Good afternoon, my dear readers. Hand on heart, has anyone seriously doubted that Jack would escape the flames? No, no, I didn't think so. ;) I have become predictable. Or... maybe not.

One of my Miss Fisher friends asked me the other day if I ever consider ending the Phryniverse and while yes, this is always a question that appears on finishing another chapter of this seemingly endless tale, this time I have found to my surprise that I am actually not sure if I want to continue. A lack of ideas is not the issue, neither have I lost my obsession with MFMM, but "Kurrajong" turned out to be the most challenging tale to finish yet (and not only because I woke at times in the middle of the night and checked if my own husband was still breathing...). It's been a rough few months and at times I felt very uninspired and utterly lost with this tale. And I fear it showed.

I am not telling you that in the hope of getting sympathy, but as a heads-up that maybe, just maybe I consider it time to let go. That said, I am attached to my little world and I haven't decided yet the one or the other way - and we all know how a similiar contemplation after "Sunflowers" ended. So, I will not get ahead of myself. Lets finish this one and see.

Chapter 47: The Morning After

When the Inspector dragged himself down the ladder two hours later, Phryne was still snoring softly into the hay pile. He crossed the empty stable as quietly as possible, heading out into the late morning. The sun hung already gleaming in the sky. On his way to the well he found himself eyed by a stray chicken which he suspected he'd encountered before. The cold water got rid of most of lingering soot and breathed some life into Jack's tired face. As he straightened, smoothing back his damp hair, he spotted a horse approaching, a dog trailing behind it. Luke O'Neill halted Mary right in front of the other man, appearing unusually anxious.

"Good morning, Inspector."

Jack nodded, squinting in the bright sunlight and buttoning up his grubby shirtsleeves. They would have to do. At least Mr. Butler's work on returning home had been minimized by the fire.

"Mr. O'Neill. What brings you here?"

Luke cleared his throat and dismounted, while Angus was already a step ahead, sniffing the Inspector's feet.

"Just inquiring after Mrs. Wilson following the tragedy with her husband. I believe your friend came to the conclusion that he died of smoke poisoning?"

Jack nodded with his jaw clenched. "Not surprising, all things considered. But since he was in police custody it should be quite a challenge to explain how he died storming a burning building."

"I'm sure he would have found a way to break out when his hotel was standing in flames. Someone might not have locked the cells properly." Luke absent-mindedly patted his dog, who had realised that there was little attention to be had from the other man while the Inspector was still getting dressed. "An easy error to make in the chaos."

Jack smiled thinly at the farmer rationality, while considering if to bind a tie with an obviously scorched edge. He dismissed the idea and pocketed the piece of fabric instead. But even the clothes that hadn't taking damage from the flames reeked of smoke. There would have to be something done about his attire before he returned to the station.

"I've been wondering if he went in there with the intention of not coming back out," Luke pondered aloud. Jack shrugged off any feelings of guilt for having assisted Robert Wilson in his suicide mission.

"Who can tell what's happening in a man's mind? He was set to spend the rest of his life in gaol and his mother-in-law wouldn't have lived to see today if it hadn't been for his bravery."

Without giving it any thought, the Inspector joined Luke in leading a patient Mary towards the pastures.

"It stands to show how he will be remembered. For his heroism or his murder?" the farmer wondered aloud.

"By his wife for the love that provoked both, I assume?"

Something about the subject caused Luke's uneasiness to deepen and he changed the subject while they made their way slowly across the yard.

"I've heard of your little stand-off with Packard yesterday."

"After this display I can say for certain that he isn't a man I would entrust my wife's fate to," Jack stated calmly. Luke ignored his comment on the matter.

"Do you believe he will stay in custody?"

The Inspector shook his head.

"Since he has done very little aside from drawing a weapon and has given himself up, I doubt he will be our guest for long."

He smirked grimly as they turned the house's corner. Orpheus contemplated the two men briefly before continuing to graze while Athena slowly trotted towards them, hoping for a treat.

"So, he should be able to take over this estate fairly soon. As long as your father doesn't change his mind on his own claims, naturally," the Inspector continued, greeting the filly with a pat on the neck.

"I doubt it," his opposite mumbled while he opened the gate to release Mary into her sister's company. In silence the two men watched one horse nibble on the other.

