… it was you I came to see."
"I'm not receiving visitors, M'sieur, and certainly not men without my husband being present. Good-day to you." She made to close the door.
"Now, now," he held the door, "let's talk about this, shall we? About you and I."
"There is no 'you and I'," she pushed harder, "please leave, M'sieur, I have no desire to talk with you."
"We could come to some arrangement, your husband need never know. You deserve someone who can open doors – at galleries – for you …"
"M'sieur Clement, there will be no 'arrangement', I do not need you to open doors for me, now please leave and do not call again." She pushed harder this time and small as she was, against him, managed to close the door – on his fingers.
"You will rue the day, Mrs Blake, that you refused me!" he withdrew his bruised fingers and stormed off down the drive.
Genevieve locked the door and leant against it. She was under no illusion that this was the last of his pestering and she knew she would have to talk to Thomas when he came home, but, for now she would call the police and tell them she was being harassed and she was frightened.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Mrs Blake," the constable answering the phone squeaked, "how can we help you?"
He listened while Genevieve told of the unwanted attentions from Jock Clement.
"Oh, I see, um …" he frowned and chewed his bottom lip, "oh, yes, Madame," he brightened at her request, "of course, please wait a moment while I get him." He laid the receiver on the desk and went across the office, "Inspector Lawson, Mrs Blake is on the phone, she's had worrying visit from Mr Clement."
"Oh," Matthew hummed, "patch her through to me."
"Sir." He scuttled back to his desk, pressed a few buttons and sent the call through.
"Mrs Blake, Matthew Lawson, how can I help you?"
He listened.
"Really? I'm on my way." He put his receiver down and stood up, "I shall be at the Blake house, Sergeant Hobart would you accompany me?"
"Boss," Bill Hobart stood up and nodded.
As they drove, Matthew filled Bill in on what Genevieve had told him.
"She doesn't think he'll come back today, but everyone else is out, Dr Thomas to the hospital and Lucien, Li and Jean Beazley in Melbourne, so she's understandably rattled."
"So would I be," Bill nodded, "I mean, if I were her, Clement is not one to be messed with. He was my mum's doctor, way back – he wasn't kind – Dr Thomas is kind, was kind to her in her last days, doctors should be kind, don't you think?"
"I do, Bill, I do, and the Blakes' have been friends of mine and my family's – except for dad – since forever."
"You and Lucien Blake were at school together, weren't you?"
"Yeah, Ballarat West. He's gonna be looking for a school for Li, I don't think West will be for her, that clod MacAvoy is there."
"Piece of …"
"Here we are, Bill," Matthew drew the car up to the door, "best call through the letterbox, can't see Mrs Blake opening the door to a knock."
Bill called through the door that it was Sergeant Hobart and Inspector Lawson and was she alright?
The door opened, "Oh, Sergeant, Inspector – Matthew – please come in."
She led them to the kitchen where she had set the kettle to boil and put out some of Jean's biscuits.
"Sit," she waved around the table, "I thought, tea, yes?" She had never had the police in the house for any reason other than for Matthew to join Lucien for tea or study together when they were young, and as that was before Matthew joined the force it couldn't really be counted.
"That would be lovely, Mrs Blake," Matthew smiled and indicated Bill should sit down. "Please, tell us what happened."
So, over tea and biscuits, Genevieve told them all that had happened, all that Clement had said, how he had repeatedly propositioned her almost since the time she had arrived in Ballarat with Thomas and a small baby, to set up home and the surgery practice.
"I now worry for Thomas, and the family, he said I would rue the day I refused him … " she looked tearful. "For the first time in such a long time, gentlemen, I have my son, my granddaughter, here, I thought it was a chance for all of us to be happy."
"it will be, Mrs Blake," Matthew smiled, "if he tries anything we have enough evidence to charge him. For now we shall warn him off …"
"Jock Clement is a powerful man, Matthew …"
"Nobody is above the law, not even him."
"Of course," she agreed, "but he is a Freemason and so is Thomas, he could make life difficult for him."
"Alright, there is no need for Clement to know you have called us, Mrs Blake," Matthew helped himself to a biscuit, "but you must talk to your husband, and to Lucien."
