The children were excited: the car, Aunt Phryne, a new house … it was like a dream. Mum had told them many stories about her sister but never the one of how they became separated, and while she didn't want them to be afraid of the circus she had never taken them there.

"Here we are," Phryne drew up outside Wardlow, "home."

"Oh Phryne, it's lovely," Janey gasped.

"I like it," Phryne said simply. "Here comes Mr B and Dot."

"Constable Collins did say they were expecting their first. Not long to go."

"No, but I can't stop her working. They have a little bungalow nearby, it was Jack's but, well he doesn't need it now."

"No, I don't suppose he does," Janey gave a cheeky grin. "You seem so happy with him, Phryne."

"I am, I suppose. I mean I feel more relaxed, more able to be me …"

"Father had a … um …"

"Father coloured my view of men, and Rene, well he did more."

"Rene?"

"For another time, Janey …"

"Right."

The children were scrambling out of the car and Dot was hustling them up the path.

"Come along, children," she took Psyche by the hand, "we have hot chocolate and fresh biscuits in the kitchen. My name is Mrs Collins …"

"We've met your husband," William laughed, "at the police station."

"Cars!" Arthur shouted, "we played cars!"

"You did, did you?" Dot laughed.

Behind them Phryne was introducing Janey to Mr Butler.

"Delighted to meet you, Mrs Sinclair," he bowed respectfully, "I hope your rooms are satisfactory."

"I'm sure they'll be lovely," Janey smiled.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And they were.

From somewhere Mr Butler had managed to find three single beds for the boys and set them in one of the spare rooms. He had sorted the small dressing room Phryne had mentioned into a bedroom for Psyche, set the room for Mrs Sinclair with fresh linen, towels and Dot had put toiletries in the bathroom for the whole family.

"We don't know what they will bring with them, Dorothy," Mr Butler had mused, "Miss Fisher just said they haven't had the life she has had."

"Isn't it wonderful?" she had clapped her hands with delight, "after all this time, her sister is found and all because her husband got … yes, well, poor thing, we shall look after her, won't we?"

"We will, Dorothy." He smiled gently. "And the little ones."

"Of course," she plumped a pillow, "that goes without saying."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Oh, Phryne, this is lovely," Janey looked around the room, "it's too much."

"Nonsense," Phryne laughed and hugged her, she wanted to give Janey the world. "Now, I'll leave you to unpack and freshen up, I'll be in the parlour …"

"I best see to the children," Janey made to follow her out.

"I think Dot and Mr B are quite capable of dealing with them, hot chocolate and biscuits - I'm sure I heard Dot mention something …" she skipped out of the room and left Janey shaking her head.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Janey sat down on the bed and stroked the soft cover. When they were children they used to imagine having a beautiful home with silk sheets and servants, lots of lovely food, pretty dresses and hats, silk underwear … she imagined Phryne had silk underwear.

She went into the bathroom to 'freshen up' and found scented soap, soft towels and warm water ran from the tap when she allowed it to run for a few minutes. She felt worries being lifted from her shoulders.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In the parlour Phryne was looking through the papers pertaining to their legacies from their grandmother. Everybody had told her that Janey was dead and that she could have that money as well, but she had always said that until she had proof – a body – then the money would stay in trust. Janey could have her own little house, big enough for the children who she could hear laughing in the kitchen, she could have her own Mr B …

She turned as the parlour door opened.

"Phryne?"

"Janey, is everything alright?"

"It's lovely, my room is beautiful and Psyche – thank you for letting her be close to me …"

"I'm not inclined to parenthood, Janey, I'm afraid I have never seen the attraction – that said I have a ward, Jane, she's fifteen now. She's at school, you'll meet her when she comes home at the weekend."

"I'm sure you're a wonderful guardian," Janey smiled.

"She was caught stealing in a murder case – one of our early ones – I brought her home and Jack arranged with Welfare for her to stay with me. I don't know how he did it, we weren't together then."

"I expect, being a police officer, he had his ways."

"Mmm," she agreed. "I've been looking for the paperwork for your legacy. I'm the trustee, well, I put it into an account until such time as I had proof of your whereabouts …"

"… where I was buried?"

