Chapter One
As the Strathaird drew in to Melbourne, there was the usual crowd of friends and family waiting to greet her. Detective Inspector Jack Robinson and The Hon Phryne Fisher stood at the rail and looked for any of the 221B family on the dockside; she in front, he flanking her, his hands beside hers on the railing. No-one, to glance at them, would be in any doubt as to the nature of their relationship.
"See anyone, Jack?" she asked.
"Well, yes – a few hundred folk, but I can't immediately see … wait, isn't that Mr Butler? Over there, on the right? At the very edge of the crowd?"
She looked where he directed, and saw what he saw – and more.
"Bert and Cec – and they've brought the taxi as well as the Hispano. We might get all the trunks home in one trip. Hallelujah!" She looked harder. "No Mac, though – must be working – and no Dot, that I can see. Your Senior Constable's conspicuous by his absence too, Inspector. I hope you're not too upset." She went silent, and he glanced at her – he, too, was surprised that Mrs Collins had not come to greet her mistress home.
"I'll live," Jack replied easily. He glanced at her sideways. "Strange about Mrs Collins. Maybe she's getting the house ready?"
"Mmm" Phryne replied, patently unconvinced, and with a hint of worry crossing her features. "Let's just say I'm looking forward to getting home even more now." She met his glance. "Are you coming with us?"
"Yes, if I may?" he replied instantly. "I know we're trying to keep what we have …." that little half-smile played on his lips for a moment, "quiet, but this is … your family. They're bound to find out eventually; and …" he scanned her upturned face, "I'd like them to know. I think it will be good to be able to avoid pretence with the people we trust the most."
He was rewarded with the sort of smile that made him regret the fact that they were in such a public place. Backing away from the rail, he reached for her hand and said, "We should go and double check we haven't left anything in the cabin, shouldn't we?"
She started to disagree, then caught his eye, and agreed it was very important that they double check they hadn't left anything in the cabin.
They both went to double check that there wasn't anything left in the cabin. With the door firmly closed, and Jack leaning his weight against it. The fact that his eyes were closed might not have been particularly helpful to the hunt for their belongings, but Phryne found no cause to object. In fact, she found his example so sensible that she followed it. And had to completely reapply her lipstick afterwards, while he found himself having inexplicably to remove some. They both agreed Luscious Rose wasn't precisely his shade.