How Phryne got her title. (Re-written)
For this loose end, I created a family tree for Phryne. I decided that both Phryne's parents and Aunt Prudence were English, and that Aunt Prudence and Phryne's mother were cousins, as Prudence has never referred to her as other than "family". I gave Phryne's age as 38, in line with TV Phyrne, not 28, as with book Phryne. I also wanted Phryne to have her formative years in England, absorbing the ways of the aristocracy. The first novel "Cocaine Blues" actually starts with Phryne in England. The Family tree is at the end of this chapter. The money issue is c/o Downton Abbey! The men's names: sorry, could not resist! Everything else is total fiction. If you are confused, feel sorry for Jack!
I referenced Wikipedia for the titles. wiki/Forms_of_address_in_the_United_Kingdom
One evening the following week, Jack arrived to Phryne's house for dinner. He was surprised to see Aunt Prudence there. He had not been told she would be dining with them. He was, however, an officer and a gentleman.
"Mrs Stanley, how nice to see you again!"
"My dear Inspector, You are a sight for sore eyes!" said Aunt Prudence, clasping his hand.
"Is anything the matter?" asked Jack, sitting down.
"No, Inspector, not at all. Phryne and I have had the whole day sorting out the Morgan Family Trust, which means we had a little too much of each other in one sitting. But now you are here, we can have some fresh conversation at the dinner table!"
"Ah, Yes," said Jack, wondering where Phryne was.
"The Morgan Family Trust" continued Aunt Prudence regardless, "is in relation to my family. My father moved us out to Australia in my school years. That's how I managed to wield so much influence into getting young Jane into Warleigh Grammar!
As I was saying, I was a Morgan prior to my marriage to my dear Edward. Of course, we started it with the money that was my dowry. Edward thought I should keep it aside. He arranged to have a regular allowance paid to it. I kept it as my own bank account, to build up a trust fund."
Jack nodded politely. He could see Jane lurking in the doorway, obviously not wanting to come in!
Aunt Prudence did not even draw breath! "My family estate was very modest; it was only at my dear Edwards insistence that we set up the trust for me and the next generation. But it was a godsend for all; Edward was so knowledgeable in these matters. He was insistent that I have my own income "just in case". Well, I used it for small investments, but it did have other uses!"
Jack smiled, he saw Dot whisk past the door.
"You see, after Edward and I married and we decided to remain in Australia, I was able to use the Trust to give an allowance to Phryne's mother Janet -my dear cousin, after she and dear Harold arrived. Harold of course, was having little income and no idea how to earn it! Throughout the early years of their marriage, it enabled her to have a little money of her own. It was money that Harold could not get his hands on you see, so they were able to live with a little dignity. It did keep them from being destitute."
"Yes" said Jack accepting a generous glass form Mr Butler, who also presented Aunt Prudence with a full sherry glass. Jack looked up in hope of a word, but Mr Butler had already left. Still no sign of Phryne!
"So when dear Harold was re-instated to the bosom of his family, they were not quite on the street. I was able to help Janet a little, being cousins so far from our families. But it was discreetly done of course."
"Of course"
"And now we are considering winding up the Morgan Family Trust. Technically I should be deceased, but at least we can put all the plans in place."
"Of course, Excuse me!" Jack escaped to the kitchen, and found Phryne having a large whiskey on the back porch.
"Phryne" said Jack "Aren't you supposed to be entertaining your Aunt in the parlour?"
"I've been with her all day," Phryne whispered, "I just wanted a little breathing time!"
"Breathing time is over!" said Jack as he put an arm around her and walked her into the parlour.
"Look who I found in the kitchen!" he smiled
"I was just on my way back, Aunt P" said Phryne "I am sure you were entertaining Jack beautifully."
"As always, my dear, as always" said Aunt Prudence.
Mr Butler announced dinner, and as they moved to the table. Jack seated Aunt Prudence.
Aunt Prudence continued "So, thankfully I can pass the reins to Phryne to manage when I go. I don't think that dear Janet will be returning to Australia, not while Harold has the Baronetcy and they're without an apparent heir."
Jack gave Phryne a quizzical look as he pulled out her chair. Phryne chose to only look at the chair.
Dot helped Mr Butler serve the soup.
"Hello Miss Williams," said Jack, "I haven't seen you in a while."
"I've been very busy helping Mr Butler" said Dot and retreated!
Aunt Prudence continued "As I was saying Inspector, Phryne will administer the remainder of the trust for herself and Arthur. We have re-negotiated it, so that they can receive the Morgan Family money, and then most of the inheritance from the Stanley family will benefit Guy. It should be enough to keep him in the Home Country for some time."
As sip of soup, a moment of silence.
"Of course the Morgan Family Trust is not intended to continue after this generation. Arthur, of course, won't have children, and Guy shall be able to support his own offspring, which leaves only Phryne, and my dear Phryne, I think you have just about missed that boat!"
Jack choked on his soup. "I'm sorry Mrs Stanley; I did not expect that topic at the dinner table."
Aunt Prudence did not notice. "It is just as well that young Jane is not present. The Morgan Family Trust will naturally exclude her as she is not Phryne's natural daughter. You will have to make separate arrangements for her, dear Phryne".