"Don't say that," Phryne balled her hands into tight fists, "when Murdoch Foyle was killed …"

"Who?"

"A child abductor, he was the best lead we had, but when he said where the girls he took were buried none of them were you; anyway, when he was killed I vowed to keep looking for you. Mother and father stopped years ago."

"How is mother?"

"Father frustrates her, but she's well," she sat down and indicated Janey take a seat, "he sold the estate over her head, then came here to buy a magic show, for me!" she threw her hands up in the air, "I ask you, I am not a child to be bought treats … anyway, he told mother he was looking for a house in London but she found out and wrote to him and told him that if he didn't get back there in short order she was going to initiate a formal separation."

"NO!"

"Yes, oh yes. Then, he decides to jump ship and cause me even more trouble, takes the money I had given him to take to mother and gambles it away in a poker game. The other fellow cheated, but that's by the by, he shouldn't have gambled with my money or anyone else's – he's no good at cards. I won it back but it still got nasty. Anyway, I ended up flying him all the way back in my little plane, several stops along the way. Still I got him home in time. That was when I realised I was in love with Jack, when he came to see me off at the airfield. I asked him to come after me."

"Did he?"

"Eventually," she smiled. "That's another story."

"You've had so many adventures," Janey smiled.

"And I'll tell you all about them in due course, but, Janey, where have you been?"

"Oh, I was lured away with the promise of treats and taken to a house in Malvern. There were three other girls and we were told we had a special purpose that we would find out when we were sixteen …" she told the story of how they were well treated, learnt to look after themselves and that the man – for they never knew his name – died when they were all around the age of thirteen. "We thought that if we told anyone we would be taken into orphanages so we locked up that end of the house and looked after ourselves. I found work in a bookshop – where I still work now – Mary became a maid and left us when she was fifteen, May went to work in a bakery and Beth is a dressmaker."

"So, the house …"

"I locked it up when Noah and I got married," she rummaged in her bag, "here's the key. Did we do wrong, Phryne?"

"You were children, and you were right; you would all have been taken to orphanages … did Noah know about the man?"

"Yes and no. I didn't tell him his body was upstairs in his room – he might have thought we killed him, but we didn't because he was kind. Apart from not letting us leave the house we were free to do as we wished. We educated ourselves with the books, taught ourselves to cook and sew – I was happier than I ever was with father. I went to Collingwood, when he died, to our old house to see if you were there but I was told you had gone to England before the war. I thought I'd never see you again."

Phryne wrapped her arms round her and held her close, "I'm never letting you go again, Janey."

"Oh Phryne, we can't stay here forever, I have four growing children, far too much work for Mr Butler."

"We shall find you a nice house not too far away, and we shall see each other many times …"

"Will you tell our parents I'm found?"

"I ought to, really, mother at least. We shall write and send a picture of the children and you, of course. If she wants to come and visit that would be alright, wouldn't it? She doesn't have to bring father."

"I'm a grown woman, Phryne, if he comes, he comes." She shrugged, "but it would be nice to see mother, and talk of family; Lizzie tells me Aunt Prudence is still going, now I really would like to see her."

"You do know you are probably the only person who will get away with calling Mac by her first name, don't you? We all call her Mac or Dr Macmillan for those who want to keep it formal, like Aunt P. Oh, she is going to be over the moon, Janey, and she will love your children." Phryne laughed. "I don't know what Guy and Isabella will make of them."

"Isabella?"

"Guy's wife, she's somewhat of a birdbrain …" she told Janey of the time Jane thought she was dressed as Eve because she had a fig leaf on her costume, "but Isabella said she was Godiva; Jane told her Godiva was fully naked … Aunt P nearly had a stroke when Isabella started to take off the leaf."

"I think I might like Jane."

"You'll love her. She had a rocky start, was used by the Great Hypno to steal from passers-by, and a woman posing as her aunt tried to get her back from me."

"Bet you stood your ground."

"You'd be right there," Phryne agreed. "Now, what a dreadful hostess I am, tea," she stood up and went to the door. "Mr B!"

"No bell, Phryne, I thought grand houses had a bell to summon tea."