"I don't want either of them to do anything rash," she shook her head, "Lucien can be so hot-headed and Thomas will be angry."
"And rightly so," Bill muttered.
"Would you be going to Melbourne alone, Mrs Blake?" Matthew wondered if it was wise for her to be alone anywhere.
"Well, yes, I was …" she chewed her bottom lip, "what would you suggest?"
"I suggest either Lucien or Dr Thomas accompany you," he tapped his fingers together, "perhaps to carry things for you."
"To make it seem totally normal?"
"Indeed."
"I see," she nodded, "I may be able to get Lucien, Thomas will have surgery and hospital rounds."
"Excellent," Matthew smiled, "and maybe a few coppers will be around the station to prevent any trouble."
"Thank you, Matthew, Sergeant, you have been most kind." She thought this would work. "And I will talk to Thomas and Lucien, I promise."
"You must, or I will have to," Matthew warned her in a gentle way, "now, Sergeant, perhaps we should head back to the station – we have a report to file, Mrs Blake – and sort out the patrols around Mycroft Avenue, eh?"
"Boss," Bill stood up, "thanks for the tea and biscuits, Mrs Blake," he nodded, "you take care now, and keep the door locked."
"I will," she watched them drive away and locked the door.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Back in Melbourne, Jean and Li had shopped wisely and well, underwear, nightwear, dresses, blouses and skirts, a jacket for warm weather, and a coat for cooler days. New shoes and wool for Jean to knit her sweaters and cardigans and some fabric she had liked to make her more dresses, and now it was time to meet Lucien for lunch. He'd told them he had booked a table at a small restaurant; it wasn't somewhere Jean would ordinarily go but she couldn't take Miss Li to a pie cart and a bench in the park, so she straightened her shoulders and chivvied Li in.
"Table for three," she stood at reception, "name of Blake."
The receptionist looked around for the third person.
"Dr Blake will be joining us after his business meeting," Jean tipped her chin.
"Ah, right," the receptionist scanned the booking list and escorted them through.
They were handed a menu each and offered drinks while they were waiting.
"A jug of iced water, please, and …" she looked at Li.
"Lemonade, please," Li smiled.
"Lemonade," Jean nodded.
"Right," the waitress looked at Li and hummed.
"She doesn't think I should be here," Li muttered as she went away to fill their orders.
"Well you should," Jean huffed, "you have as much right to be here as anyone else, now what do you fancy for lunch?"
"Um …" Li looked down the menu, "oh, fish, I think," she nodded, "yes, may I have the fish, please?"
"Of course," Jean smiled.
"What are you going to have, Jean?"
"I think I'll have the lamb chop," she hummed, "I wonder what your father will have?"
"He likes lamb," Li hummed, "though he did say he'd eat anything if it stayed on his plate long enough … because of the camp, I suppose." She pouted.
"Probably," Jean agreed.
"Oh look, there he is," Li waved and grinned, "he can chose for himself."
"He looks pleased," Jean noted, "I hope this means he's got his licence to practice back."
"Me too."
The waitress who had seated them arrived at their table before Lucien had made it over to them.
"I'm sorry," she took the menus away, "there has been a mistake in the booking, your table is over there," she pointed to a table tucked out of sight of the door near the passage to the facilities.
"No, this will do fine," Jean reached for the menus, "Dr Blake has arrived, he will be ready to eat, thank you." She knew perfectly well that they were only being moved because of Li and she wasn't having any of it.
"Ladies," Lucien smiled and pulled out the empty chair, "have you ordered?"
"We were just about to, doctor," Jean took a menu out of the waitress' hand and passed it to him. "We have ordered a jug of iced water and your daughter has asked for lemonade …"
"Lovely, I'll have a beer, please," he smiled at the waitress who was standing looking around the table and not knowing what to say. The newest arrival at the table was tall, dressed in a superbly cut suit and well-groomed, not someone she thought should be tucked away out of sight.
"How did your meeting go, papa?" Li relaxed, she knew why they were about to be moved, she was used to it, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt; she was glad her father had arrived in the nick of time.