"I have already considered that Aunt Prudence" said Phryne, as Mr Butler changed courses.
"Wards usually have separate funds set aside for them" Aunt Prudence told Jack, 'It stops free loaders getting their hands on the families money! Of course, Phryne should remember this because of her uncle and that common law marriage of his!"
"He was my great uncle and they married in Scotland. Hardly illegal!" said Phryne
"They were married by an Anvil Priest in Gretna Green. It was not legal as seen by the church or the laws of England."
"Only by the laws of Scotland" said Phryne rolling her eyes.
"Yes, well, you were very lucky your own parent's marriage was not deemed as common law."
"They were legally married by their local church in front of witnesses!"
"Only because the priest was good friend of your fathers!" said Aunt Prudence, and made a drinking motion with her hand.
"Why is this important?" asked Jack, before he could stop himself.
Phryne glared at Jack, for encouraging Aunt Prudence. Aunt Prudence launched herself into a full description of Phryne's family tree
"Inspector, the lie of the land was that dear Harold, Phryne's father, was a third son of a third son and not likely to inherit the title, with many others in line before him. He was a bit of a "young man about town", as they say!"
"A family trait perhaps." said Jack trying to avoid Phyrne's kick under the table.
"Yes, well, he got the title eventually" said Aunt Prudence not registering what else was going on. "There were a few unfortunate deaths, as well as the great war, the Boer War and some who did not marry. Which one was that Phryne?
"Reynard" said Phryne, "Brother to Serious"
"Most unfortunate names! One of them died duelling, such a waste of time!" said Aunt Prudence "And then there was that Percival's common law son, another Arthur. He died in the war; the title would have gone to him if he had been recognised"
"Why was he not recognised?" asked Jack and was rewarded with a glare from Phryne and a disdainful look by Aunt Prudence. "I said that he was from that common law marriage, Inspector!"
"Right" said Jack, focusing on his dinner.
"Apparently there was quite a legal to-do about all that. He settled for an allowance in the end. But to no avail, the silly man went to war and never came back!"
"Quite a few of us went to war" said Jack affronted.
Aunt Prudence waved that minor detail away!
"The title eventually went to my grandfather instead" said Phryne, diverting the issue.
"A short holding" said Aunt Prudence, "Only eight years, poor George!"
"Frederick" corrected Phryne.
"Well that's what you get if you go to war with only daughters for offspring!"
"That was his grandson James" said Phryne. "My cousin"
"Yes. He had daughters. What were their names Phryne?"
"I can't remember, Miss Pointless and Miss Irrelevant, I think!" muttered Phryne
"Don't be snippy Phryne, I am sure they will make satisfactory marriages one day!"
"I think they are only a little older than Jane, Aunt. It's a bit early to marry them off just yet!"
"It's never too late to start enquires. Not all young women want to gad about like you do."
Phryne rolled her eyes at Jack, who tried not to laugh!
"Where was I?" said Aunt Prudence, "Ah, Yes, Phryne's grandfather: George"
"Frederick!"
"I stand corrected, Frederick and dear Harold was his youngest and not in line, so he and dear Janet shipped themselves off to the Antipodes!"
"Why did they choose to come to Australia?" asked Jack, finishing his dinner.
There was a silence, until Aunt Prudence said "It was the wish of his father, after their unadvised "elopement!" You see Inspector; dear Janet came from a good family, but not landed gentry, if you know what I mean!"
"Ah" said Jack, with a knowing air (In truth he was totally unknowing). Phryne glared at him.
"Of course I was already here, with Edward. So I suppose it was easier to immigrate to a country where there was already a family member. Very useful for when one needs something! Harold was always in need of something that was foldable!
However, after his father died, Harold was invited to return to the family fold. Of course he remained married to Janet and there was Phryne, although they had lost poor Jane by then!"
Jack looked at Phryne, she was looking down at her plate. She still felt the loss of her sister. Jack reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Aunt Prudence must have noticed this, for she reached for Phryne's other hand and said "Her loss is still greatly felt my dear."
"Back to Harold" said Jack, changing the subject and releasing Phryne's hand.
"Harold" said Aunt Prudence. "Harold, Janet and Phryne put themselves on a boat to return themselves back to the family. Of course, the deal was that they had to get themselves there first, so I think they went second class. How old were you Phryne?"
"I was 13. It was 1904." said Phryne with a wan smile. "Steerage!" she muttered to the ceiling!
"Someone had died in the Boer war, and then a number of young men died in the last war, except for that one who died of a unfortunate bowel! The one with the Irish name."
"Seamus"
"A flight of fancy that choice! So that left only Harold to inherit. Of course, there will be a search for the next candidate, as Phryne is Harold's only surviving child."
"And girls can't inherit of course" said Jack.
"No, they don't count in a baronetcy"
"But Miss Fisher has a title." said Jack
"Oh yes, an honorary title, which she shall be able to keep, but that's all!"
