A/N: Hi everyone, I hope you're enjoying the story so far. I'm thoroughly enjoying writing it, and am aiming to update about twice a week. Apologies for another long chapter, if they are too long please do let me know. As always, any criticism/comments/advice is greatly appreciated.
I hope you're all having a lovely weekend. Happy reading!
HQ21
It was a cool mid-November evening in Melbourne, and Phryne remained at home recuperating, considering how slowly last week had seemed to pass since she was discharged from the hospital. After having arrived home on Thursday morning and spent a rather wonderful evening with Jack, which ended all too soon when Mr B knocked on the door to announce a telephone call from her anxious aunt, Phryne had awoken the next morning feeling rested and relaxed. The morning passed with a natural calmness which she found herself unusually grateful for, spending the majority of the morning with Dot in the parlour, as she opened the beautiful edition of the book Jack had given her the night before. Before she reached the fifth chapter Mr B knocked on the parlour door and announced a telephone call for Phryne, who sighed audibly, expecting it to be another call from her aunt. Mr B sensed her frustration and quickly informed her that it was actually Jane calling from boarding school. Phryne checked the time and, finding that it was only just after eleven o'clock in the morning, felt her stomach clench with fear at what could prompt her ward to call her in the middle of the school day. Phryne rose instantly from the couch and headed out into the corridor, picking up the receiver and speaking with Jane. She closed her eyes in relief and felt her whole body relax as the child announced that she was hoping that Phryne would allow her to return home for the weekend. Phryne smiled into the phone and nodded, assuring Jane that she would arrange for Bert and Cec to pick her up at the end of her lessons. Jane was elated. And so was Phryne.
Jane arrived in the late afternoon, and greeted Phryne with a relieved hug which was so tight that Dot had to intervene, seeing the pain across her employer's face, which she had attempted to conceal. Jane leapt back and apologised, and Phryne reassured her instantly, leading her into the parlour for some refreshments before dinner. Jane and Phryne spent the weekend together, with the child not wishing to leave her side for a moment longer than was absolutely necessary. Phryne sat down with Jane on Saturday evening and spoke to her candidly; she was fourteen years old, very intelligent and highly perceptive, and so omitting large chunks of the truth from her would be folly. She assured her that she was perfectly fine, that Mac was more than happy with her progress so far, and that she was being attended by her physician friend daily. This, combined with Phryne's warm and confident disposition, reassured Jane immeasurably; her guardian appeared perfectly the same as she had done when she last saw her, save for the fact that she appeared slightly paler and there were light shadows beneath her eyes. But the next morning these were gone, and Phryne appeared to have gained colour to her cheeks and brightness to her eyes. She and Jane spent Sunday together before Cec and Bert drove her back to school. Having spent the entire weekend attempting to reassure the child of her own wellness, putting on as bright and as believable a performance as she could muster, Phryne was exhausted, and fell asleep instantly, not rising until almost midday.
The following days passed in a calmer fashion, with Phryne enjoying the pleasure of daily visits from Jack, and enduring bi-daily ones from her aunt. Thankfully for her sanity (and that of her household), Phryne had received numerous letters requesting assistance with various tasks; although her condition and the incident had been well reported in the press, it seemed that nothing short of death would prevent anxious patrons from attempting to obtain the assistance of the famous lady detective. And so Phryne spent her days sifting through the letters and discussing the matters with Dot, who eagerly awaited instructions, before taking care of the more 'physical' side of the investigating whilst Phryne was indisposed.
Phryne was glad that Dot was able to use this as an opportunity to continue honing her investigations skills, mainly because she was clearly relishing the challenge, but also because it seemed to relax her. Ever since her return from the hospital, Phryne noticed how uncharacteristically nervous Dot appeared to be around her, in a way which was not dissimilar to how Jane had been over the weekend. Dot watched her carefully whenever she rose from the bed or chair, and tried to encourage her to be seated as often as possible. Her eyes would widen and her brow would furrow with worry if she attempted to undertake any task which required her to walk further than fifteen yards or lift anything heavier than a novel. On one occasion Phryne had opened the front door to greet the milk man and collect the milk, but upon bending down had been struck by a sharp pain in her abdomen which had caused her to drop a bottle, shattering it on the front step and causing fresh milk to pour across the tiled ground. Her panicked maid had been with her in moments, ushering her inside and laying her in the parlour; it took the combined efforts of both Phryne and Mr B to assure the distressed young woman that no medical intervention was required, and that her mistress was perfectly fine. During this incident, Phryne had been struck by the look of absolute terror in the younger woman's eyes, and had clutched her hand and spoken to her soothingly, encouraging her to sit beside her. Phryne had initially attributed Dot's overly-cautious behaviour to her naturally kind and caring nature and her instinctive desire to protect those she cared for, but on that day she realised that there was something else that was behind it. As Dot eased herself onto the chaise lounge beside Phryne she turned away and inhaled deeply, and when Phryne finally managed to encourage her to turn back towards her, her maid was in tears.
