The light threaded through the curtains and woke Vivi. She rolled over and bumped into something warm and solid. She smiled softly to herself, somehow Bill hadn't made it home and had proved to be as gentle and strong in bed as he was during the day. He had made her feel like the most beautiful creature in the world and helped remind her that there were kind men if you knew where to look. Wherever this relationship went she would stop looking now; not that she had actively looked for a life partner, believing that if it happened it would be by chance.
Bill grunted then turned over.
"Morning," she whispered.
"Yeah," he cleared his throat, "it is. You ok?"
"Yes, very much so," she smiled and snuggled closer. "are you?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" he kissed her softly, "waking up next to you."
"Tea?"
"Er, yeah, why not? What time is it?" he tried to see over her and to her bedside clock.
"Um, six-thirty, just gone," she sat up and reached for the nearest thing to wear – his singlet. When she stood up it just covered her bottom, he grinned, it was a nice sight for first thing in the morning.
"Early," he hummed, "for a day off."
"The sun woke me," she slipped out of the room and he heard her go into the bathroom.
"Bathroom's free!" she called as she went into the kitchen.
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He crept up behind her and slipped his arms round her waist.
"Careful," she warned, "don't want you suing me for burning you." She giggled as he nibbled her ear lobe. "Toast?"
"Hm?"
"Toast," she insisted. "You seem to have worked up an appetite and I'd like to keep my earlobe." She laughed.
He smoothed his hands up and squeezed a breast, "yeah, I'll cut the bread, shall I?"
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They went back to the bedroom and drank tea and ate the toast and kissed and cuddled for a while.
"You got anything planned, for today?" he murmured into her hair.
"No, have you?"
"Only this," he tipped her face to his and kissed her.
The phone rang, she sighed, and went to answer it, still wearing only his singlet; he smiled.
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"Lucien," she smiled, "good morning."
She listened while asked if she would go over and discuss the adoption as the date was rapidly approaching, and possibly the baptisms of Jennifer, Millie and Jacob.
"Millie too?"
He explained they hadn't been able to find a certificate so thought they'd include her and have them all done at the same time.
"Sounds ideal," she agreed, "who are the god parents?"
"You, please, Matthew and Alice, though they'll attend by proxy, and what do you think about asking Bill?"
"I think it's a great idea, but maybe we should ask him first."
"Are you seeing him today?" he asked; Vivi could imagine his eyebrows going up and him tipping his head in that innocent way he used when he knew he was in trouble with either their mother or Jean. "I mean, is he doing your garden?"
"I'll speak to him, shall I invite him over tonight?"
"Splendid, he's almost part of the family, isn't he?"
"So, who do you want him to be godfather to?" She ignored that comment.
"Millie and Jacob, Matthew is Jennifer's godfather and you and Alice are her godmothers. Would you be Millie's godmother, along with Li, she's also going to be Jacob's – we thought we'd keep it in the family, to people we trust and who will understand them."
"Alright, I'll ask Bill when I see him." She smiled and put the phone down.
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"Alright?" Bill lifted the covers for her to get back into bed.
"Yes, it was Lucien," she snuggled close. "He wanted to know if you would be godfather to Millie and Jacob."
"Me?" he gasped, "why me?"
"Why not?" She shrugged against his chest, "you know them, you know what they've been through and Lucien and Jean want people they know and can trust – it'll be me, you, Alice and Matthew, though they'll be there by proxy. You're invited to dinner tonight, and we're also discussing the adoption as they have got the date for court."
"You didn't tell him I was here, did you?" he looked worried.
"No, he assumes you are coming over to do the garden," she smiled, "don't worry, Bill. Lucien has always been discreet when it comes to me and …" she cleared her throat.
"… lovers. I understand, Vivi …"
"It's been a while, Bill. Sometimes when you're alone, at night …"
"Yeah, I get it, it's not as if I haven't taken a girl to bed, on occasion. You would tell me if I'm not enough, wouldn't you?"
Vivi thought he could be quite insecure, sometimes.
"That won't happen, Bill," she turned in his arms and slid her hand down to his boxers.
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They got up, showered and dressed somewhere near lunchtime and decided to drive into town, stock up the cupboards and Vivi would drop Bill off at his house and see him later at the Blakes.
"Curtains," he rolled his eyes to the neighbour's house.
"Your shopping, Bill," she carried a bag of groceries into the house. He closed the door behind them and followed her down to his kitchen.
"Some gentleman I am," he teased, "letting you carry things for me."
She turned and put her arms round his neck, "you better thank me properly, then," she purred.