"Very well, sweetheart, I have my licence back, just had to show my discharge papers and qualifications, so I can take over police surgeon duties from your grandfather. I think I'll have the chicken …" he passed the menu back to the waitress.
"Fish, please," Li gave her order.
"The lamb chop for me," Jean smiled and raised an eyebrow at the still dumbstruck girl.
"Er, yes of course," she bustled away and returned quickly with their drinks.
"Everything alright?" Lucien looked from one to the other.
"Nothing Jean couldn't handle, papa," Li laughed, "we were about to be moved."
Lucien frowned.
"Don't worry, Lucien," Jean reached across to take his hand, then quickly removed it remembering she was just the hired help, "I had just said we were fine where we are."
"Ah, hm," he took a sip of his beer. "So, how was your shopping trip? I don't see any bags."
"Oh, I hired a locker at the station, we had rather a lot to carry," Jean smiled.
"Did you get all you wanted?"
"Oh yes, papa," Li smiled eagerly, "even some material I liked that Jean said she could make into a dress for me, and wool to knit me cardigans and sweaters."
"Li will be dressed appropriately for any situation, doctor," Jean hummed, "we also bought a coat as the cooler weather is coming in."
"Thank you, Jean, for looking after her."
"It is my pleasure, Lucien; I also picked up some shirts for you, as you said yours are becoming a little threadbare."
"How did you know my size?" he frowned.
"I do your laundry, doctor, I can read a collar size," she teased.
"Of course. Ever resourceful."
"I do my best."
Lucien thought she did more than 'her best', but just nodded his thanks.
They ate their dinner with no more surprises from the waitress, paid the bill and headed for the station, in the hope of catching the next available train.
"Papa," Li tugged his hand, "do you think we have time to visit the gallery? The one where grandmama is showing her paintings?"
"I suppose so, but wouldn't you rather wait until her exhibition?"
"Well, if I do that, I won't have as much time for either," she reasoned.
"Alright, if Jean doesn't mind?"
"Dinner might be a little later than usual, but I suppose we could do that."
"Capital," he grinned, "this way."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lucien was happy to let Li wander around the art gallery and answer any questions she asked – if he knew the answer. He noticed Jean listened as well and took her time to look at the works and make comments. She didn't appear too keen on some of the abstract art preferring Tom Roberts and other more realistic artists.
"Well," he smiled, "we'd best be off for the train, ladies, or we'll be here overnight."
"Goodness!" Jean gasped, "is it really that late, you should have said."
"Why, you both seemed to be enjoying yourselves, who am I to stop your fun?"
Jean shook her head and took the arm he offered. "Come on Li, you can come back another day, when your grandmother is exhibiting."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Seeing how late it was when they arrived in Ballarat, Lucien suggested that when they got home he would go out for fish and chips.
"You can't start dinner at this time of the evening, Jean," he handed her into the taxi and helped the driver stow the shopping in the boot, "I can borrow dad's car."
"Well, alright, I don't suppose your parents will mind." It wasn't something they habitually did for dinner, but it was nice that Lucien knew she would be tired after such a long day.
"Excellent," he gave the driver the address and let his tired daughter lean her head on his shoulder.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As soon as they got into the house, Lucien announced they would be having fish and chips for dinner as Jean had had a long day and it wasn't fair to ask her to start cooking. He didn't wait for a reply, just grabbed the car keys from the hall table and headed out again.
"Oh," Genevieve stared at his retreating back, "well, perhaps just this once."
Jean noticed there was an atmosphere in the kitchen where Genevieve and Thomas were drinking tea, and it couldn't have anything to do with Lucien's announcement; something had happened during the day that had upset both of them.
"Is everything alright?" she put her hand on Li's shoulder to keep her quiet for a moment.
"Well, Genevieve says she needs to talk to all of us," Thomas huffed, "but she won't tell me what it's about."
"I only want to say it once, cheri," she soothed, "please, allow me this, it is important. For now, did you have a good day, Li?"
"Oh grandmama," Li sat down and beamed happily, "I have had a wonderful time, Jean has been so kind and we have bought so many new clothes and material and wool – Jean says she will make me a dress and knit me cardigans and sweaters – and we went to the art gallery where you are to show your paintings."