"The house isn't that big, I'll show you later. Mr B is not quite like having a servant, he's a friend, a helpmate, he's so much more than a butler. I think he can read minds, he always knows what I need when I need it. I expect he can find the perfect butler-housekeeper for you."

"Oh, goodness, do you think I should have one?"

"Janey," she tutted, "of course you should, but if you want to continue at the bookshop? …"

Janey nodded.

"Then you should. At least there will be someone to care for the little ones. And you can get them into good schools. Where do William and Robert go?"

"A small school near us. I try to supplement their learning with other things. They bake with me, like we did in the good times …"

"Do they like it?"

"Well, they go, William was happy not to have to today, Robert hates it, I don't think the teachers are kind to him. He's quiet, not shy as such, just quiet. But he reads nicely to me, for his age. Perhaps we need to find the right kind of place, if I can afford it."

"I don't think that will be a problem."

"Oh Phryne, do you think things happen for a reason?"

"If you're going to go on about God, speak to Dot. I told a priest my sins were far too many to mention and I planned to go on sinning."

Janey roared with laughter, "you are naughty."

"Wouldn't have her any other way," Jack appeared at the doorway, "ladies."

"Jack! Darling!" Phryne jumped up and ran to him, "have you finished?"

"For today," he kissed her cheek.

"I expect you need to know where I've been, Inspector?" Janey smiled.

"I would, when you're ready to tell me, I expect it's a long story."

"Depends how much detail you want," she shrugged.

"It's fine, Janey;" Phryne turned, "Jack it's not a bad story, not really. Most of my fears about her have been dispelled – she didn't have to deal with father for all those years, nor did she have to suffer her own Rene."

"Well, I suppose that's good, then." He moved in to pour whisky for himself and Phryne. "Janey?"

"Erm …" she blushed a little.

"Maybe stick to the sherry, Janey, if you've not had whisky before."

"Thank you, that would be lovely."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Miss Fisher," Mr Butler poked his head into the parlour, "will the children be dining with you? Dinner can be early, if you so wish."

Phryne looked at Janey.

"Oh, only if you want to, Phryne, but they do have good table manners – well apart from Psyche … she's very much like you," Janey giggled.

"Why not?" Phryne nodded, "I mean it would probably confuse them if they didn't eat with you, Janey. Let's have a family dinner."

She poured herself another whisky, Jack smirked.

"Are you sure?"

"Janey, we have dinner with Jane but she is not a child. We never had family dinners when we were children, I think I'd quite like it."

"Alright, but I need to clean them up and I need to change, I walked from our house to the station today, I must be dusty."

"Half an hour, Miss?"

"Lovely, Mr B," Phryne smiled.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Janey found clean clothes for the children, scrubbed their faces and combed their hair. Psyche had fair curls much like she herself had when she was a baby, she ran the comb through them and tied a ribbon in the side. She was rapidly growing out of most of her clothes but there was one dress that was long enough – just. Robert and Arthur wore hand-me-downs from William – it was just as well William wasn't hard on his clothes.

"Right, you'll do," she stood up and brushed her hair back, "now, I need to wash and change, how about you go downstairs and find Aunt Phryne. Remember to knock on the parlour door before you go in."

"Mum," William held out his hand for his sister, "are we going to stay here forever?"

"Not forever, just until we find a house that suits us. Aunt Phryne will help." She crouched down in front of them, "things are going to get better, children. It's a long story but there is money for me now, that my grandmother set for me a long time ago. Aunt Phryne has looked after it for me, she always looked out for me."

"I like her, and I like Mr Butler and Mrs Collins," William smiled.

Janey smiled, "off you go, I'll be down shortly."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

She was glad it was a 'family dinner', she didn't have anything to wear to a formal meal. The dress she lifted out of her suitcase was clean, what she called her 'best dress', a little out of date but it was the best she could do.

She smoothed it down, rolled her blond plait into a knot at the nape of her neck and headed downstairs.

"Can we see your aeroplane, Aunt Phryne?" Robert was asking as she entered the parlour.

"I'd be happy to show you, Robert," Phryne sighed and pulled a face, "I'll take you out to the airfield one day, if your mother doesn't mind."