"If I must," he rolled his eyes and bent his face to hers.
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He waved her off from the door and went to put his groceries away, he would see her later and maybe snatch a kiss or two.
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It had been a busy day at the Blake house. Jean had cleaned the house with the help of the lady that came in twice a week to help; she had prepared a meal for everybody and told Peter and Millie they could join them at table and hoped she could squeeze the high chairs at the table, too.
Li helped in any way she could, entertaining the little ones, helping Jean in the kitchen and setting things out for dinner. Genevieve took refuge in the studio for the morning, having another painting to finish for the art gallery in Melbourne. She painted less, these days, taking joy in her grandchildren and sketching them. Lucien had insisted she have some of the sketches framed, ones that showed her talent and the children in the best light.
"Sometimes, maman," he had said when she told him they were just preliminaries, "these quick sketches done in the moment are the best ones. Not that your finished paintings aren't wonderful, it's just these are like a snapshot – taken with love."
She patted his cheek and smiled, "if it is your wish, cheri, take which ones you want."
So he did and hung them scattered all around the house.
They saw less of Alice and Matthew unless they visited them. Alice was now confined to bed in the hope they could get her further along. She was now just over seven months. Jean made meals that Lucien could take over when he went to check on her and if she could leave the house for half an hour she would head on over just to keep her company. Matthew had stopped buying a pasty with Bill at lunchtime and went home to see his wife and have lunch with her or anything else she might want. Even Genevieve went over on occasion and told her stories of Lucien and Matthew as children which made her giggle and helped her pass the time.
Meanwhile, Inspector Munro had started to settle in. He wasn't sure about the amount of interference from Lucien he got during an investigation and he tried to ignore him. Inevitably it lead to clashes especially when he dismissed certain bits of evidence that he shouldn't have. Munro formed opinions about people he hadn't had time to get to know, properly; he tried to cosy up to Patrick Tyneman, suggesting he could get Miss Blake off Edward's case.
"That won't be necessary," Patrick had scowled, "Edward shouldn't have done what he did. If someone wrote letters like that to my wife I would expect that person to be punished to the full extent of the law."
"Ah," he coughed. "I just thought, perhaps …"
"I wouldn't think too hard, Mr Munro," Patrick huffed, "getting on the wrong side of Vivienne Blake never goes well."
"You do know Blake spent time in China, don't you? What about his politics?"
Patrick raised an eyebrow, what was the man on about? While he wouldn't call Lucien Blake a friend they were at least civil to each other. "Everybody knows that," he scoffed, "he spent over three years in a Jap POW camp when Singapore fell. I might not be his best friend, and we antagonised each other when we were boys, but he is, essentially, a good man and, as I said before, he has a very good lawyer."
Munro watched him leave the office and wondered about the information held in a file he had been given. He had been asked, by a Major in the army, to look into Blake and so far no one had a bad word to say about him. All he knew was that he had trained as a doctor in Edinburgh, Scotland, joined the army and served in Singapore, spoke several Malay and Chinese dialects, had married a girl while out in Singapore; she had been killed when Singapore was overrun and he had spent the remainder of the war in a camp. He had a daughter from his first marriage and had remarried on his return to Ballarat and now had two more children and was about to adopt two more. Most of this he didn't think the Major needed to know, it was personal; no, what the Major was looking for was political.
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Bill was glad to see Vivi's little car in the drive when he arrived for dinner. Though it had become more usual than not, he still felt a little nervous turning up for dinner here. He was a copper, they were well to do, had a good name in the town. Munro had tried to get information about them from him but all he could say was all Munro knew already. If he carried on the way he was going someone was going to set Miss Li on him!
"Ah, Bill," Jean smiled as she opened the door, "how are you?"
"Pretty good, Jean," he smiled back, "thanks for the invite. And, for asking me to be godfather …"
"We thought, given how Millie calls you 'nice man' it would be a good idea. We'd also like you to stand proxy for Matthew, he suggested it."
"Oh, yeah," he blinked, "how's Dr Lawson?"
"Coping," she sighed, "just."
"Will she be alright? And the bab?"
"Lucien is doing his best, the further along she gets the better chance the baby has."
"Good, that she has him."
"Yes."
"Ah, Bill," Lucien greeted him with bonhomie and a clap to the shoulder. "How's the knee?"
"Gives me no problem, doc, thanks."
"Good, good," Blake hummed, "drink?"
"Great." He looked around for Vivi, without trying to look like he was searching for her.
"Hey, Bill," she waved at him from under two two-year-olds. "Thanks for doin' the garden!"