"Dot, hey" Phryne soothed, squeezing the maid's hand reassuringly and tilting her chin so that she was facing her. "What is it, Dot? Tell me." Dot inhaled a shaky breath and twisted a hanky in her free hand, as her employer's attentive green eyes lingered upon her.
"I'm sorry, Miss Phryne-"
"You have nothing to apologise for" Phryne stated with conviction, a reassuringly smile playing on her lips. "Tell me what's wrong" she said gently. Dot was reluctant at first, but after a few minutes she slowly began to open up.
"I always knew what you did was dangerous, miss. It always scares me when you go off on one of your adventures, but you always came back" she said, her voice breaking as she spoke. Phryne placed her hand lightly on her companion's back and rubbed it carefully, as the tearful girl composed herself. "And when I'm with you it's not so bad, miss, because I know what you're up to and I can look out for you like I should and-"
Ah. And there it was.
"Dot" Phryne interceded, her voice firm yet with a gentle air. "It is not your job to look out for me" she began gently. "You are not responsible for my well-being, and you are certainly not to blame if something untoward occurs" she continued, holding her companion's hand tightly in her own. "Your presence in the warehouse that day would not have altered what happened. If anything, it could have led to you being hurt to" she explained, watching as Dot turned towards her. "And then who would be looking after me now?" she added lightly, a small smile upon her lips. Dot sighed a small laugh and nodded, using the screwed up handkerchief in her hand to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"When they told me you'd been stabbed and where in the hospital, it was the most terrifying moment of my life" Dot said candidly, staring straight into Phryne's eyes. Her employer's stomach clenched. "I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you, miss" she added tearfully, her words echoing Jack's, her eyes glistening once more. Phryne's eyes were warm and emotional and she pulled her maid into a tight embrace.
"Nothing is going to happen to me, darling" Phryne said, her voice slightly choked. Dot found the hug and her words to be quite sobering; Miss Phryne was always affectionate, but she had never called her 'darling' before. "I promise" she added. Dot's breath hitched.
"You can't promise that, miss" Dot said wearily, and Phryne leaned back slightly and looked her directly in the eyes.
"I just did" she added quietly, stroking her cheek tenderly as Dot calmed herself. Phryne inhaled deeply. "What would you like to do today, Dot?" she asked. Dot exhaled slowly.
"Can we go over the matter of Miss Henderson's missing fiancé, miss?" Dot asked quietly, feeling the weight of her employer's gaze upon her. "I have a statement from a dancer at one of the local… clubs… which I think could actually clear up the matter."
"Do you indeed" Phryne asked, her voice rising with interest, as Dot reached into her bag and produced the statement, which her employer quickly read, her eyebrows raising. "My, my" Phryne breathed, meeting her now blushing companion's face with bright eyes, "I believe Miss Henderson is going be eternally grateful for your efforts, Dot" she smiled, handing the note back and picking up a small bundle of unopened letters from the table. "And now that that matter's concluded" she added, holding the thick pile of letters in the air, "shall we make our way through these?"
For the first time in several days, Dot smiled. As they worked together through the first of many letters, Phryne decided that she would do all she could to reassure her worried companion; she would be a dutiful patient and a low-maintenance employer. Just this once.
The rest of the week was therefore spent in this way, with Phryne and Dot solving many cases together, with the occasional assistance of a certain detective inspector. However, after four days of remaining in her parlour or bedroom, and never venturing further than the end of the courtyard, Phryne was beginning to grow weary of taking a back seat in the investigations, and yearned to leave the sanctity of her home. She would sit in the courtyard musing over the letters and staring out across the road and towards the beach, and fighting her instinctive desire to simply stand from her seat, open the gate, and run towards him. During moments like this she would remember the pain and distress of Dot, and would promptly fold her letters back up, place them back in their envelopes, and go back into the house, lest temptation overwhelm her. She would enter the house with a smile, greeting Dot and Mr P with enthusiasm, but her companion saw through it. Instantly.