Janey didn't mind one bit, if only because it wasn't like Robert to engage with a someone he had only just met. Usually he stayed on the side-lines and watched.

"Mummy!" Psyche ran to her with her arms wide for a hug.

"Hey!" she picked her up, "have you been a good girl?"

Psyche tipped her head to one side and giggled, "choc'lat!"

"Oh dear," Janey shook her head, "I suppose you've got a taste for that now, eh? No more chocolate until you've eaten your dinner."

Psyche pulled a face.

"As I said, Phryne, she is rather like you," Janey laughed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mr Butler and Dot had prepared a simple meal of roast chicken and various vegetables and potatoes. There were jugs of lemon squash and iced water on the table as well as a chilled bottle of wine for the adults.

Psyche was set by her mother on a cushion so she could reach the table. Janey cut her food up and gave her a spoon, but she preferred to use her fingers.

"Sorry, as I said her manners could do with improving."

"Two, you say?" Jack smiled, "my nephews and niece were much the same at that age."

"You have family, Inspector?"

"Please call me Jack," he nodded, "a sister, she has three children a little older than yours, Phryne has met them, they seemed to get along alright."

"They are lovely, Jack," Phryne helped Robert to a roast potato.

He tipped his head and helped Arthur spear some green beans onto his fork.

Arthur grinned and shoved the vegetables into his mouth.

Dinner continued with the children asking questions about police work, England and, in Robert's case, the aeroplane. Janey had never seen him so animated.

They ate dessert of apple pie and custard and William declared it a feast fit for a king.

"It was lovely, Mr Butler," Janey smiled, "I don't think I shall need to eat for the next week."

He just bowed his head politely, already planning the menus for the next few days and breakfast the next morning, Mrs Sinclair needed feeding up, he thought.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

With the children settled in bed, the kitchen tidied and Dot sent home when Hugh called to collect her at the end of his shift, the adults sat in the parlour with coffee.

Janey told her story while Jack made quick notes ready for looking at the house in Malvern the next day.

"So you see," she sipped her coffee, "I lived a better life than if I'd stayed in Collingwood. At least until you left for England, Phryne."

"Father didn't change that much. He was a bit kinder, still drank but better quality wine and whisky. I was sent to school to learn to be a young lady so I saw less of him." Phryne mused. "He got quite pompous; mother spent a lot of money on fine dresses dinners and balls and even had me presented at court after the war."

"How did that go?" her eyes were wide with wonder, "it must have been glorious."

"The king is a pleasant man, a twinkle in his eye but I don't like the Prince of Wales, he thinks this country is the gutter of the empire, calls the aboriginals close to monkeys. I cut him off in the middle of a waltz." Phryne tossed her head.

"Oh, not nice."

"Horrid man."

"Anyway, I went to Paris, of which I have fond and not so fond memories. Wild days, Janey …"

"What did you do?"

Phryne told her of modelling for Pierre Sarcelle, of Rene and how he had broken her. Jack slipped his arm round her, those memories still hurt, and of her adventures when she gained her legacy and returned to her native Melbourne.

"Goodness, Phryne!" Janey gasped. "you must be exhausted."

"I'm fine, Jack told me to live life to the hilt – for you – when Foyle led us up the garden path, and I intend to carry on, even now that you have been found."

"Good!" she raised her coffee cup, "here's to you and your curiosity …"

"Some may call it interference …" she looked at Jack with a twinkle in her eye.

"Never, love, wouldn't dream of it," he kissed her temple.

"Well, whatever it is, here's to it."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Janey lay in bed and thought about the way her life had taken a turn. She was worried that she would find out that Noah had deceived her by gambling or betting on horses like her father had done in her childhood. He was often out in the evening but when he was home he was a good husband, helped her with the children, he was gentle with her and in their continuing innocence still loved each other. Now, because he had been murdered, she had found her sister, found she had money and a title; Phryne said there would be enough for her to have her own house and her own Mr Butler. She hadn't the first idea how to find such a person – perhaps Mr Butler would help. She turned over and found sleep overtook her thoughts.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jack and Phryne talked long into the night, made love and cuddled until they too fell asleep. He advised her not to rush Janey into her new life, it was such a big change for her.