"Pleasure, Miss Vivi," he raised his drink.
"Nice man," Millie turned round and scrambled off Vivi's knee.
"Miss Millie," he sat where she could crawl onto his knee, "how are you?"
"Good," she smiled.
He smiled back, conversations with small children, if he remembered rightly usually revolved around playing with toys or crawling on the floor. She scrambled off his knee and disappeared out of sight. She reappeared quickly, "look, nice man, new teddy." She held up a soft golden teddy bear, "maman buy me new bear."
"Well, isn't that nice," he nodded and looked up at Jean.
"She didn't have one and was eyeing up Peter's," she explained, "here, Li, put this on the table, please." She handed Li a dish of potatoes.
Bill wondered if he should buy baptism gifts for his god children, he'd ask Vivi, when he got her to himself.
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Nobody seemed to mind the squeeze round the table. Millie seemed to have got herself seated next to her 'nice man' and allowed him to cut her meat for her; Vivi was opposite and gave him an encouraging smile, it appeared he was getting it right. Jean had the babies either side of her, and though they had already had their meal they were given pieces of vegetable to chew on and play with.
Conversation ranged from people in town, to the adoption and the baptism.
"We are all going to court for the adoption, with four children," Jean rolled her eyes, "we need all the help we can get, so let's hope there's no need for a police surgeon."
"Anything like that can wait twenty four hours, as long as Munro isn't on duty," Lucien mused, "he rather likes things done yesterday."
"It's not as if your patient is going to run away, Lucien," Vivi observed.
"Ordinarily Alice would take over, but …" he sighed, "poor lass, I'm sure she'd rather look after the morgue than be lying in bed the way she is."
"I'll check the rota, if you like, doc," Bill hummed, "if it'll give you peace of mind."
"Not that it can be changed, but thanks, Bill," he smiled.
"What day?" Bill asked, "the day you go to court?"
"Thursday," Jean wiped Jacob's face of carrot.
"I'm not on duty, want an extra pair of hands and eyes?" the offer was out of his mouth before he really thought about it.
"Only if you want to Bill," Jean smiled, "it's very kind of you and an extra pair of eyes is always good with Millie and Peter, they're at that inquisitive stage."
"Papa says that never goes away," Li laughed.
"Well, it hasn't with you," he agreed, "but I'm afraid you will be in school that day."
Li pouted.
Everyone laughed, she joined in.
"It'll be an early start, Bill," Thomas warned him.
Bill shrugged, he thought he could cope with that, if he was with Vivi and watching her in court.
"Let me know what train, I assume you're goin' by train?"
"Absolutely, these four in a car, which isn't big enough, for two hours," Thomas shook his head, "doesn't bear thinking about."
"Might have to take over a whole carriage," Vivi grinned. "or maybe book two compartments?"
"Y'know," Lucien tipped his head and examined the ceiling, "that might be a good idea, Vivi, especially if we can get them together."
"Want me to look into it?" she looked round the table.
"Oh, please," Jean nodded.
"Need to invest in a charabanc, doc," Bill laughed.
"Need something," Thomas agreed.
Jean knew it would be up to her, things like that usually were, neither Thomas nor Lucien were especially practical when it came to things like that.
The turned their attention to the baptisms, when and who would be there.
"The babies will be a little older than I would have liked," Jean mused, "but things got ahead of me."
"I think we were right to wait, love," Lucien smiled softly, "to have them done together is so much nicer, don't you think? Waiting until we knew what was happening to Millie and Jacob was the best thing to do."
"St Peter's, Jean?" Vivi raised a questioning eyebrow.
"That was where Peter was baptised," she confirmed, "I explained to Reverend Cross why we hadn't had Jennifer done, yet, and he understood."
"Father Moreton is still trying to get you to come back to Sacred Heart," Genevieve looked at Jean, "I told him it was not possible after he insulted you. He then implied that the children are …" she cleared her throat, "… I informed him that such outdated thinking was likely to have him defrocked."
"Blimey, ma!" Vivi coughed, "that's a bit strong, for you."
"I may be too old to change churches, Vivienne," her mother huffed, "but to me it is the same God however you choose to worship him. The children are none the worse for being raised Anglican." She tossed her head theatrically.
"Moreton's an old woman," Bill grumbled, "but I didn't know he stooped to insulting his congregation."
"He brought up a previous indiscretion," Jean mumbled.
"Ah," Bill understood, "more fool him. We were all young once."
They changed the subject and cleared away the table while Jean put the babies to bed and Genevieve settled the older two.
