Chapter Ten
"Have you found anything of use, Phryne?"
"There is too much information here. I have counted six lovers during this year. But nothing about who she was involved with at present."
"The ladies also did not have a single opinion about it. They named several gentlemen, but none agreed who was her latest. We are still without a suspect."
"So it is a murder?"
"The coroner did confirm that she sustained injuries that happen due to falling into the water from considerable height, but the veranda was clean. No blood or signs of struggle. The rail is scratched all over, so nothing there."
"Even if we find the current lover, he may be not the father of the child. God, Jack, this is so confusing. I do not meet with them for two months and this happens. They are not serious about life, but it does not mean they are murderers."
"She could have fallen herself."
"Suicide, Jack? Never! Cecilia brimmed with energy. The center of every party, be it in a jazz club or charity event. She was so full of life, the world was at her feet! She could not take her own life!"
"It is doubtful that with her lifestyle she was happy to find herself in the family way."
"Yes, but unwanted pregnancy is not the end of the world, she could have dealed with it in a number of ways."
"Are you sure, you are still comfortable with participating in this investigation?"
"You do not need to be delicate about it, Jack. I clearly see for myself the similarities in our situations. I am not Cecilia, but I want to understand what happened to her. If she indeed committed suicide, I will not judge her. It is a loss, but she made her choice. If not, we will nail this bastard."
"You sure, it is a man?"
"Oh, Jack, I do not know. For the first time, I have no idea. Until we know 'why', we will never know 'who'."
The case resolution happened abruptly and without any sleuthing required by either Jack or Phryne.
"Good day, Mr. Butler."
"Mr. Robinson. Madam is entertaining Miss Adamson in the parlor."
Jack recalled Miss Adamson as one of the ladies at the veranda that day. For the whole week, he and Phryne tried to recreate Cecilia Mortimer social circle, questioned friends and acquaintances, former lovers, but no one knew anything substantial and the help did not know who was present at the house at that fateful night.
Suddenly raised voices echoed from the parlor. Jack rushed to the room, goosebumps on his spine that he got every time Phryne was in danger. He opened the doors to the parlor to hear the end of the phrase, yelled by Miss Adamson.
"- you of all people, Phryne! You betrayed us just like she did! Cecilia, that bitch, wanted to bring up the child alone! She did not care about us at all! She wanted to sell everything and move somewhere quiet and take care of the brat! Can you imagine this?! I was utterly shocked! She wanted to give up everything! Everything we stood for. Everything for some bastard! It that how you treat your closest friends?! People you shared your life with? And you! You were the best of us, you could charm any man, could do whatever you wanted and you reduced yourself to a… I cannot even utter this word… To a wife? After all you have taught us?! Unforgivable!"
"And that is why you killed Miss Mortimer," Jack cut into the monologue, seeing the situation escalating into a very dangerous one.
"Phryne Fisher married a mere policeman? I could understand if you married a duke or a marquis or a millionaire but a public servant?"
"This public servant has the power to arrest you which will lead to your hanging, so no cocktails for you anymore, Melissa."
"What?! You have no proof!"
"You lied, Miss Adamson. When asked if you knew about Miss Mortimer's pregnancy, you all denied it. But in actuality you knew. She must have shared her happy news with you as her closest friend, and you killed her for it. Melissa Adamson, you are under arrest for murder of Cecilia Mortimer."
"A have a pair of handcuffs in the drawer next to you, Jack."
With the murderess dealt with, Jack returned to find Phryne on her knees on the parlor floor, collecting small pieces of carbon paper. As… elegant as the view was, Jack decided pregnant women should not extort themselves that way and joined her on the carpet.
"Missis Phryne Robinson. Lady Detective," he read out loud. "Should there not be 'honorable' somewhere?"
"My new calling cards arrived today. This is what set Melissa off. She saw them, and… You heard her."
"You do not regret becoming a wife of a public servant?"
"Of course not, Jack. But I admit with shame that I decided to keep the baby because of thoughts similar to Melissa's. I was afraid of being left alone with everybody else moving own with their lives. And I am not married to a public servant, I am married to you, that is an enormous difference. I decided to leave 'honorable' out. It is too much of a mouthful and I do not care about the title anyway."
…
"I had a visit from Jacqueline Thomson today," Phryne said, joining Jack on the piano seat. She was glad he took to playing again. She did not consider it of special importance but Jack had not been granting her the pleasure of hearing him play or sing for the past year. Could it be connected to the woman he was planning to propose to?
"I thought you might. She visited Miss Adamson in her cell today. Glared at me as if I was the enemy of the State."
Phryne followed Jack's long fingers as they were passing the keynotes, playing some unfamiliar but soothing melody. She always admired his hands, strong to support her or pull a trigger, but gentle during a dance or piano play. She also itched to wonder how those hands would feel touching her, caressing her body… Phryne snapped out of the daydream that became quite an often occurrence lately.
