He wondered if she knew. After all, she seemed to know everything else.
He loved her. Even though she was without a doubt the most infuriating person he had ever met. She was always there, especially when he was trying desperately hard to get her out of his head. He was married; he couldn't just ignore that. At least he knew she respected him for not giving up on it. She thought he was an honourable man.
He tried to be an honourable man, but when she swanned off to supper with Mr Lin, the emotions coursing through him weren't honourable. He was jealous, even though he had no right to be: she wasn't with him, and he was meant to be with his wife. All the same, it bothered him that she would most likely spend the night with such a dubious character. He supposed though, that it was her life and that she did live every single moment of it to the full and if Mr Lin could make her happy… It still hurt though. He had almost lost her. The thought of her lying cold and still in the morgue sent a shiver through him. She would never belong there. She was too full of life. It saddened him to think that she felt the need to steep her days in violence and death. There had been far too many close calls already, so many times when she could have died and she brushed it off. Lost in the thrill of the chase as she meshed her wits against not only the killers, but him too.
He tried to tell her how he felt, what he wanted – needed, but too often his pride got in the way. Not that she wasn't just as proud as, and even more stubborn than, him. He couldn't imagine his life without her now, but he supposed it must be frightfully dull without her quick wits, bravery and beauty. For she was truly beautiful, inside and out; as she quested for justice, everything she touched seemed to blossom. His sudden fondness for operetta was entirely her fault. He was certain his name had never sounded so lovely until she had said it or that her own name had been so wonderful until he knew it was hers.
He tried not to say her name too much: afraid that it would give him away, but when she was hurt, he couldn't help himself. It just slipped out as if it wanted to be free, just as uninhibited and free as she was.
Yes. Jack was utterly besotted by Miss Phryne Fisher. She had probably made him so on purpose too!