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They were sitting having an after dinner drink, chatting about this and that and nobody commented on Bill's arm draped over Vivi's shoulders. She had settled herself close on the couch encouraging him to be more the man she was used to in their respective homes. He knew he would have to leave, shortly, but he was rather comfortable physically and emotionally where he was. He heaved a sigh and shifted, "I should be going," he took his arm from Vivi's shoulders, she pouted, "duty tomorrow."
"Thanks for coming, Bill," Lucien stood, "and for agreeing to be a godfather …"
"Truth be told, doc," he stood up and offered his hand, "I'm looking forward to it."
"I'll show you out," Vivi jumped up and looked pointedly at Lucien.
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"You alright?" she murmured as they headed up to the door.
"Hm," he tipped his head to one side, "just a minute …" he turned and bent his head and kissed her. "Now I am."
"Bill?"
"Maybe we should come clean," he hummed, "not to the full extent," he continued in a whisper, "just that we're seeing each other?"
"I think they've guessed," she smiled, wrapping her arms round his neck, "but let's be quiet about it, eh?"
"Sure." He bent to her again but before he could kiss her there was a sharp rap on the door. They jumped apart and giggled. Vivi opened the door to reveal a young lad with an envelope.
"Telegram for Blake," he grinned.
Bill dug in his pocket for some coins and dropped them into his hand.
"Thanks, lad," he took the envelope and passed it to Vivi.
"Oh," she gasped as he closed the door, "pa! Ma! Uncle Pierre and Aunt Véro are on their way!"
"What!" Genevieve appeared at the other end of the hall.
Vivi waved the telegram. She looked up at Bill's puzzled face.
"Ma's brother and sister-in-law, they live in France. Wow!" she ran her hands through her hair.
"They did threaten," Jean laughed from the living room, "when we were there on our honeymoon."
"Does it say anything about a hotel?" Genevieve stared.
"Asks us to book one. They'll be arriving at the station at 11 on Sunday morning." Vivi looked back.
"Royal Cross?" Jean looked at Lucien, "if we had room here …"
"Yeah, silly us, having so many children," he grinned.
She nudged him, glad they had made the decision not to have any more.
"Somebody needs to pick them up," Genevieve hummed.
"I'll go," Lucien volunteered, "your car isn't big enough for Pierre, Vivi," he looked at her, "never mind him and Véro."
Bill frowned.
"Uncle Pierre is a blacksmith, Bill …"
"He makes two of Lucien, easily," Jean smiled, "a gentle giant. I'm glad we'll have the adoption out of the way."
"Yeah, we can have another celebration," Lucien looked hopeful.
Jean rolled her eyes, heaven only knew how she was going to get everyone round the table, perhaps she'd have to serve buffet style.
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Vivi organised a room at the hotel for her aunt and uncle and was at pains to inform them that M'sieur and Mme Ettienne spoke little to no English, they were French, but they would spend most of their time with the family.
"If you need us, call Dr Blake's residence, someone will be able to help," she smiled.
"Oh, yes, right," the receptionist cleared her throat. "I'm sure we'll manage."
Vivi left smiling and headed to her office.
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Nobody really took much notice of soldiers in Ballarat, there was a barracks, but this one was new. A major had been seen around, always with a sergeant in tow, and he was asking questions of Dr Lucien. Having no luck getting Munro to pass useful information he had decided to asked the local populace, like the postmaster, the barman at the Colonist's Club; but his biggest mistake was cornering Agnes Clasby one day after seeing her talking to Lucien in the street. He waited until Lucien had driven off before he stopped her.
"I don't know what your game is, young man," she looked him up and down, "but you leave him alone. He's a good man, has served his King and country, has been to hell and back and now serves his community. I don't know what you did …"
"I was in the same camp," he drew himself up, which didn't intimidate her in the slightest.
"Lose your wife?" she narrowed her eyes.
"Er, no, not married …"
"Patch up your men? Build a railway? …" she peppered him with questions, even those that didn't pertain to Lucien's time in the camp.
"No, I tried to escape," he inhaled.
"Ah, did it work? Did you get hurt?"
"I was captured …"
"Ah, I see, how many men did you get killed?"
The major thought he was the one who was supposed to be asking the questions – and that was one he wasn't going to answer. He'd led an escape attempt but only he had come back, badly injured, the others had all been either shot or beheaded.
"That will be all," he stepped to the side.
"What's your name, young man?" she grabbed his arm.
"Er, Alderton," he coughed and shook himself free.