And so on Thursday morning, when Dorothy was speaking to Inspector Robinson about the latest case she and Phryne were working on (which required a background check to be carried out on a potentially devious husband-to-be of one of Melbourne's young heiresses), Dot found herself lingering in the inspector's office after he handed her the sealed envelope containing the information Miss Fisher had requested. Jack Robinson looked upon her with gentle and attentive eyes.
"Is something wrong, Mrs Collins?" he asked kindly. Dot was drawn from her thoughts and turned towards him like a rabbit in the headlights.
"Hmm?" she asked. "Sorry, inspector, no, I…" she began, rising from her chair and preparing to leave, before changing her mind last minute and placing herself back in her seat. Jack watched her with great curiosity, waiting patiently for her to continue. "It's Miss Fisher" Dot said gently, and Jack slowly nodded.
"What about Miss Fisher?" he asked, leaning across the desk slightly. Dot inhaled sharply.
"I'm worried about her" Dot confided, her voice low and gentle. That got Jack's attention. He sat up straighter and clasped his hands on the desk before him.
"What is it that concerns you?" he asked gently, his voice even and kind. Dot looked into the older man's eyes and felt herself relaxing beneath his gaze.
"She's…" she began, clutching her bag in her lap, and staring at her gloved hands for a moment, before turning back towards the inspector with a nervous expression.
"She's what?" he gently prompted. Dot pressed her lips together tightly.
"She's bored" she stated, uttering the last word gravely. Jack rose his eyebrows.
"Bored" he repeated, leaning back slightly in his seat. "That is seriously" he said sincerely. He knew how dangerous a bored Phryne Fisher could be; and clearly, from her concerned countenance, so did her companion. "Leave it with me, Mrs Collins" Jack said warmly, and Dot smiled, reassured by his words.
"Thank you, Inspector" she said with relief, rising from her seat. "I'll see you this evening" she added. Phryne had invited Jack, Dot and Hugh to join her for dinner.
"You will" he returned, rising from his seat as he spoke. "And please" he continued, watching as Dot met his gaze with curious eyes. "Call me Jack" he said kindly. She nodded, thanking him once more and leaving his office, both knowing that she would never refer to the inspector by anything other than his professional title.
Jack sat back down in his seat and leaned back, sighing heavily as he considered the problem which Mrs Collins had presented him with; how was he to keep Phryne Fisher amused and engaged during the final days of her recovery? He knew from Dr Macmillan that she was almost completely recovered, and would be able to resume her normal activities in a few more days. But until then, she was bored, and she had the potential to be bored for three more days. Jack felt more than slightly nervous at this thought, and endeavoured to find a solution to Miss Fisher's issue. And after a few minutes of careful consideration, his eyes befell some items to the far left of his desk, and a small smile played on his lips: he had found one.
Phryne had invited Jack, Dot and Hugh over for dinner at seven o'clock in the evening. Hugh was on shift until half-past six, and Dot was visiting her sister at her new place of employment. From speaking to Hugh, Jack knew that Dot would be meeting him at the station at the end of his shift and that they would travel to Phryne's home together, which meant that he had an adequate amount of time to solve the concerns of both Dot and Phryne. The inspector glanced at his watch as he pulled up outside her house on the Esplanade; it was currently half-past five. Perfect.
Jack adjusted his hat and picked up the items in the passenger seat, carrying them carefully as he walked up the pathway and steps to Phryne's house, knocking confidently upon the door. Mr Butler opened it within moments, greeting the inspector with his usual politeness and an unreadable expression.
"Miss Fisher is in the parlour, inspector" he announced, as he assisted Jack with his hat and coat. "Would you care for your usual drink, sir?"
"Thank you, Mr Butler" he returned, and the tall man nodded. Before Mr B had a chance to usher him into the parlour, the sound of heeled shoes upon the tiled floor caused Jack to turn towards the open door to the room, where Phryne Fisher emerged. She was wearing a dark blue and white dress, with matching navy heels and silver and white jewellery.
"Jack" Phryne smiled, taking several steps into the corridor.
"I'm sorry for dropping by so early-"
"No apology is necessary, Jack" she purred.
"Would you care for another drink, miss?" Mr B asked quietly.
"That would be wonderful, Mr B, thank you" she said with a smile, which was returned by her butler, who nodded and headed towards the kitchen. Phryne then turned towards Jack, her eyes befalling the small stack of manila folders he was holding under his right arm.
"What are those?" she asked curiously, taking a step closer to him and staring at the files. Phryne's closeness to Jack caused his breath to catch in his throat, her body exuding warmth and perfume as she stepped close to him, her green eyes looking up at him with interest, holding him in a bewitching gaze. Jack cleared his throat.