"I know having four small children in the house was never a need of yours, love," he put his arms round her waist and pulled her backside into his growing erection, "but it will be a lot for her to take in."

"I know, but I will make an appointment with the solicitor tomorrow. The first thing we need to do is have the legacy made over to her, then we can start to find her a house and staff. Do you think she'll want a nanny?"

"She seems to be doing rather well without one at the moment, I suppose it depends on what her housekeeper or cook is prepared to take on in the way of additional duties."

"You could be right … mmm, Jack," she purred as his fingers roamed slowly down into her curls.

"Best be quiet tonight love," he nibbled her ear lobe, "don't want to frighten the children."

Phryne could be quite vocal when she reached completion and she didn't like to hold back when Jack made love to her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The boys were awake first the following morning. They pulled on their robes and snuck downstairs to see if Mr Butler was about and if he was cooking anything in the kitchen.

"Morning, young masters," he turned and grinned, "and what would be your delight this morning?"

"What can we have, Mr Butler?" William looked around trying to get a sense of what might be available, he was used to porridge as it kept them going all morning and they weren't inclined to ask for snacks.

"Well, Miss Jane, that's your Aunt's ward, likes pancakes and fruit, there's always toast, I could do you eggs and bacon. You tell me what you'd like."

It was clear to the older man that given the choice they couldn't choose so he suggested he put out some of everything and they tried whatever they wanted.

"Oh, won't that be a lot of work for you, Mr Butler?"

"Not at all, the Inspector will want breakfast, your mother and Miss Psyche, I'm sure, will want something …"

"… and Aunt Phryne?"

"Ah, well, Miss Fisher will want coffee and maybe some toast, though when Miss Jane is home she will eat pancakes and fruit."

"Mum says a good breakfast will set you up for the day," William hummed.

"In that case, Master William, why don't you all sit down and I'll start cooking; have some orange juice while you wait." Mr Butler smiled and poured three glasses of the juice and set to work. Arthur wandered over to see what was in the pan.

"Now, now, Master Arthur," he guided him back to the table, "it's hot over here, you stay where you won't get burnt."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When Jack wandered downstairs he found the boys tucking into bacon and egg, pancakes and anything else Mr Butler had cooked.

"Good morning, sir," Mr Butler smiled, "bacon and eggs?"

"If there's any left," Jack laughed.

"Oh yes," he grinned, "though I will have to stock up today."

"Nice to see children tucking into good food, Mr B," Jack lifted the paper off the side, "and nice to see they aren't finicky eaters."

"I don't think that's going to be a problem, sir," he expertly broke two eggs into the pan.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By the time Phryne wandered down to bid farewell to Jack and remind him to call should he have need of her services, the children and Janey had eaten breakfast, Dot had arrived and plans for stocking up the cupboards were being made.

"Good morning, Miss," Mr Butler smiled, "your coffee is ready."

"Morning," she trilled, "thank you," she sipped the burning hot dark brew, "lovely."

"Pancakes and fruit, Miss?"

"Perfect," she peered over Jack's shoulder at the newspaper.

"I'm going to the house in Malvern, I suppose you want to join me," he hummed without looking at her.

"Is that an invitation, Inspector?" she teased.

"Didn't know you needed one."

"Let me ring the solicitor and make an appointment, then I'll ring Aunt P and see if she'd like some visitors – unless you want Janey to come with us?"

"Do you want to, Janey?" he looked across the table, "you don't have to. You've told me enough to find my way around."

"If you really don't need me, Jack, I think I'd rather go and see Aunt Prudence."

"Perfect," Phryne grinned and skipped out into the hall, closing the door behind her as she didn't want the children to hear what she was saying.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Mrs Stanley, please," she sat on the stairs.

"Morning, Aunt P, how are you?"

"I'm perfectly well, Phryne, what have you done?"

"Really, what do you think of me?"

"Hmph!"

"Aunt P, are you sitting down?"

"Should I be?"

"I think it wise, I have some astounding news."

"You and Jack aren't getting married at last, are you?"