"Leave him alone, Major Alderton, leave him to the peace he deserves." She walked off, head held high and thought she'd pop up to the house and let Lucien know a Major Alderton was asking questions. She considered herself a good judge of character and she didn't like him.
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"Oh," Lucien ran his hand over the back of his head. Agnes had waited until he had seen all his patients before speaking to him. "Well, of course I know him."
"He said he was in the same camp." She pursed her lips.
"He was, but he was always intent on escaping, but I don't know how far he would have got, he was more of a desk man; I'm not sure if he was any good at jungle warfare. The camp backed on to the jungle, y'see, that was the only way you wouldn't be seen – if you got out."
"Did he escape?"
"He was brought back, slash wound to the side, all the others who he dragged with him were slaughtered. Funny," he gazed upwards in thought, "he stopped trying then. I patched him up even though he said not to, he had nothing to live for." He stood up and looked out of the window behind his desk, "I knew him before the war, in Singapore, socially. Seemed to be a lonely man and I had Mei Lin and eventually Li, he didn't have anyone."
"Well, I just thought I'd warn you. I didn't like him." She huffed.
Lucien smiled, he trusted Agnes. "Thanks, Miss Clasby, I appreciate that."
He saw her out and went to think more about Derek Alderton.
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Once his wound had healed, Alderton stopped planning escapes. Lucien thought this was strange, when he had arrived he had insisted it was his duty, now he just wandered around the camp, getting on everybody's nerves. But Lucien had bigger things to worry about; how to get or make medication from what he had. Some of the men had worked out a way to make alcohol with some of the tiny rice rations they were given, he used that to knock out his patients, sterilise wounds and instruments, he used the rags their uniforms were reduced to as bandages until suddenly, one morning a parcel arrived outside his hut, bandages, from the Red Cross. He looked around for whoever had delivered them but couldn't see anyone except Alderton, sitting, watching …
Then there was the incident with the tin of pineapple. Nobody could have seen him, nobody in the camp, not even the guards. The store room was at the back of the camp, a tiny space between the back wall and the fence to the forest. Lucien had made his way, under cover of darkness, round the back of the huts and under some until he had got there. He used a knife fashioned from bamboo to dig a hole big enough for him to push his arm through and had grabbed the first thing he wrapped his fingers round. It was a tin of pineapple in juice, big enough for him to share with several others, a tiny slice of vitamin C, but more than they had had for months, he had been so careful so why had he been caught?
The only answer anyone could give him was that he had been dobbed in – someone had informed on him, but who? It had been a question he had asked himself, and it has to be said, many others in the camp, who would do that? All he did, all day and every day, and sometimes through the night, was tend injuries and wounds, offer solace and write letters for those that were dying, or had died. He didn't think he offended anyone, except his captors, he was too tired to bother offending anyone.
Looking back he remembered Alderton looking relaxed as he was dragged out of the box he had been held in for forty days, he didn't go and offer him water or rice alcohol, that was a timid little corporal whose broken legs he had set as best he could. Most of the inmates avoided this lad because he was easy for the guards to intimidate, but he worshipped Lucien, he was the one person he wouldn't give up. Was it a long leap to Alderton being the informant?
"Lucien!" Jean's voice, that lovely calming note, broke him from his musings. "Lucien!"
"Coming!" he called back.
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"Ah, there you are," she stood with her arms folded, "you should be collecting your father from the hospital."
"Oh, hell, is it that time already?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"I will apologise, grovelingly," he gave an embarrassed smile.
"You better had, he's done your rounds for you."
"I thought he'd like to see Miss Nell, after her appendectomy."
"I'm sure he had a lovely time," she huffed, "now, scoot, dinner's almost ready."
"Sorry, love, tell you later," he kissed her cheek.
She wondered what Agnes had had to tell him, it was nothing about Nell, she knew that because Agnes had told her so. It bothered him.
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The children had been put to bed and it was only the adults and Li that were left in the living room. Jean had worried that Li shouldn't be involved but Lucien hummed that she might remember Alderton so hiding it from her wasn't a good idea.
"I bet she can deck him," he grinned.
"So, what's it all about, Lucien?" Thomas sat back in his chair.
He told them all Agnes had said in the surgery and then all he remembered from his time in the camp and the times before when they had attended base social occasions.
"Do you remember him, Li?"
"Barely," she shook her head, "should I?"
"He came over to dinner, on the odd occasion …"
She tipped her head and thought. "I don't really remember anyone in particular, papa, but I was only six?"
"True," he mused. "He was a soldier, still is …"
"Oh, maybe," she hummed, "he was always smiling at mama."