"The latest case I've been working on" Jack replied, inhaling deeply as her eyes remained upon him, waiting patiently for him to continue. "A spate of burglaries in upscale homes in Melbourne. There have been four in the past three weeks" he stated, adjusting his hold on the files. Phryne's eyes followed them with interest. "The usual money, jewels and other valuables were taken, but we have had very little to go on, and my superiors are breathing down my neck for quick results" he sighed. "The chief commissioner's concern for the valuables of Melbourne's elite really is quite touching" he added sarcastically. Phryne reached out for the files and Jack lifted them slightly out of reach, prompting her to turn towards him with a questioning expression and a pout which would usually get her what she wanted. It did not work this time, and she was glad. She smiled. Jack Robinson rose his eyebrows.
"Are you asking for my help, Jack?" Phryne asked sweetly, taking another step towards the inspector, whose cautious gaze followed her every move. He could feel her breath upon his cheek, and the scent of her perfume was now almost overwhelmingly. Her smile grew, and she leaned back slightly. "It's rather difficult for me to assist if I don't know what-" she began, speaking quickly as she reached for the files once more. Jack lifted them from her reach again and looked at her with a faux-reprimanding look, which she found incredibly attractive. It took everything she had not to make a third attempt on the files just to see how he would react. And yet, it did not seem appropriate at this time. In her corridor. Right. Now. She sighed.
"There is, of course, a condition that you must promise me you will adhere to before I give you access to confidential and highly sensitive Police evidence and information" he said in his gentle, authoritarian tone, which Phryne had corrected established he reserved especially for her. She looked up at him with a curious gaze.
"Yes, Jack?" she asked, placing one hand on her hip and standing tall before him, tilting her head to the side slightly as she regarded him. Jack's body tingled.
"You are still recovering from your recent injury, and until such a time as Doctor Mac or another medical professional deems you fit and well, you must not risk your health" he stated, watching as Phryne watched him with a look of interest and amusement. "You are not to go off gallivanting around the city trying to search for the person or persons responsible, or put yourself in any position in which your welfare could be compromised" he explained. His tone was respectful but serious.
"Until I have recovered?" she asked, taking a step closer to him as she weighed up his speech. Her body was now touching his, her chest pressed lightly to his, her thigh against his. "And then I can gallivant and search as I please?" she asked for clarification.
"I wouldn't dream of stopping you" the inspector returned, a small smile upon his face. Phryne nodded. "But if you could abstain from chasing knife-wielding villains for the time being, I'd be very much obliged."
"I'm sure I can manage that" she replied brightly, and held out her hand for the files. Jack hesitated. "I promise" she said, and he lowered the files into her hands. She held them victoriously, turning on the spot and heading back into the parlour.
Jack felt suddenly cold, bereft of her closeness. He pushed the feeling aside and followed her into the room, just as Mr B appeared and served them their drinks. Jack was provided with his usual neat whiskey, which he sipped as he leaned against the fireplace, and Phryne was served what appeared to be a tall glass of red fruit juice, which she accepted with a smile, placing it on the table beside the chaise lounge, where she took up a seat.
Jack watched as Phryne opened each of the four files, expertly examining the reports, photographs and evidence therein. She placed several documents and photographs of interest upon the table, spreading them out so that they were clear and accessibly, before turning her attention back towards the files. Jack finished his first drink and was poured a second by Mr B, who informed them that dinner would be ready in an hour. Phryne thanked him and then turned to Jack, her eyes staring longingly at the glass in his hand, before returning to the documents in her grasp. After ten minutes of careful consideration, she looked up.
"Well, Jack, this is all very interesting. I can see your predicament" she stated sympathetically, her eyes scanning the documents before her. "Four burglaries in three weeks. Upscale homes in Melbourne. All during the night, all undiscovered until the morning" she added, flicking through some of the crime scene photographs. "The Blakes, the Cavendishes" she said, turning towards Jack. "Both families with notable social presence and influence" she stated with a whimsical smile, remembering Bertie Cavendish's 30th birthday party with fondness. "The others, the Wests and the Lakes, I have not heard of."
"Both of those families are new to the area" Jack stated, and Phryne looked up with interest. "They've only been in the city for a couple of months."
"Interesting" Phryne breathed, returning her attention to the documents. "It says here that there are no signs of forced entry, and very little damage to the interior or exterior of the property" she read. "The burglaries were meticulously carried out, by all accounts" she stated, turning her attention towards Jack Robinson, and his taunting glass of whiskey. "Almost as if they knew precisely where to look."