Li's enthusiasm seemed to brighten her grandparents and lift the gloom they had walked into.
"And did you see anything that interested you, cherie?" Genevieve smiled.
"Some," Li thought back to the different styles of art work, "some were a bit odd and some were like photographs they were so real."
"All artists have their own style, you will find as you see more the ones you prefer."
Li also told them of the restaurant and how Jean was not going to let them be seated in a dark corner when her father arrived.
"I think the waitress is still wondering about the two of them, grandmama, but the food was good and once papa was there we had good service, wouldn't you say, Jean?"
"We did, Miss Li," Jean agreed, "but there should have been no consideration about who we were in the first place." She pursed her lips.
"It happens, papa and I have had it happen on our journey here, it's not nice but I am not going to let them see it bothers me, papa says that puts them in their place better than me running off crying because someone doesn't like me."
"Good for you," Thomas agreed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After they had eaten and cleared away, Genevieve stood in front of them and told what had happened that day. She was honest, told them what Clement had said, how he had always been too forward and that she found it unnerving and sometimes embarrassing.
"Why didn't you tell me this, before, Gen?" Thomas frowned, "I would have told him to leave you alone."
"It wouldn't have made any difference, Thomas," she shook her head, "he believes you are weak, in the past he has called you a philistine but I don't think he has any more idea about art. He told me I would rue the day I defied him."
Thomas stood up and paced the floor, clenching and unclenching his fists which he would like to use on Clement.
Lucien ground his teeth, he was of the same opinion of his father and if he saw Jock Clement he would like to call him out.
"His actions are not those of a mason," Thomas growled, "he should be of irreproachable conduct, suggesting another man's wife should enter into a liaison with him is not the kind of conduct we expect, however, I shall tell him to leave you alone or I shall petition the lodge and ensure that it gets known around the town."
"Vindictive, Thomas …" Genevieve frowned, "just tell him to leave me alone, and I shall not attend any functions where he is also invited. Would you accompany me to Melbourne tomorrow to set up the exhibition? Matthew suggested I do not go out alone, for now."
"Ah …"
"I'll come with you, maman," Lucien shoved his hands in his pockets, "father, I am younger and stronger, it should put him off."
"Oh, I would like to come too, papa," Li pouted.
"Li …"
"He might be less likely to confront either of you if you have your daughter with you, Lucien," Jean suggested, "I mean, children are not generally quiet if things seem wrong to them, when they have a good family …" she didn't think she was explaining herself well and didn't want it to seem she was happy to put Li in danger.
"I can scream quite loud, papa," she nodded, "and kick … and I can help carry things."
"I don't know, Li, he's a big man …"
"Did you know they taught us things in the orphanage … come into the garden, I'll show you," she pulled her father by the hand, "come …"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Out in the garden, Li performed a series of graceful moves with her arms, and her legs, her whole body. She kicked short sharp kicks to the side and front then invited her father to attack her from behind.
"Come on, papa, don't be afraid, I know you would never hurt me really; drag me away from grandmama …"
Lucien looked at her. She wasn't overly small but she wasn't tall, either, he felt she was more European in stature than her delicate Chinese mother but still, attacking her from behind?
"Come on, papa, or are you scared of me?" Li threw her head back and laughed, standing with her hands on her hips she exuded confidence.
"So like her father," Genevieve sighed.
Lucien took off his jacket and tie and shrugged his shoulders. He stood behind his daughter and waited for an appropriate moment. Suddenly Li started for her grandmother. Instinctively, Lucien reached out and pulled her back: he found himself flat on his back staring up at the evening sky. Li dusted her hands off, "so, can I come tomorrow?"
Genevieve laughed and hugged her, Jean giggled at the sight of Lucien lying there on the grass. Thomas offered him his hand and helped him up.
"I hope it doesn't come to this," Lucien straightened his shoulders and tucked his shirt back in to his trousers, "but I suppose there would be no harm in you helping to carry things," he winked at her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There had been a lot of talk that night, after Li was tucked up in bed, of how to deal with Jock Clement. Thomas was still for going and blackening his eye, Lucien would quite like to give him a piece of his mind and then blackening his eye – or as he put it 'knock his block off'.