"Ah," he hummed.
"Sorry, papa …" she frowned.
"You were very young, Li," he soothed, "I didn't really expect you to remember anything, not really."
"Perhaps if I see him around, it might remind me."
"Stay away from him, Li," Lucien warned. "I don't want you involved."
Li agreed that she would stay away from any soldiers she saw and keep herself safe.
"Lucien," Jean touched his arm, "we are in court, tomorrow."
"Oh, yes, um …"
"Shall I come too?" Li looked hopeful after the conversation about Alderton.
"No, er, Jean, could you ring Matthew, maybe she could go there, after school, keep Alice company."
"Ok," Li grinned, "I could do that. Maybe she can tell me about classics?"
"I think she'd welcome a change of face, if nothing else," Jean smiled. She got up and went to call Matthew.
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"What?" Matthew scratched his head. "Hang on, I'll speak to the boss."
Alice agreed it would be nice to see her. "I love you, Matthew, and I love that Genevieve and Lucien and sometimes Jean come and see me, but, I actually miss Li."
"Great, I'll let Jean know she can come straight from school."
He thought at least Li could make tea, and distract Alice from her current position.
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"You're on tea making duty," Jean returned to the sitting room, "keep Alice smiling."
"I'll do my best," Li smiled.
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There was nothing else they could do about Alderton so they just concentrated on making sure they had everything prepared for the morning.
"We'll walk down, with the pram and strollers," Jean hummed, "otherwise it's two taxis."
"A nice early morning walk," Genevieve smiled, "and Vivi has booked two compartments …"
"Lovely," Lucien smiled. "Did she say if Bill was still coming?"
"Stop fishing, Lucien," Jean chided, "but, yes, he is."
"Do you think he can add anything to the adoption?" Genevieve frowned. She liked Bill, she didn't mind if he and her daughter were close but … would it harm the adoption?
"As a character witness, probably." Thomas observed, "as a prospective son-in-law, highly likely."
"Father!" Lucien gasped.
"Thomas!" Jean and Genevieve shrieked.
"Well," he grinned, "seems obvious to me."
"Oh, I don't know," Lucien shook his head, "Vivi, marrying …?"
"She just had to find the right man," Genevieve smiled at Thomas, "it takes time, or that certain something to happen."
He smiled back, seeing that soft golden hair over the pale silk robe that he couldn't even remember the colour of – all he saw was her.
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Bill had finished his shift and changed into more casual shirt and trousers. He had slipped a change of clothes into a light holdall, grabbed a bottlebrush seedling and driven over to Vivi's bungalow.
"Hey," she greeted him, "how's things?"
"Improving by the second," he grinned. "Thought this bottlebrush would sit nicely behind the paper daisies in the corner," he raised the plant. She knew that even though she lived in a quiet secluded cul-de-sac it was always a good idea to make it seem he had just come over to tend the garden, even if it was just as he was leaving his own home.
"Will it wait 'til morning?"
"Days," he grinned and dipped to kiss her.
"Mmm," she hummed, wrapping her arms round his neck. "I've missed you."
"It's only been a day," he moved them both into the house and kicked the door closed.
"I'm impatient," she shrugged.
"Me too," he hummed, placed the plant on the floor and took her in his arms.
With his things brought in from his car they could close the door on the world and be just them.
She poured them a drink each and went to sit on the couch, for a kiss and a cuddle and maybe …
She pushed away from him, not to stop him and not in fear of what he would see, but the couch wasn't that comfortable when it came to 'adult activities'.
"Best get an early night," she hummed huskily, and held out her hand, "early train."
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Vivi came out of the bathroom and into the bedroom wearing a soft, silk, robe. It hung round her slender frame like a whisper, a cobweb. He had no doubt there was nothing underneath it, but it was up to her to show him.
"You really are lovely," he opened his arms to her, "come here."
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They drove down to the station to meet the rest of the family. Vivi had booked two compartments, as she had suggested, and the tickets were waiting for them.
The pram and stroller were stowed in the guard's van for the journey, which gave them more room in the compartments. Once the train was underway, Millie and Peter were allowed to go between their parents and grandparents, from one compartment to another, the babies were set on a blanket on the floor by Jean's feet.
They were due in court at ten in the morning and hoped they had timed it right to get everything done and then find somewhere that would accommodate them for a light lunch. Jean had brought something for the babies just in case, but they ate most things mashed up now.
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Lucien and Bill helped lift the children's transport up the steps at the court house while Vivi went to let the ushers know they were there for an adoption hearing.