"Exactly" Jack said, taking a swig of his whiskey. Phryne sighed and her shoulders fell slightly. Jack paused. "Miss Fisher?" he asked. Phryne looked up at him, observing his questioning gaze, and exhaling slightly.
"It's nothing" she smiled, and Jack considered her for a moment, his eyes following her gaze to his glass, as realisation dawned upon him.
"You can't drink" he breathed.
"Apparently not" she said sceptically, as she flicked back through the final file. "Medication and spirits do not mix, according to Mac" she said haughtily, her defiant eyes and frustrated pout almost enough to make Jack laugh out loud. "And so Dot and Mr B have taken it upon themselves to hide my liquor, lest I be tempted" she added with a sigh, before returning her attention to the file. Jack, feeling suddenly guilty at his thoughtlessness, placed his remaining half-measure glass on the mantelpiece, and resolved to ask for coffee the next time Mr Butler offered him a drink.
"It must be frustrating" he sympathised, causing Phryne to smile slightly. "But I'm sure you'll make up for it next week" he soothed. Phryne's smile widened.
"I don't actually miss the alcohol as much as I thought I would" she admitted quietly. "But not a peep to anyone, or they'll try and make it a regular thing" she stated, referring to the concealment of her liquor. "And Mr Butler's cocktails are far too good to stay away from for too long" she sighed. Jack smiled. "No, Jack, alcohol is not what I miss." There was something whimsical in her tone, a touch of sadness. Jack walked from the fireplace to her side, easing himself down beside her and watching as her deft fingers stilled in the files.
"And what do you miss?" he asked curiously. Phryne smiled, tilted her head to the side slightly and stared out of the window.
"The sun" she admitted, watching the bright orange and yellow ball of flames as it slowly slid back behind the sea. "I miss the feeling of the sun on my skin, the wind in my hair, the taste of the salt sea air" she said.
"You've not been outside since your return?" Jack asked.
"Oh, I've been in the courtyard" Phryne stated as she turned towards him. "But that's all" she added. "Mr Butler becomes unsettled if I so much as open the back door and Dot would simply have kittens if I ventured further than the front yard" she said, her expression becoming pensive. "I think they're both dreading my next investigation, should I find myself meeting a more permanent end" she admitted. A comfortable silence fell between them for a few moments.
"Not that I'm not relieved that you are taking the concerns of those around you into account" Jack began, causing Phryne to turn towards him as he spoke. "But since when have you been accustomed to doing as you are told?" he asked. Phryne offered him a small smile, before informing him of the conversations she had with Dot and Jane, and their terror at her condition. Jack watched her with concerned eyes and listened attentively as she spoke.
"I hadn't realised just how… affected they had been by my… by the incident" she explained.
"It's not just the fact you were in danger, but the fact that you could be in a similar situation in the future" Jack returned gently. "The thought of someone you care about being hurt is unbearable. And as you said to Dot, it is a… a possibility with what we do" he explained. "But that doesn't make it any easier for those who love you to handle."
"No" she agreed, turning towards him with a firm expression. "But I shan't stop."
"No one is asking you to" he reassured her. "We all know how much you love what you do. You are aware of the risks associated with it, and most of the time you, we, handle those risks" he explained, watching as Phryne stared at him attentively. "But sometimes, despite the best planning and support and organisation, there are some risks which cannot be… prevented" he said quietly. "And until now you've been very lucky in your various escapades" he stated, and she chuckled lightly in response. "And that often reassures people. After so long with close shaves but no actual physical injury, it becomes easy to become almost complacent, secure in the belief that you will always be alright and will always be safe" he explained.
"Until the time that you are not" Phryne added. "At which point, that rather positive and self-reassuring image of safety shatters completely."
"Yes" Jack stated. "It may take Dot and Mr Butler, and even myself, some time before we are able to control our fear" he explained. "The fear of losing someone is overwhelming, Phryne, as well you know. And it isn't out of anger or… or control they are acting out of" he continued, as her bright green eyes remained focused intently upon his. "It's out of love."
"I know" she breathed. "Really, I do. And I'm grateful and humbled and so very, very lucky" she explained, her fingers curling the edge of a sheet of paper up nervously. "I suppose I'm not used to being so… surrounded by people who care so much". Jack placed a hand over her own and stilled its trembling, and she looked up at him with a smile and grateful eyes. "Thank you, Jack" she said, a solemn smile upon her lips. She sighed and forced a laugh. "I'm sorry. I'm not usually so sentimental" she laughed. "I think it's the cabin fever setting in" she whispered. Jack considered her for a moment, gave her hand one final squeeze, and leaned in towards her.