"I don't want either of you to resort to violence," Genevieve frowned, "to be hauled in to the police station if he brought charges, you are both better than he is. No, we shall do as we have decided, take the paintings to Melbourne, Matthew promised extra police presence at the station tomorrow, he wouldn't dare do anything in public."
"As you wish, maman," Lucien inclined his head, "perhaps we could have use of the car to get to the station? Jean would you drive us down?"
"If your father doesn't need it, of course I will," Jean smiled.
"I can do my rounds after you come back, Jean," Thomas agreed.
"That's settled, then," Genevieve stood up, "I shall retire now, early start."
Lucien stood up and kissed her cheek, "sleep well."
"I'll be along shortly," Thomas stood and watched her head for their room.
"Don't worry, father," Lucien smiled, "we'll keep her safe, me and Li …"
"Little power house that one, son," he laughed softly.
"Yeah, she is."
Jean took the last of the glasses to the kitchen and washed them, leaving them to drain.
"Jean," Lucien approached her, "thank you for looking after Li today, and for being prepared to stand up for her."
"Lucien, she is a lovely girl and really, I hadn't thought about how people would see her and … well, yes I have been guilty of the same, but I don't seem to notice anything different about her, she is just Li, your daughter. I'm sorry, I'm rambling, I hope you understand what I'm saying. I'm glad you came back, I'm glad you felt you could bring her with you …"
"I know she will be looked on as different, I've always known that, in fact Mei Lin and I often spoke about it, but if love will see her though such times then she has an abundance of that, from all of us, hasn't she?"
"She has, Lucien." She placed her apron over the back of a chair, "well, as your mother said, early start tomorrow, I'd best head up. Good night, Lucien, sleep well."
"Good night, Jean, you too."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
With everything stowed in the car and another warning from Thomas not to get into trouble if they saw Clement, Jean drove them down to the station the next morning.
"I doubt he'll be up this early," Genevieve hummed, "but keep the doors locked, Jean, especially when Thomas is off on his rounds."
"I will, Madame," she assured her, "there are a few patients this afternoon, but other than that I don't expect anyone else."
"Good."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I don't see him," Jean looked around the station as they waited for their train. "But it is busy, and a public display would be unwise."
"Very," Lucien agreed, "depends how much he wants you, maman."
"He won't accost me in public, cheri, he is too proud for that."
"He sounds horrible," Li huffed, "and very rude."
"Quite, but here's our train," Lucien lifted the bigger of the packages, "let's find a compartment. Thanks for driving, Jean …"
"My pleasure," she smiled, "I'll pick you up this evening."
"Lovely."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jean didn't have any shopping to do so she headed straight home. Thomas usually started his rounds at ten o'clock so she had plenty of time. The house was quiet when she opened the front door, eerily quiet.
"Thomas?" she called through, "Thomas!"
He was in his surgery, tidying up the mess Clement had made on his surprise early morning visit.
"He must have been waiting for you to leave," he looked up at her. "He told me he was going to have Genevieve and I couldn't stop him."
"Are you hurt?" she could see his clothes were disturbed, his tie was loosened and his shirt was torn.
"No, he pushed me about but didn't hurt me."
"He's made quite a mess here," she waved her hand over the trolley lying on its side and the sheets for the couch in a heap on the floor. The papers and pens from the desk had been swept off and scattered on the floor. "I'll help you sort it out, but first I'm going to call Matthew."
"Don't bother him, Jean."
"Thomas, he's threatened you and attacked you, Matthew needs to know. Genevieve is safely on the train, I didn't see him at the station so my guess is he'll try tonight, if he's going to try again."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matthew must have broken a couple of speeding laws to get to the house so quickly. He spoke to Thomas, took a statement, and told him there would be a police officer around the hospital while he was on his rounds and one patrolling the avenue during the day.
"I'll be at the station tonight," he slipped the statement into a file, "but I wish you'd let me warn him off, or threaten him with charges of assault."
