A/N - My first MFMM fan fic. There is so much really good fic for this wonderful show out there already that I hesitated to throw my hat in the ring. But the dynamic between Phryne and Jack is so tantalising I couldn't resist. Not exactly sure where this is going yet (I never map out any of my stories, and it works for me – the fun is finding where the characters take me!), but Phryne will tease Jack mercilessly, Jack will resist Phryne reluctantly (at least for now) and somewhere along the way a crime will be solved.

Hope you enjoy it, and let me now what you think. Thanks for reading.

A VERY SMALL DECEPTION

Chapter One – An Insignificant Detail

Detective Inspector Jack Robinson surreptitiously flicked a tiny bead of sweat from his upper lip. His expression froze, shock tinged ever so slightly with fear. He blinked slowly and drew in a shallow breath to steady his nerves, but awareness of the danger he was in coiled his body with tension. The fight or flight response kicked in and he spoke quietly through stiff lips, keeping his eyes locked dead ahead.

"Miss Fisher, kindly remove your hand from my thigh."

Phryne Fisher's smile curved into a moue of regret, and she leaned in closer to her partner's cheek, her breath fanning his lips as she whispered, "Why, Jack," she purred, "I do believe you're blushing." She paused and watched with amusement as his eyes widened slightly when her hand inched further up his leg. "There's really no need to be so coy. After all, we are newlyweds."

Three Days Earlier …

Mr Butler and Dot were sat at the kitchen table, the comfortable silence between them keeping time with the ticking of the mantle clock. While Dot's eyes devoured the butter stained pages of her precious copy of The John Bull Prize-Winning Cake Recipe Book, Mr Butler was industriously using a stub of pencil to make his particular brand of hieroglyphics next to the racing column of that morning's Sun News-Pictorial. They were both contented to be so employed for now.

The sound of a key turning in the front door disturbed the peaceful tableau and spurred them to action. Miss Fisher was home, bringing with her the movement and light that invariably followed in her wake.

Within moments the kitchen table had been cleared, jackets donned and hair patted into place, and Dot and Mr Butler were both stood smiling at the front door as it opened and their mistress entered in a cloud of Mitsouko.

Unsurprisingly, Miss Fisher was mid-sentence, her laugh unconcerned as she spoke over her shoulder to her companion. She smiled widely in greeting at Dot as she divested herself of coat and handbag, murmuring quiet thanks to Mr Butler as he took them from her. Without taking a breath she began issuing instructions to Dot, an edge of unrestrained excitement to her voice.

"Can you pack a couple of suitcases for me Dot? Enough for a week or so, at least. Nothing too extravagant, just some nice comfortable clothes for a few days in the country."

A groan heralded her companion into the house. Also unsurprisingly, it was Jack Robinson who entered the hallway on her heels, his face a picture of exasperation.

"Really, Miss Fisher, I'm beginning to wonder whether you have a hearing impediment. For the final time, you are not coming."

Phryne stopped and turned to look at him through narrowed eyes, her voice cooler, but still with an edge of humour. "Why Inspector, I don't believe you can do anything to stop me. The last time I checked I was a free woman, independent of means with no external inhibition on my movements."

Jack's pressed his lips together angrily, making a line only saved from being harsh by the chiselled shape that defined them. He glanced at Dot and Mr Butler hoping for support, but met only serene facial expressions. Although neither had a clue as to what the argument between their employer and the inspector was about, they had ample experience in calm acceptance of whatever Miss Fisher's latest escapade might entail, and it would not even enter their minds to question her decisions.

"Tea in the drawing room, Miss Fisher?" Mr Butler enquired blandly, ignoring the familiar frisson of tension that was building between the new arrivals. He flashed a wry glance at Dot, who bit down on a smile and turned away to set about the task she had been given.

"Thank you. That would be lovely." Phryne led the way, confident that Jack would follow her.

He waited politely until she was seated, before launching another attack. Taking a step further into the room, he held out his hands palms up in appeal.

"Miss Fisher, there is simply no place for you in this investigation - "

Whatever imprecation Phryne muttered under her breath was lost in the rest of Jack's summary ruling. He ignored the interruption and continued in a weary voice, "- as I have explained to you already, numerous times. I am involved in an undercover operation that has taken weeks to set up. My cover has already been decided. The circumstances surrounding - "

"Then we will simply change your cover story." Phryne cut through his words impatiently, waving her hand in the air to dismiss any objections, "It's an insignificant detail." Her voice dropped. "Jack, I must be there with you. You know we work better when we're together." Jack appeared to be weakening, acknowledging that fact with the hint of a rueful grin that was wiped off his face with her next words. "Nothing could be easier. We can tell everyone I'm your blushing bride."

Jack flung himself a little petulantly into a handy wing backed chair, ignoring her preposterous proposal as being a total flight of fancy.

"Phyne, you never cease to amaze me. The things you come out with!" Jack shook his head and scrubbed his hands over his face, unwittingly messing his hair so that it fell a little rakishly over his brow. He hadn't even noticed he'd slipped into using her first name, such was his frustration at her pig-headedness.

Phryne decided she rather liked both the look and the way he said her name, but refrained from making comment about either. She waited for him to continue, confident that whatever impediment he thought he was putting in the way of her participation could be easily overcome. The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher was not accustomed to letting anything get in the way of what she wanted.

When he didn't speak immediately, Phryne decided to push her advantage and rose to approach him, her face earnest. "Besides, I know these people far better than you."

That brought his head up. "What do you mean?" His eyes narrowed with suspicion, "Miss Fisher, you don't actually know anyone there, do you?"

Phryne looked away evasively and shrugged. "I may be acquainted with the second son of the family."

When Jack finally looked at her his smile was smug. "Well that settles it."

"What ever do you mean?" She eyed him suspiciously. Jack had an ace up his sleeve, she could tell.

"Phryne, my cover is the new gardener at the Morrison's Estate. I can guarantee no-one you are acquainted with would ever believe you -" His eyes swept from her satin clad toes to the jewelled headband on her head, an appreciative gleam softening the reality of his words, "- were my wife."

For the first time that afternoon, Phryne lost a little of her aplomb at the sight of the self serving grin on her partner's face. But she rallied nonetheless.

"Oh, Jack, never underestimate my abilities." With that she gave him an insouciant smile and sashayed to the drawing room door, calling up the stairs, "Cancel the packing, Dot. We're shopping off the rack."

Short, but sweet, I hope. Thanks for reading! Review if you have the time - it feeds my little writerly soul.