"Well we can't have that" he whispered, before removing his hand from hers, standing from his seat and walking from the parlour towards the kitchen. Phryne stared after him for a few moments, before turning her attention back towards her files. Her hand tingled from Jack's recent touch, and she could still smell his cologne and the whiskey beside her. She closed her eyes and her body quivered. She opened her eyes and exhaled deeply, trying to regain some sense of sensibility, and picked up the first file once more.
Less than a minute later Phryne's attention was diverted from the files and towards the sound of approaching footsteps. She turned towards the doorway to the parlour to see Jack Robinson coming slowly towards her, holding her dark blue coat with a fur trim, and a matching navy cloche.
"I don't think the ermine suits you, Jack" she said with sadness. "Although you're certainly welcome to the hat" she added with a wry smile. The blue of the hat really did draw attention to the stunning hue of his own beautiful eyes, which were staring at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I've spoken to Mr Butler" Jack stated gently, ignoring her comments. "He explained that dinner will be ready in forty five minutes, which will be just prior to the arrival of Dorothy and Constable Collins" he added, pausing as he reached the end of the chaise lounge, from which Phryne was gazing up at him with interest. "Which means that you and I have plenty of time for a brief stroll".
"Do we, indeed?" Phryne breathed, rising from her seat with a smile.
"We do" Jack returned simply. "I assured Mr Butler that I would-" Jack paused, trying to think of words adequate to convey what he had said to Mr B (which he did not wish to reveal verbatim, to Phryne).
"That you'll look after me?" Phryne asked in a sweet, innocent tone as she reached for her hat, securing it loosely to her head with a pin. "How kind of you" she purred, as Jack helped her on with her coat.
"I told Mr Butler to expect us back in thirty minutes" he explained, watching as Phryne did up the buttons on her coat and smoothed down the ermine trim.
"Yes, Jack. Of course" she said gently, as Jack offered her his arm. She accepted it with a smile, looking up at him brightly as he led her from the room.
For as long as Jack had known Phryne, he was made aware of her love for the beach. He knew that she often went there by herself when she needed to think, to get away from it all. There was a small beach almost directly opposite her own home which, he correctly suspected, had played an intrinsic part in her purchasing the property. And so, as he led Phryne across the road and towards the beach, he was not surprised to find her smiling contently at the sight before her, a gentle and genuinely content expression upon her face. She leaned in closer to him.
It was the early evening on a cool winter's day, with the warmth of the sun being rather limited as the large ball of flames disappeared beneath the horizon. Due to the time and the temperature, the beach was completely deserted; as Phryne stepped onto the sand she found herself walking into the most serene calmness and solitude. The waves crashed gently in the background, as gulls cried out overhead. Distant sounds of children laughing and playing in back yards could be heard, and various aromas of delicious-smelling food was carried towards them by the wind, which was salty and refreshing. Phryne sighed as the luxuriant air drifted across her face, as the sand crept into her shoes and felt soft beneath her feet. Jack led her further down the beach, past an array of seaweed and beach wood, and the occasion broken bucket and spade. She allowed herself to be led without question or protest, until Jack paused as they neared the water's edge, standing next to her before the sun, which was rapidly disappearing.
"I'm sorry that you won't get to feel the sun on your skin" he said gently, his eyes turning from the disappearing warmth towards her. The wind blew her hair and caused it to drift across her face. She was smiling.
"Don't be" she smiled, facing forward and watching as the sun slowly began to disappear. "There's always tomorrow."
"There is" Jack agreed, feeling Phryne lean against his arm. He turned a caution gaze towards her, caution of wearing her out. It had been over a week since she had walked so far. "Are you alright?"
"Perfectly" she breathed, running her hand across his strong arm. "Thank you" she said sincerely, and he nodded.
"You are quite welcome" he returned, turning back towards the setting sun, which he found to be incredibly calming.
Jack watched the sun as it slowly began to disappear, as flocks of birds flew overhead in the pink and orange sky. The air was heavily salted and the air was refreshingly cold. He felt Phryne move beside him, adjusting her stance apparently, and he turned towards her with a curious glance. She was smiling up at him with a sweet, mischievous smile which brought an abrupt halt to his temporary calm.
"Fancy a dip?" she asked casually, nudging her shoes forward to reveal that she had just taken them off, before laughing lightly and releasing her arm from his, and walking briskly towards the ocean.