"Of course, Mrs. Harper will get her dower," Jack explained in a cheery tone of voice, leaning against the fence and luckily finding a pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He rather fancied he deserved one after the past day. Then he remembered Phryne and shoved them back into his pocket. He was fine, but then gambling that was probably a rather stupid idea.

Luke didn't seem inclined to answer, he just held onto the timber, watching the horses play. Angus had wandered off with the intention of finding some chicken to scare.

"The house, some land. She will be well provided for. Even though I believe all of the lifestock will go to Packard?"

"Indeed," O'Neill confirmed, deep in thought.

"All of the animals?" Jack asked while Orpheus finally joined into the fun.

"All of them," Luke repeated darkly.

Jack smiled as he waited. Luke sighed.

"To be entirely honest, I've been having second thoughts on leaving, Inspector."

"Have you?"

Another sigh.

"I am contemplating to challenge Packard's right to Aidan's station."

Jack glanced at the other man before answering.

"May I ask what provoked that change of mind?"

"You may not," Luke grumbled, fishing a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. "I trust this is part of your evidence?"

After a moment's surprise the Inspector stored Aidan Harper's half finished letter in his coat.

"I assume my wife happened to drop this last night?"

"Somethin' along those lines."

The men watched the horses in quiet companionship until it got too hot to stay outside any longer.

X

Phryne awoke with an aching head and a sore wrist – and a feeling of deepest peace which rendered both unimportant. There had been no ghosts haunting her dreams. The dip in the hay Jack's body had left behind had had plenty of time to cool, but for some reason his absence wasn't scaring her. It was over, she realised with a start as she yawned and pulled herself into a sitting position. Whatever had summoned the ghosts, they had been set free to haunt somebody else. She was certainly not complaining.

While she got dressed in yesterday's clothes, which didn't only smell distinctly of horse and smoke, but had also suffered some damage from various adventures, she remembered that she had better telephone their family at home - preferably before the burning hotel made it into Mr. Butler's newspaper. She whistled underneath her breath as she climbed down the ladder and crossed the yard. It promised to be a hot day, but that couldn't manage to bother her.

Her light heart sunk as soon as she set foot into the farm's kitchen. The three woman surrounding a kitchen table with a steaming tea pot barely seemed to notice her. Only Grace looked up, greeting her with a faint smile. Rosemary's swollen eyes told everybody in unmistakable terms that she had cried much of the night rather than slept. Phryne swallowed down a brief sense of guilt. Mrs. Wilson had suffered the loss that she'd barely avoided herself. And they had also seen their business go up in flames, along with their home, Fefe Tattler's face added darkly. The realisation knocked the wind out of Phryne's happiness.

"May I use your telephone, Mrs. Harper?" she asked after the briefest of greetings, relieved to escape the suffocating sadness filling the kitchen. Surprisingly, Grace appeared rather keen on showing her the way herself.

"Mrs. Wilson has taken it hard?" Phryne asked, as they walked down the gloomy hall.

"I doubt there is a way of suffering one's husband's death with happiness," Grace explained with a tiny smile. "In fact, despite wanting to strangle Aidan much of the time we were married, I seem to be missing him an awful lot."

Phryne nodded while the other woman continued talking.

"But I dare say that the Wilsons were very much in love and then first the news of his involvement.. in Aidan's..." She trailed off.

"It seems very generous of you to offer them a roof over their heads under the circumstances."

Phryne watched the widow's face carefully at her statement. But Grace shrugged after a moment's thought.

"Rosemary had no part in Aidan's death. If I could look Robert in the eye today I do not know, but as it happens, that isn't an option."

The Detective couldn't disagree with that and since they had arrived at the small table holding the telephone she didn't attempt it, instead watching Mrs. Harper retreat back to the kitchen. It was easy to forget that she'd only just lost her own husband a few days ago, Phryne pondered while she had a connection established. Grace Harper was an admirably strong woman.

She got a hold of Dot only, apparently Mr. Butler was running some errands and Jane had offered to accompany him. Her assistant seemed in an awfully good mood and the telephone call turned a lot longer than Phryne had anticipated. She rang off with a smile, just as Jack stepped into the house.

"Good news?" he asked, after Luke had taken off his hat and with a brief greeting disappeared in the kitchen. Phryne grinned.

"It seems Miss Aberville has gotten engaged."

Jack pondered this briefly.

"That could complicate things."

"Oh, I believe Dot is rather grateful for the development."