"Ah," the usher looked down the list in the diary, "Blake, you say?"
"Yes, Dr and Mrs Lucien Blake to adopt Millicent and Jacob Rivers." She smiled, "My name is Vivienne Blake, I am their lawyer."
"Ah yes," he nodded knowingly, "Family Welfare mentioned you."
"They did, did they?" she smiled. "I hope they were kind."
"Hm," he gave a small smile, "this way, please." He raised his eyebrows at the number of people in the group.
"The children's grandparents," Vivi explained, "the other two children are their own."
"Ah," again he gave a knowing look. "You have judge Roylance," he opened a door, "if you would like to wait in here, I'll let him know you have arrived. You are first on the list."
"Thank you," Vivi gave a smile, she knew the judge and thought him a fair man who made sure he had a thorough knowledge of each case.
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They left the 'transport' outside the doors of the courtroom and walked in; Jean and Genevieve holding the babies and Millie and Peter holding Lucien and Bill's hands, Millie had chosen to hold Bill's hand, her future grandfather wasn't upset, it was more important she was comfortable.
Judge Roylance looked over his half-moon glasses and gave a little smile. They were well-dressed, the men in suits, the ladies in summer dresses, light jackets and hats, except for Miss Blake, who was dressed as she always did for work, a high-necked blouse with tie-collar, under a fitted navy blue jacket and slim fitting skirt – very professional. The children were clean and tidy, pressed shorts and shirts for the boys and pretty cotton dresses for the little girls.
"So," he smiled down from his desk, "quite a gathering."
"Extra eyes and hands, your Honour," Vivi hummed, "small children …"
"Quite, Miss Blake. Is there a representative from Family Welfare?" he looked around.
"Miss Brown has just arrived," the usher whispered, "trouble with the taxi, I believe."
"Ah," he nodded, "how on earth did you manage, I don't believe taxis are big enough for …" he waved his hand at the family.
"We walked," Lucien smiled, "pram and stroller for the little ones."
"Nice day for a walk," he agreed.
"Indeed."
Audrey Brown bustled in and apologised. "I should have caught an earlier train," she gasped, "good morning, your Honour," she smiled round at the Blakes, "doctors, ladies."
"Good morning, Miss Brown," Jean smiled.
"Good," the judge nodded, "shall we get on?"
And so the talked about how the children had come to Jean and Lucien, how they had progressed in the time and that Millie had fewer nightmares and called Jean and Lucien maman and papa, but, Jean explained this was probably copying Peter, and she called Genevieve mémé …
"How so?" Judge Roylance frowned.
"It's a French nickname for grandmother," Lucien explained. "My mother is French and speaks to the children in her own language – sometimes."
"Ah, a secret code, eh?" he laughed, "all children should have that with their grandparents, don't you think?"
"Well," Lucien smiled, "I speak French, Jean is …"
"I get by," she smiled.
"Lovely," he hummed. "It says here," he tapped the paperwork Family Welfare had sent, "that you had a second bathroom installed and there is an older child in the house?"
"My daughter, from my first marriage," Lucien nodded, hoping he wouldn't have to give a long drawn-out explanation of the family dynamics.
"Aha," he turned a page. "Miss Brown, what say you to this application?"
"Oh, your honour," she cleared her throat, "I think it is perfect for Millie and Jacob. Dr and Mrs Blake have really taken them to their hearts, and the older child, Li, is a lovely big sister."
"You didn't bring her with you, today?"
"No, she is at school."
"And going home to an empty house?"
"No, she is going to a family friend, Inspector Lawson and his wife, until we get home." Lucien informed him. "Her education is important, she missed a lot during the war."
Judge Roylance scanned down the page and noted Li's background. He hummed and turned the page.
"So, how do you propose to provide for these children?"
"Exactly as we will for Peter and Jennifer, our own children," Jean stepped forward, "they will be loved, they are loved, they will go to school, taught right from wrong and hopefully be set on the path to a fulfilling future."
"You have other children," he pointed at his papers.
"I do."
"A son in the army …"
She nodded, knowing what was coming.
"… another works in a factory here, but it says he is estranged from you."
"I have tried to reach out to him," she straightened her back, "it is his choice, not mine."
He made no comment.
"Miss Blake," he turned to Vivi, "I see that not only are you the family lawyer you are also Dr Lucien Blake's sister …"
"Your honour," she inclined her head.
"And you, sir," he looked at Bill.
"Sergeant William Hobart, your honour, Ballarat police."
"And what is your part in this … story?"