"Phryne" Jack cautioned, his eyes following her as her blue coat flew up in the wind, as she walked ten yards or so forwards and reached the water's edge. She turned back to look at him. "Phryne" he called.
"Come on, Jack!" she encouraged, tucking her hair behind her ears as she stood beside the sea. Jack began to walk briskly forwards, meeting her at the water's edge.
"Phryne, it's winter, the water will be freezing" he reasoned.
"Will it?" she asked innocently, before taking a few steps forward and lifting up her dress, so that her feet were completely submerged. She shrieked with delight and shock. "So it is!" she said, paddling out a few yards further. Jack leaned forward, following her as close as he could to the edge of the water without actually entering it. His patent leather shoes would not approve, and not would his feet.
"Phryne" Jack began, stopping himself before he continued to speak, knowing that it would be pointless. He had taken a formerly-housebound Phryne to the beach. What did he expect?
Jack turned towards her and watched as she continued to walk further into the sea and towards the sun, until she was standing six inches deep in the water and laughing. Her laughter was real and sincere and contagious, and he suppressed a smile at the sight of her. Her dark blue attire and pale skin completely contrasted the orange-pink sky and the light waters below. She was confident, happy and completely radiant, and appeared to Jack to be some sort of goddess, like a female Poseidon. She was magnificent. After standing in perfect silence for a couple of minutes, watching Phryne in the water and rejecting her invitations for him to join her, he realised that the air had turned bitterly cold, and dreaded to think of what the affect would be upon the water and, indeed, upon Phryne; she was recovering from surgery and was not yet fully restored to health, she could not risk becoming unwell.
"Phryne" Jack called, and something in his tone caused her to turn around and look at him with a serious and attentive expression. "It's freezing, please, come back to the shore" he said, indicating towards the beach with his left hand. Phryne placed her hand on her hat and smiled.
"Of course, Jack" she called, before lowering her hand from her hat and turning away from the sun, as she began to wade back towards the beach.
A few moments later, a particularly chilly gust of wind swept across the beach, throwing sand and light wood across the beach, and blowing Phryne's ill-secured hat from her head. Phryne turned immediately towards where the hat had blown, finding it floating in the water to her left. She bent down instinctively to retrieve it, but was quickly reminded of the earlier incident with the milk bottle, as a sharp, warning pain shot through her abdomen, causing her to press a hand to it immediately and stand bold upright. She applied pressure to her abdomen and, before she could consider whether to make a second attempt, was distracted from her thoughts by the sound of disturbed water.
Upon watching Phryne attempt to pick up her hat, to be prevented from doing so by pain, Jack Robinson rushed forward, walking briskly through the water which separated himself from Phryne, and picking up her hat in a single deft movement before she had a chance. Phryne watched with amusement as Jack waved the damp garment in the air in an attempt to dry it, placing his right hand upon her forearm and guiding her back towards the shore, kicking hit feet out as they reached the sand.
"Jack Robinson" she said gently against the wind, causing the only-ever-so-slightly-put-out inspector to turn towards her. "Always a gentleman" she declared with a beaming smile, removing her hand from her side.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked, lowering the hat and placing his hand gently upon her waist, staring at the position of her injury.
"It was just a twinge" she said dismissively. "Nothing to worry about." Jack looked towards her with an expectant expression.
"You do realise that your antics have soaked my socks and possibly ruined my shoes?" he said in an angerless tone. Phryne lowered her gaze to his feet, observing that his shoes were shining bright, and the bottom three inches of his trousers were damp. She pursed her lips and looked up at him.
"I do hope you're less fond of those shoes than I am of my hat" she said with a smile, before observing the impassive expression upon his face. "I'm sorry, Jack" she said, trying to stifle her laugh. Jack rose his eyebrows and suppressed a small smile.
"You're not, Miss Fisher, are you?" he asked.
"No" she replied instantly, before bursting into fresh laughter once more. Jack rose the damp hat he was holding and put it directly onto her head, causing her to open her mouth and gasp in shock, stepping back slightly and raising her hand instantly upwards, as the damp left-side of the hat sent the few remaining cold droplets of water down her neck, trailing glistening lines across her bare skin. She looked up at Jack in surprise, and found that he was staring at her with an amused expression and a satisfied smirk, causing her to smile back in response. She did not remove the hat.
The wind began to blow slightly stronger, causing Phryne's hair to blow defiantly from beneath her hat. Jack took a step closer to her and swept some wayward strands back behind her ear, his warm fingers caressing her cool skin.