Since the night of her nightmare, Jack did not move away if she cuddled up to him, at times even draped herself over him. The warmth that enveloped her was so new but most definitely welcome and Phryne missed it immensely while waking up alone, clenching the sheets to retain every piece of it. But without Jack… it was futile. Their good-bye and recently welcome home kisses were short and sweet, they were not of the variety of kisses leading to something more. Phryne had never actually kissed a man without ending up in bed or anywhere else with him in quick or relatively quick succession. But with Jack everything was different, pleasantly different.
"In her eyes you are, cheri. She called on me to confirm what Melissa told her. She was also distressed by my… 'abandoning their cause' as she called it. I tend to forget what vicious creatures women are. Jacqueline said that I was committing a social suicide, that no one will now invite me to their home or party since I am 'indisposed'. That I cannot have 'fun' anymore. Silly girl."
"Your social calendar has been rather empty recently. I told you that you did not have to abandon your lifestyle just because of our marriage. I have no intention of tying you up."
"Nonsense, Jack. I do what I want to do. And if I want to wait for your return after your morning shift forsaking theater, it is what I am going to do. I have plenty of fun with Jane and Dot, just this morning we tried a new cookies recipe. And I do not need Mac's advice to know that I cannot overexert myself. Though since the cat is out of the bag, I do not mind going to the theater on your arm."
"What about the so called 'social suicide'?"
"If they cannot accept my choice, then I can accept their non-acceptance and move on. Moreover, if they cannot distinguish a man from a boy, then it is not my problem."
"What did you mean back then, that I cannot be 'unmarried'?"
"Because it is seen right from the start, Jack, that you are a good man, the marrying kind. We would not have been here if you were not. On the other note," Phryne changed the topic, not liking how serious the conversation was becoming, "I think we need to hire a valet for you."
"Whatever for?" Jack was so surprised that even stopped the tune in the middle of the bar.
"Dot's days off coincide with Hugh's and I give her all the additional time I can, she does have a family of her own now. With you and Jane living here now it is double the cleaning, mending, cooking, laundry. Dot and Mr. Butler cannot manage to fulfill all their duties in time. And let us face it, though Mr. Butler is not that old or senile, but the age takes its tall. We need someone young who can be of help now and trained to be Mr. Butler's replacement in the future. Dot's room is vacant now, the boy can live there."
"A live-in? Are you sure it is wise… with Jane being here?"
"The temptation is always there. But I understand your concern. We can choose the candidate together. You do not have any strays in your cells right now?"
"Phryne!"
"I am joking, cheri, but since we had such luck with Jane, another lost soul seemed somehow appropriate."
…
Jack did accompany Phryne to the theater that week. Phryne wore an exquisite frock as usual, but it was loose around the waist and with large fur completing the ensemble her fourth month pregnancy was hardly noticeable. They did turn heads however. The previous rumor about the affair had not let up, and started with new vigor since their public appearance together.
"Still not regretting stepping out tonight, Phryne?"
"Not in the slightest, they are just jealous. Do you?"
"Why should I be? I am having the most beautiful woman in the hall walking on my arm."
"Very good answer, cheri."
….
"Jack… Why have we not consummated our marriage?"
Jack closed his book, put it onto the nightstand and faced the woman for who was quite normal to ask such blatant questions. Phryne was lying in bed, head supported by her bended arm. The thin strap of her white nightgown fell down to reveal more of her enlarged breasts than usual. No man in their right mind would stop himself from ravishing that gorgeous body the moment he was in the same bed with the infamous Phryne Fisher.
Jack knew that her current position was not for seduction, though if she truly wanted she could have seduced him any night they shared the bed, he could hardly resist the direct onslaught of her charms, but she waited. Waited to ask him head on.
"Why do you think?"
Phryne found herself confused by the question. She did not expect Jack talk any further. She assumed that he was waiting for some sort of permission which she granted with her previous question. Was there actually a different reason? Phryne knew there was no problem down there. She felt Jack's morning erection on numerous occasions. She wondered how he dealt with it…
"You do know that women are allowed to have intercourse during pregnancy, do you not? I suppose, Rosie did not allow it…"
"No, she did not. But you are not Rosie."
"I am not, Jack." She got up in one fluid motion and straddled him in a well practiced movement. The gloves were off. "It has been four months. It is the longest for me since the war. I have never begged a man, but I will…"
"Why did you not call on your lovers, surely they could provide you with the release you seek."
"I do not care about them, Jack. I want the man I have shared the bed with for the last month, I want my husband, I want you, nobody else."
Phryne felt Jack's large hands on the small of her back and for a split second she was afraid he would lift her up and reject her. But then the hands moved upwards, brushing the undersides of her breasts, making her moan in anticipation.
"Lock the door, Phryne. So we will not be disturbed."