"I …" he cleared his throat, "I was the officer called into the Rivers' home on the night their mother was murdered. I'm also a friend of the family."
"Millicent seems comfortable with you." He noted Millie was still holding Bill's hand.
"Millie calls him 'nice man'," Vivi smiled, "we think she remembers him as the one that rescued her."
The judge scanned down the brief summing up of the night Saul Rivers went off the rails. "Bad business," he grumbled.
"Awful," Jean agreed.
"Sergeant Hobart was injured himself, in the fracas," Lucien stepped next to Jean, "but he didn't stop until Rivers was subdued."
"Do you have family of your own, Sergeant?"
"A sister and a niece," Bill nodded.
"I see."
"Right," he brought his papers together and stood up. "I should just like a quick work with Family Welfare and Miss Blake, in my chambers, please, ladies."
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"Sit, ladies, please," he waved his hand over the chairs in his chambers. "Now, Miss Brown …"
Audrey gulped.
"You say, in your recommendation, that these are the best people to adopt children. That they are good and kind, are able to provide for two extra mouths and, indeed, have not shown any difference between their own birthed children and the two that were – well – quite frankly – thrust upon them by Dr Lucien Blake himself."
"And I stand by that, your honour. At the time of the incident, Millie was traumatised, she had seen her mother brutally murdered, and her brother, used to being fed by his mother, refused a bottle in the hospital. Dr Blake, acted on instinct. His wife was already feeding their daughter herself and he thought she could take Jacob to her breast. She could, and she did, and all I see are two children who are thriving in their care."
"And the girl's closeness to Sergeant Hobart?"
"I am informed by Dr Blake, that it is a product of what she saw that night, a memory – Sergeant Hobart – went into the house and subdued her father, to his detriment, he was injured, off work for several weeks due to those injuries … I believe he had visited the house on occasion as Dr Blake treated those injuries, and Miss Blake had already helped his niece through a legal process."
"Miss Blake?"
"Sergeant Hobart's niece was the subject of libel, your honour, I prosecuted the offender, he was fined and ordered to pay compensation. As he is of a wealthy family, but has no personal wealth his father is paying Miss Simons' way through university and the lad is paying his father back through work."
"I see. So he visits your brother?"
Viv took a deep breath, "Sergeant Hobart and I are close …" she cleared her throat, "but this has nothing to do with this adoption request, your honour, my brother and his wife are well placed to raise these two children, they are not wealthy, but they have a good income from the surgery and police surgeon duties Lucien carries out. The children will want for nothing material and will be loved throughout their lives."
"Hm," he sat back and tapped his fingertips together, "I am happy to agree to the adoption, but, Miss Blake, I charge you as the legal representative of both children, whenever they need it, even if it brings you up against your brother."
Vivi thought this was reasonable, but she would be at Lucien's throat as soon as she saw anything untoward, nothing he did would get as far as court.
"Agreed, you honour." She nodded.
"I've read your brother's war record, Miss Blake, it is interesting, I feel for him, to have gone through all that and still find time to help the less fortunate. We need more men like him."
Vivi thought she agreed with that, that Lucien was one of the best.
"Perhaps we'd better give them the good news," he stood up, "ladies."
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In the main courtroom, the children had been entertained by the adults, singing and playing simple games while they waited for Roylance's decision. Jean was trying not to show how agitated she was but Genevieve was very much aware.
"Come, Jean," she held out her hand, "let's get some fresh air, I'm sure the boys can cope with the children."
Lucien took Jacob off her and Thomas took Jennifer and nodded to her.
"Go on, love," Lucien whispered, "we'll be fine."
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Outside Genevieve put her arm round Jean. "It will be fine, cherie," she soothed, "Audrey is confident, so is Vivi …"
"It's just …" Jean sniffed, "if they send them to the orphanage what will become of them?"
"They won't, Jean, they will stay with us, the little ones, I suspect the judge just wants to confirm what he already knows. You have been a mother to those two little mites since the moment Lucien brought them into our home, you have fed them, clothed them and loved them as if they are your own."
"They feel like my own, it just seemed right, that night and now I can't imagine the house, or our lives without them."
Genevieve rubbed her shoulders.
"Hey!" Bill came up behind them, "judge's back."
"Oh, right," Jean inhaled and straightened her back, ready to face the judge's decision.
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Vivi tucked the adoption certificates into her briefcase, shook the judge's hand and followed the family out of the court.
Jean was still reeling; having got ready to challenge the result of the hearing she had been left dumbstruck as he said he had no problem granting the adoption and wishing them good luck for the future.