Please note that I have quoted (with permission) almost all of chapter 1 of the story 'Charming' by Katinka31 (appears in italics)

After reading the chapter, I was inspired to continue the story myself and it fit in so perfectly with what I was already working on in 'Come After Me'.

Thankyou so much Katinka31.

Smoothing her wind blown Bob as best she could, Phryne Fisher entered the lobby of the Savoy, and paused to exhale. As thrilling as the journey had been in parts, the unexpected delays and her father's whinging had taken their toll, and she wished now for nothing more than to bask in the hotel's opulence. Having left her parents to their incoherent reunion, she could think only of inquiring for telegrams and then retreating to her room for a long, luxurious soak. Unconsciously, her hand drifted to her pocket, where a handful of such telegrams were gathered. Collected at various points along the way, they had both buoyed her spirits and sparked an even fiercer yearning for their sender.

Phryne reached the front desk and cleared her throat.

She had washed her face as best she could at the airfield's lavatory, but she knew she must still look a sight.

"Hello, might you have any messages for Miss Phr - " she began, before a deep voice broke in.

"If you're going to demand that I follow you, Miss Fisher, the least you can do is be on time."

Incredulous, Phryne whipped to her right, to the sight of a man seated in an armchair. His legs were languidly crossed, and long, elegant fingers held a newspaper in front of him. He lowered it slowly, until Phryne saw the face that had lingered in her thoughts in innumerable moments, over innumerable miles. His skin was more tanned than she'd seen before, setting off his blue eyes in a striking contrast.

"I'm fashionably late, Jack," she replied with a coy smile, holding back the compulsion to fling herself into the armchair as well. "Do you always acquiesce so nicely to demands?"

"I do on occasion, when they're charmingly given." He gave a small smile in return, looking utterly desirable, and a brief glance around the lobby confirmed to Phryne that hers were not the only female eyes with such thoughts. She had the sudden feeling that it had been far too long since she had done something scandalous in London.

"How did you - " she gestured with her hand, too tired to even form the question.

"Wartime connections, a good deal of luck and the fact that Uncle Ted left a bit more than his coin collection." He turned a page of his paper, briefly glancing up at her again. Though his actions might seem detached to the openly curious desk clerk who was looking on, the flash in Jack's eyes was unmistakable to her, and she was rapidly becoming more desirous to see it in closer quarters. "How were your travels?"

"The travels, lovely. The travelling companion, less so."

Jack folded the newspaper carefully and stood up slowly. He was so thankful to Mr Butler (again) for getting him here the same day as Miss Fisher; the look on her face was priceless! It was rare that he could get the drop on her like this and he was delighted.

Just for a second, she looked a little weary from her travels and it gave Jack an idea.

"Trust me, Miss Fisher." he said.

He put his hand at her back and gently guided her back to the front desk where the clerk was still watching them.

"May I speak to the manager, please?" Jack enquired.

"One moment."

As soon as the manager appeared, Jack led them to the side of the counter and leaned in for a private chat. He flashed his badge to the manager and explained.

"This is a delicate matter which I hope your reputation for discretion will uphold..."

The manager looked a little bored - 'not another man with his mistress thinking it's the worlds biggest scandal', he thought.

"Miss Fisher, here was recently the target of a crazed murderer back in Australia. Now we have the man who was hunting her down, but I need to check a few contacts in London to ensure that she is safe from any other family or associates the man may have had here."

The manager was suddenly much more attentive and looked at Miss Fisher in fright. He knew her reputation for scandal and did not doubt what he was being told for a second.

"Do you think.." The manager was interrupted by Jack's raised hand

"You and your staff will be perfectly safe," he continued. "He was after Miss Fisher." He pulled her into him a little bit, so that she was now leaning on him, his hand was still resting gently on her lower back and he was trying not to think about it.

Phryne allowed him to move her into place, wondering where this was leading. She was struggling to stay alert and his body felt so warm and comforting that she started to relax into it.

"She has just flown a plane from the other side of the world and will be suffering from exhaustion." Miss Fisher cottoned on to the ruse and dutifully looked weary (without much effort), leaning on both Jack and the counter. "I imagine she won't move from her bed for at least three days" Jack continued.

At that Phryne had to roll her head into his shoulder to mask a smile and stifle a giggle - three days!... Did he just say I'd spend three days in bed... with him?!

Jack smiled inwardly at her reaction, he was loving this. It was about time he got to play the provocateur.

"Now, I will need to stay close by for her protection, so I will camp out on the sofa in her room... And because I won't be there all the time while I am checking leads, I think it would be best if her name is left off the register - at least until she is refreshed and has her wits about her. Could you put a note in the register to say that her arrival has been delayed for a few days? That way, even if the madman's family does come looking for her, they will be turned away." Of course the manager didn't know that the madman's family was also her own...

'Oooh, clever Jack!' She thought, he's making sure no one interrupts us (finally)!

"Of course Sir!" The manager couldn't have been more keen to help. He certainly didn't want madmen wandering about the hotel!

Phryne was impressed at how well Jack was spinning this tale but she was getting restless. She yawned loudly and looked sleepily up at the Inspector. Both men looked at her as though they'd forgotten she was there.

"Um... Who shall I say is in the room?" The manager asked.

"Put it under my name... They won't go looking for me... But for the sake of the staff and our reputations, I guess you'd better put Mr & Mrs Robinson."

Miss Fisher nearly choked on that one. She felt him grip her waist tightly & knew she had to keep it together just a little bit longer. She decided to end this game.

Feigning complete exhaustion, Miss Fisher promptly collapsed into the Inspector's arms.

He wasn't expecting that and nearly dropped her.