"You're cold" he commented, drawing her coat tighter across her, and bringing up the ermine collar to provide some further warmth to her neck. Phryne relaxed beneath his touch, and her previously teasing expression became gentle and serene.
"I'm fine, Jack" she replied, placing her right hand upon his left, which had remained upon her.
Jack felt Phryne's warm fingers wrap around his hand, the contact causing his breathing to deepen. He looked into her eyes and saw that they were wide and dilated, shining due to the harshness of the wind. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her lips gently parted. Her eyelids fell a fraction, and within a moment the space between them no longer existed, and their hands moved up each other's bodies until they pulled each other close, their lips meeting as the waves continued to crash noisily behind them.
The cold wind blew across their skin, cooling them as their lips explored each other's keenly, the kiss quickly becoming heated and more passionate. Jack's hand drifts up her neck and cups her cheek and head, drawing her deeper into the kiss, as his right hand is placed protectively upon her waist. Phryne's hands travel beneath his coat and up his back, exploring the taut muscles and enjoying the warmth of him, as she presses herself tightly against his body, drawing him desperately closer. Jack gently pulls her forward by their waist, their hips colliding, sending waves of pleasure throughout both of their bodies. Phryne moans against his mouth in response, gasping breathlessly and almost breaking the kiss, and feeling Jack's own heart pounding against her chest. He drew his hand from her face to her neck, caressing the soft skin behind it, as her hands continued their exploration of his body. The wind grew stronger and colder, and her skin became almost icy, causing her to tremble. Jack released a shuddering breath against Phryne's mouth, mournfully breaking the kiss and slowly opening his eyes. Phryne responds quickly, her breathing heavy and laboured, her eyes half-open and heavy with desire. He feels her hands slowly travel down his back, across his waist and to his front. He presses a kiss to her forehead and cups her cheek, as she leans against his shoulder and he wraps his arms around her, sheltering her from the wind. She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent, grabbing small handfuls of his shirt as she breathed him in. She had never felt so safe.
"You're cold" he explained, and Phryne hummed in response. "We should head back" he whispered. He felt her nodding against his chest, before she tilted her head back and looked deep into his eyes.
"Yes" she responded, a gentle smile upon her lips. "I suppose we should."
Jack's gaze lingered upon her for a few moments, before he turned his attention to her discarded shoes, drawing them towards her so that she could slip them back on with ease. She held onto his shoulder as he assisted her, replacing the shoes with little effort. Jack wrapped his arm across Phryne's back and she placed hers against his, between his jacket and his coat, as he had encouraged, to keep her warm. She leaned against his shoulder as they walked from the beach, and considered how the waves continuing to crash, the gulls continued to cry, and the sun continued to set. They had been alone on the secluded beach, enjoyed each other's closeness and enjoyed a newfound degree of intimacy, and the world had not come to an end. She smiled.
They arrived back at Phryne's house shortly before half-past six, and were admitted by a calm Mr B, who immediately commented upon the weather and asked if either of them would like a hot drink. After both assenting, Phryne called Mr B back before he entered the kitchen, explaining that there had been a 'mishap' with the inspector's shoes and socks, and asking if Mr B would be kind enough to find him a fresh pair of socks and tend to his shoes. Mr B nodded and waited beside Jack as he removed the soaked garments, as a bemused looking Phryne strode back towards the parlour, casting a glance back towards Jack as she reached the door. Jack followed her in immediately afterwards, and a few minutes later Mr B entered, carrying a tray laden with hot coffee, warm milk, and fresh socks. Phryne poured the coffee as Jack placed the fresh socks on his ice cold feet, and was handed his now (incredibly) dry shoes by Mr Butler, who he thanked sincerely, without questioning what he thought could be nothing sort of witchcraft.
When Dot and Hugh arrived ten minutes later, they found Phryne and Inspector Robinson sat beside each other in the parlour, looking over some open files, deep in conversation. Dot lingers in the doorway for a moment, smiling in relief and satisfaction at the happy look on Phryne's face, as the inspector provides her with a much-needed distraction. She and Hugh walked into the room and were greeted warmly by their hostess, who rose from her seat and embraced them affectionately, before ushering them into seats as Mr B returns with their drinks.
The evening was extremely pleasant and highly enjoyable, with the guests relishing the company of their hostess and each other, dining heartily before returning to the parlour and talking until quite late. So distracted were they all by the company and conversation, that no one (not even Dot) seemed to notice the small amount of fresh sand scattered across the floor in the hallway.
