PART FOUR - Wooden Spoon

Jane rubbed her itching eyes with a disappointed sigh. She had really hoped to finish this book tonight, but the clock on her bedside table told her it was well past midnight, and Jane knew she really should sleep in order to do well in her classes tomorrow.

Feeling stubbornly awake however, she knew that sleep would not come easily.

So instead of lying back into her pillows and turning out the lamp as Dot had told her to do some hours ago, Jane sat up and slipped out from under the covers. Her bare feet padded across the large rug that covered the floor and, as quietly as she could, she opened the door and slipped out into the hall.

She navigated the dark with ease, taking the smaller back staircase that lead almost directly to the kitchen.

Without flicking a switch or making a sound Jane found herself a clean glass and the half full bottle of milk from the refrigerating machine. She poured herself some and was about to replace the bottle and return to her bed when she heard a sound.

It was Miss Phryne's voice, Jane realised after a moment; she must still be entertaining the Inspector.

He had come to dinner, and afterward when Mr Butler had cleared away their plates Phryne had taken him to the parlour and Jane had moved upstairs to her book.

Without really thinking about it Jane stood, leaving her glass of milk behind as she padded from the kitchen and through the dining room. The doors to the parlour were open, and light flooded into the entrance way. Jane hid behind the dining room door and peered out.

Miss Phryne was sitting with the Inspector on the chaise. They were as close together as they could possibly be, Jane thought. In fact it was as though they couldn't bare to part even for a moment.

The Inspector's hands were at Miss Phryne's neck, tracing what looked like a small trail of bruises down one side. Miss Phryne sighed and the Inspector pulled her forward until their lips met.

As the couple kissed, Jane saw Miss Phryne's hands reach for the Inspector's tie. She pulled the knot free, casting the tie away before her hands moved to the buttons on the Inspector's waistcoat. Her fingers fumbled clumsily, however, as the Inspector lowered a hand from Miss Phryne's neck to grasp at her breast.

Jane flushed at the sight and ducked back behind the door. She really should go upstairs she thought. She should have her milk and go to bed - though sleep really did not seem likely anymore.

Biting her lip, curiosity got the better of her. Jane slowly turned and peaked out from behind the door once more.

The Inspector's jacket had been removed, and it hung over the armrest of the chaise, the sleeves dangling to the floor. His hands were on both of Miss Phryne's breasts now, and Jane couldn't help but stare as he squeezed them.

Jane liked to think of herself as an educated girl. She did well in school, and studied hard. She read all kinds of books, even some Miss Phryne had informed her were technically banned. And on matters of sex, well, Jane was not an idiot. She had been living with Miss Phryne long enough to know that sex was at times pleasurable, and something a woman should be allowed to choose or deny for herself. But she'd never found any interest in it. Reading about the biology of it in her textbooks, or the rather silly tales in that novel by D.H Lawrence, they hadn't done anything for her other than perhaps make her realise she was perfectly content to wait until she decided to marry.

Even that informative conversation with Miss Phryne a few months ago about boys and love and how her stomach had felt all wobbly around Kip in Queenscliff hadn't made her want to explore her sexuality. She hadn't managed to bring herself to even unwrap the hand mirror Miss Phryne had gifted her with.

But now… well. Now she could see Miss Phryne's hand in the Inspector's lap. She could see it stroking along the front of his trousers, until something began to from inside them. Long and firm, the educated part of Jane's mind told her exactly what that was. She knew the biology of a man's genitalia, she knew that to perform sexual intercourse the man first had to become aroused and erect, but never before had Jane ever seen it.

A loud guttural groan escaped the Inspector's throat and Jane stifled a squeak, hiding quickly behind the door with wide eyes.

Quickly she retreated, rushing back to the kitchen and stopping only to take her glass of milk from the table. Jane returned to her room and, in effort to clear her mind of what she had just done, she opened her book once more.

Downstairs Jack pulled away from Phryne to frown at her curiously.

"What's the matter, Phryne?" he asked, stroking her cheek softly.

Phryne tore her eyes away from the dining room door. "What?" she asked, she met Jack's concerned gaze but quickly dropped it again, "It's nothing," she murmured.

Her eyes flickered back to the door over his shoulder, and she felt a slight flush begin to creep along her cheeks.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Jack." She brought her attention back to him, sliding her hands along his thighs, "Where were we?"

The night drew on and Jane lay in her bed, resolutely ignoring the sounds from the parlour as she forced herself to read her book. She did not stop until she couldn't keep her eyes open a moment more and when Jack and Phryne retired upstairs, half dressed and sated, it was with a red face that Phryne saw the light still on under Jane's bedroom door.