"And why is that?" the Inspector asked, glancing down the hallway before he settled his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. He never tired of feeling her warm body against his, yet after days of chasing killers and nights stumbling through burning buildings it was all but essential. She smirked.

"It gives her a very good excuse to hand the nursing duties to somebody... more fitting."

Jack raised his eyebrows.

"So, why did you employ Miss Aberville if you didn't think she was a good choice to begin with?"

A cheeky grin answered him.

"You might want to call it a lesson about needs."

Jack grinned at her tilted head and her cheeky expression. Despite the lack of make-up and her dirty, torn clothes he found that he was quickly developing needs of his own and he retreated carefully.

"Are you going to join me at the station?" he asked.

Phryne shook her head.

"I believe there are a few things that require my attention before we leave," she explained. Jack didn't ask. He found it usually helped his nerves to not know what she was up to.

X

When Jane and Mr. B returned from the market, their arms piled high with shopping for the planned dinner with Miss Aberville's future husband, they found Dorothy in the Robinson's kitchen, her attention concentrated on a mixing bowl while a delicious smell escaped from the oven.

"What are you baking?" Jane asked, her finger sweeping the corner of the bowl.

"Dinner rolls," Dot explained, while her friend pulled a face. "But there is also a sponge cake in the oven."

"You are trying to impress Mr. Boyle?" Tobias Butler asked from where he was packing food into the refrigeration machine.

"I doubt I can match his skills," Dot explained with little conviction before quickly changing the subject. "Your mother telephoned, Jane."

"Oh?" the girl asked, looking equally excited and disappointed. "Are they coming home?"

"She is hoping to be back by tomorrow. They appear to still have quite a few things to wrap up in Woodend."

"Did they find the murderer?" Jane asked, stealing another piece of dough, despite its less than pleasant taste.

"Yes, but Mr. Wilson died in a fire last night. Apparently their hotel burned down."

Jane forgot to swallow, sharing a breathless look with Mr. Butler while Dot poured out the dough onto the floured kitchen table.

"Nobody else was hurt, luckily. Including the Inspector who went into the flames to rescue somebody."

Dot looked up from kneading the dough, noticing that she was being stared at. A pin could have been heard dropping.

"I guess we have plenty of reason to celebrate then," Mr. B broke the breathless silence.

"Jane?" Dot asked. A sudden smile answered her.

"They are all right, aren't they? So I agree, we should celebrate."

She bustled away to help with the unpacking, when something else occurred to Dot.

"There were also some flowers brought around," she explained, her dough covered fingers pointing at a bunch of colourful blooms filling a vase.

"For Miss Aberville?" Jane asked.

Dorothy shook her head in amusement.

"No, I believe those are from another admirer."

Jane fished for the card and a moment later her smile broadened.

"They're from Harry. His father had taken him hunting and he misses me terribly."

Mr. B grinned into the pot he was currently filling with water.

"Another mystery solved."

"May they never end," Dot mumbled under her breath, continuing to knead her dough.

X

Luke watched.

Grace talking to her guests, serving tea and coffee and sandwiches. Grace laughing with strangers in her kitchen. Grace looking flushed and happy, despite the shadow which never left her eyes these days.

A little boy by the name of Roland was playing with a teddy bear on the floorboards while his mother explained the complications of sending for a car to pick them up.

"Don't worry yourself, there is plenty of room," Grace smiled graciously, even though Luke could tell she didn't like the Lady much. An elderly couple said goodbye a few minutes later, they were going to head down to the railway station. Grace farewelled them as if they were old friends. Rosemary, who slowly had some colour returning to her cheeks, decided to bring them outside to where the Inspector was waiting to take them to town in Walker's car. Luke found himself fidgeting in his seat when his friend turned towards him and spotted his empty cup.

"More coffee for you?" Grace asked.

He shook his head.

"I had better head out. Plenty of work to do."

She nodded, her lips pressed together in a manner he knew. She was disappointed in him.

"Grace..." he said before he could stop himself, then cleared his throat, waving her to come closer. The mother was listening in but he couldn't bother to care about her curiosity.

"I was going to do some work on the cottage this afternoon. Would you care to come for a ride?"

He tilted his head and she glanced briefly at the guests filling every nook and cranny of her house, the plates which were piling up with the rest of her work to be done on the farm...

"There is a lot I feel I should tell you. It is in fact a very long story," Luke added in quiet pleading.

She didn't say anything but her smile was answer enough.