"I worry it will fire him up," Thomas sighed, "but if he lays another hand on Genevieve you can lock him up and throw away the key."
"It will be my pleasure."
Jean locked the door behind him and together she and Thomas had the surgery looking as if nothing odd had happened that morning.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thomas' rounds went off without a hitch. The constable hovering nearby was a big, burly man who would have seen off any ne'er-do-wells in short order and nobody seemed surprised to see him there. He escorted Thomas to his car, told him to have a good day, and watched the car head off home.
"No problems, boss," he told Matthew on his return.
"Right, have a break then go and relieve Richards on patrol along Mycroft Avenue."
"Sir."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Genevieve's space in the gallery was just as she wanted it, but then, she had exhibited there before and the staff knew what she would want. They liked her, she was kind and praised them for all their hard work and because she was nicer than the other artists they did more for her than for them.
"Grandmama," Li hummed, "why don't you put that painting here?"
"And why would that be, cherie?"
"Well, it's the one I saw you doing, the first one so it should be the first one the people see when they come in – at least that's what I think," she tipped her head to one side.
"I see," Genevieve smiled, "not this one?"
"Hm, well, the eyes seem to watch you … how do you do that?"
"Sometimes it just happens," she shrugged, "maybe you're right, we'll go with the garden painting."
Lucien smiled as he watched his daughter interact with his mother and wondered if he should just have come straight home after finding her again. Over the past few days since he had come home he had started to find the peace he so needed. A position in the town – as a doctor and surgeon and a police surgeon – he might be happy in Ballarat.
They stopped to have a bite to eat and a drink before putting the finishing touches to the show. On the whole, Genevieve was happy with the result, Li had been right to suggest the garden painting was a good introduction to the set. Some of the portraits she had painted seemed to be looking into the view and invited the visitors to do the same. The lights had been placed just right to catch the sparkles from the gold leaf hints that also reflected off the walls.
"Happy, maman?" Lucien murmured in her ear.
"I think so," she nodded, "we shall see how it goes."
"Big opening?"
"Not this time, it is not that kind of show," she smiled at his enthusiasm, "I may do a bigger show later in the year, but for now this is a small show."
"Well, shall we go and catch the train, I could ring Jean from the station and let her know when to collect us?"
"That sounds like a good idea," she slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow and he took Li's hand.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Just as Genevieve stepped onto the train a voice called out to her.
"Ma! Lucien?!"
Lucien's head whipped round and he grinned, opening his arms to have his sister fling herself at him.
"Vivi," he hugged her tight, "what are you doing here?"
"Hello to you too," she laughed, "I just finished a case and thought I'd come over a day early," she turned to Genevieve who was also smiling broadly, "what are you doing here?"
They talked as they boarded the train.
"Setting up an exhibition," Genevieve laughed, "Jean will be pleased to see you, your room is ready."
"How is she?" she held the door for her mother.
"She is well, she seems happy enough," her mother nodded.
"Vivi," Lucien pulled Li forward, "this is your niece, Li. Li this is your crazy Aunt Vivienne – Vivi to friends and family."
"Hey there," Vivienne looked down at her, "well, your dear papa didn't say how lovely you are – don't suppose you give hugs do you?"
Li giggled and stepped close enough for a hug. "Hello, Aunt Vivi, papa didn't say how …"
"… mad?" Vivi finished for her, "kind of him, I'm sure, so you came to help?"
"Li came to carry things and protect her grandmother from the unwanted attentions of Jock Clement," Lucien opened the door to a compartment, "this one I think."
"Jock Clement, he's a pompous ass …"
"Vivienne!" Genevieve chastised her daughter.
"Sorry, but he is, what does he want?"
"Maman," Lucien sat down, "he's making advances …"
"I have not encouraged him in the slightest, he's been doing it since we came to Ballarat when Lucien was a babe in arms," Genevieve huffed. "Always at the parties and dances he has said things but yesterday he came to the house while everyone was out and propositioned me."
"He did what?!"
"Told me we could come to an arrangement and your father need never know."
"Bloody nerve," Vivi scowled.