"I'm confused" admitted Jack
"It's quite simple Inspector, all the daughters of a Baron have an honorary title. When Phryne marries – if anyone will have her - she can retain her title, combined with her married name. But she may lose her income from the estate; although, Harold may spend it first, of course!"
"Why will she lose her income?" asked Jack, not sure if he was opening a new bag of snakes into the conversation!
"Because the responsibility of her upkeep is passed onto her husband! This is ensuring that young ladies with tiles only marry upwards; otherwise some gold digger could marry them for money. Of course, most titled young ladies cost so much to maintain, that only a rich man will have them! I don't expect you to understand Inspector" said Aunt Prudence patting Jack's hand, "You would not have seen half the things in Phryne's bedroom!"
Phryne had a coughing fit.
Aunt Prudence was attacking her dessert, which was a sherry trifle. Jack hoped Mr Butler had been liberal with the sherry!
"Harold could, if he chooses to, continue to give Phryne a dress allowance when she marries, but that is his choice. But when Harold passes, the next holder of the title can choose to cut Phryne out altogether, married or not. That is why; Phryne dear, young ladies like you and your distant cousins need a lofty marriage, because all incomes from the estate may drop considerably when your good father and his generosity pass from this world! But, as I said, Harold may have spent it by then!"
She paused, "It's still not too late for you dear Phryne! Some energetic man may choose to go down on his knees one day! Of course he may not be that young, considering all things!"
Jack tried not to laugh.
Phryne was also biting her lip, but she cleared her throat and said, "Thankfully Father and Mother are still hale and hearty, and I have made my own investments to keep myself and Jane for a long time to come!"
"Very wise my dear" said Aunt Prudence. "At your age, the choice of men is limited!"
….
Later that night, as Phryne lay in Jack's arms, she said "Can you believe how much Aunt Prudence talks about the Fisher family tree. She knows so much about it, you would think it was her family!"
All Jack said was "Hmm"
"And all the palaver about common- law marriages and elopements! All those were legal, just because they did not have the whole church with a village choir!"
"Hmm"
"And contrary to what Aunt Prudence said, my father did have a job! Sometimes!"
"Hmm"
"And Aunt Prudence never referred to Father as "Dear Harold" until he inherited the Title!"
"Phryne!"
"And all that rubbish about me not getting married, what rot!"
Jack sighed. "Miss Fisher, I believe I am in your bed for two reasons. We have addressed the first one, and now I would like to address the second, which would involve sleep! I have to leave before dawn to keep your reputation intact and me sane!"
"I can't believe you are still addressing me as Miss Fisher, Jack!"
"I could call you a lot worse if I don't get enough sleep!" He pushed her on to her side and spooned in behind her, his leg hair tickling the back of her thighs. Phryne wriggled a little.
"Phryne!" was the stern response.
Phryne giggled, but relaxed and let sleep overtake them.
TITLES: wiki/Forms_of_address_in_the_United_Kingdom
If a daughter of a peer or courtesy peer marries another peer or courtesy peer, she takes her husband's rank. If she marries anyone else, she keeps her rank and title, using her husband's surname instead of her maiden name.)
Position (Courtesy) Baron's daughter
On envelopes The Hon Mary Smith
Oral address Madam or Miss Smith
Position (Courtesy) Baron's daughter (married to a commoner)
On envelopes The Hon Mrs Brown (Husband Surname)
Oral address Madam or Mrs Brown
FAMILY TREE: Baron Fisher
Generation 1
WILLIAM Fisher 1800-1895 BARON 1865-1895 m. Harriet
Had three sons : 1. Charles, 2. Percival 3 Frederick (Generation 2)
Generation 2
Charles 1825-1882 m. Caroline. Had 2 sons 1. Reynard, 2. Serious. (Gen 3)
Percival 1828-1992 m.1. Marguerite had 2 daughters. M.2. Anne (eloped) Had son Arthur.
Frederick 1832-1903 BARON 1895-1903 m. Annabelle. Had three sons, 1. George, 2. Ronald 3. Harold.
Generation 3 (Charles' family)
Reynard 1850-1875 (died in duel. Not married)
Serious. 1852-1892 m. Penelope, 3 daughters
Daughters
Generation 3 (Percival's family)
Daughters
Arthur. (Not recognised) 1875-1915 (WW 1)
Generation 3 (Frederick's family)
George 1855-1901 (Boer War) m. Matilda. Had 2 sons. James BARON 1903-1919, Peter
Ronald 1860-1910 (Carriage accident) m. Charlotte. Had 3 sons: Neville, Dean, Seamus
HAROLD 1865- m. Janet 1887 Emigrated to Australia 1887 Returned to England 1904 BARON 1919- Had 2 daughters, Phryne, Jane
Generation 4 (George's family)
1. JAMES 1880-1919 (ww1) BARON 1903-1919 m. Katherine , 2 daughters
2. Peter 1882-1902 (Fell of Horse)
Generation 4 (Ronald's family)
Neville 1885-1914 (ww1)
Dean 1889-1915 (ww1)
Seamus 1892-1905 (bowel obstruction)
Daughter
Generation 4 (Harold's family) BARON 1919-
PHRYNE 1890
Jane 1892-1902