"Language, Vivi," Genevieve hissed.
"So, how are you going to protect ma, Li?"
"She pretended to attack me in the garden, Lucien went to restrain her and he landed on his back …" her mother laughed, "it was her way of persuading us she could be of some use if Clement decided to make his move at the station."
Vivi looked from her brother to her small niece and gaped.
"I'll show you at home, if you like, Aunt Vivi," Li raised her eyebrows.
"That I would like to see," her aunt sat back in her seat and folded her arms, "so tell me, brother mine, what are you going to do with yourself now?"
Lucien, and Li, both told her of the journey they had taken since the end of the war. How Lucien had looked for her and then how he had tried to work out what he should do, where he should live. He told her of the letters his mother had sent them on their travels and how Li had persuaded him that perhaps it might be a good idea to go to Ballarat and for her to meet her grandparents.
"So, I have my licence to practice and am going to take over father's police surgeon duties and help out in the surgery. It could be quite interesting."
"What do you do, Aunt Vivi?" Li wondered, nobody had said anything about her aunt doing a job but she couldn't imagine her just sitting and doing embroidery, as her mother used to say about 'society ladies'. It was one of the few things she remembered about Mei Lin.
"Me, darling, I'm a lawyer, one of the few female lawyers in the State of Victoria. Clement makes a move on your grandmother I shall have him in court faster than you can say 'knife'." Vivi grinned, "at least after you have finished with him."
"Quite fortuitous you're over for a few days," Lucien muttered.
"I expect you wanted to knock him into next week," Vivi knew her brother well.
"And father did, too," he agreed.
"Dear lord," she rolled her eyes, "fisticuffs in Ballarat, whatever next."
"Oh there's plenty of that but usually the police deal with that not the local GP and police surgeon," Genevieve grimaced.
"As it should be," Vivi agree, "I would like you two to stay out of the cells, Clement – well that's another matter."
Li thought she was rather glad she had persuaded her father to come home to Australia, it looked like it was going to be interesting.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jean looked around the station and noticed Matthew sitting on a bench reading the Courier. There was no sign of Clement.
"Inspector?" she sat next to him.
"Mrs Beazley," he folded the paper, "thank you for letting me know which train they are on. Did everything go well?"
"Apparently, Lucien didn't say much, he just wanted me to know when to pick them up."
"Ah, and how do you find having him in the house?"
"Fine, he's one of my employers … but it is nice to see him home and safe."
"Yeah … yeah it is." Matthew smiled, "me and Alice are looking forward to lunch, by the way, but, she's kinda shy, not had a good life so far …"
"But you intend to make it a whole lot better, don't you?" she patted his hand, "and you will, Matthew, she's a lucky girl."
Matthew blushed.
"I might warn you that Thomas is a little worried about employing a married woman, thinks she'll be off having children as soon as possible."
"I need to show her how to have some fun, first. Neither of us are in a rush to have children. I love her, Jean, she's funny, and kind, strong; dark sense of humour, though."
"She's a doctor, Matthew, I think that comes with the territory. I'll make sure they're all gentle with her."
"Thanks, Jean, appreciate that."
She smiled.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The train arrived and disgorged its passengers.
"Hello," Matthew strained to look, "is that Vivi?"
"Oh, yes, she's a couple of days early," Jean laughed, "well, she is as unpredictable as her brother." She waved.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jock Clement watched from across the platform. He had hoped to grab Genevieve as she returned not realising she would have anyone with her. Young Blake looked strong and would put up a fight – he remembered how close he and his mother were – the daughter, Vivienne, would be no push over but was given to fighting with words, and she was a lawyer – Thomas had been so proud when she qualified while he believed she should be marrying and not taking up a position a man should fill; but who was the child? She bore no resemblance to either of the younger Blakes, was she some philanthropic adoption or fostering – Lucien had been in Singapore – surely he hadn't married a local, had he? He needed to get Genevieve away from such people and put her in the society she should move in.
He watched as they were greeted by the housekeeper and the police Inspector.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was a squeeze in the car; Li sat between her grandmother and her aunt on the back seat while Lucien drove them home, with Jean beside him.