"Not that, really," Phryne huffed, "No, you know this case we've been working on, the murders of young men whose only clue to their identity is a family photograph?"

"You've solved it?"

"Not yet, but, oh, Aunt P, the wife of the latest one came to identify his body and … Aunt P, you are sitting down, aren't you?"

"Get on with it, Phryne!"

"It's Janey …"

"Janey? surely you jest, Phryne, and if you do I must say it's in very poor taste."

"As if I'd joke about a thing like that. It really is my Janey …"

"Is she alright, I mean where has she been all these years?"

"She's fine, she has four little ones, William, Robert and Arthur and little Psyche, and she has been treated well. Would you like to see them?"

"Of course, Oh Phryne, this is the most wonderful news, have you told your parents?"

"Not yet, I thought I'd write and by the time they read the letter and set sail – they will come of that I have no doubt - she should have her own house and a housekeeper. I'm going to ring the solicitor then I can bring them over, if you're not busy."

"Anything else I have to do can wait. Now, how old are the children?"

"Eight, six, four and two."

"Goodness, what type of man was her husband, a baby every other year?" she huffed.

"Kind, she says, they were both a bit innocent and he had no family, she was sixteen when she married, William came along nine months later, I believe."

"I shall get some of my Arthur's toys down for them, oh, this is wonderful," Phryne could hear the smile in her voice, Mrs Stanley had always agreed that until they had proof Janey was out there somewhere.

Phryne rang the solicitor and made an appointment for the following day, then thought, while she was organising things she'd see if they could go to Madame Fleuri, or more precisely Renee as she dealt in prêt à porter; Janey could have fine evening gowns and tea dresses but first she just needed a new wardrobe for every day.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Of course Madame Fleuri still struggled with the idea her fashion house should be associated with prêt à porter and as Renee was not available to speak to Phryne decided not to take Janey there – they could shop in a department store in Melbourne for now and she could introduce Janey in due course.

"Clothes," Phryne smiled, "you can shop in a department store or a fashion house."

"Ooh, I'm not sure about a fashion house," Janey bit her bottom lip, "I mean I pick up what I can, alter and sew …"

"You won't have to penny pinch now, Janey," Phryne squeezed her hand, "you can have nicer clothes …"

"Phryne, do you think it would be alright if I wore trousers – I rather liked the ones you wore yesterday – they would be so practical when I'm with the children."

"Janey, darling, you can wear whatever you want, and if that's trousers … well why not?"

"I think it might scandalise mother," she giggled.

"Probably, on you you could be right, on me it was a case of Phryne doing her own thing, again."

"I still think I'm in a dream," Janey settled the children on the back seat of the car and slid into the passenger seat.

"If you are I'm in the same one. Oh Janey, I can't really believe it myself, that you are here, I want to show you Melbourne as we could only ever imagine it as children, and, we can go to Luna Park without having to sneak in. Jack took me on the scenic railway, he had to pay his dues in a small wager."

"That would be wonderful," she leant close to whisper, "but not the circus."

"No, not there. I took on a case there, once, but I kept looking over my shoulder and it nearly got me killed when I didn't."

"Oh Phryne, it sounds dangerous."

"It isn't always," she shrugged. "Now, Aunt P's house for today. I shall leave you there and go and help Jack."

"Oh, I forgot to give him the key," she dipped into her bag, "here," she held it up.

"Put it into my bag, please," Phryne smiled, "I expect he thought he'd have to let me pick the lock."

"Pick the lock!? Phryne!"

"One of father's more useful talents."

"Oh dear, this has me wondering what you would have done if you hadn't gone to England the way you did."

"I expect I'd have met Jack in the same way father knew most of the constabulary in Melbourne." Phryne turned into the drive of the Stanley residence, "I'm quite glad I didn't."

"So'm I." Janey smiled. "Oh, look, there she is." She waved at Prudence who was hopping from one foot to the other on the steps to the front door.

As the car slowed to a stop, Prudence came running, as best she could, down to the car and right round to Janey's door.

"Oh my dear, it really is you, oh goodness," she opened the door and gathered her into her arms like she used to when she was a child.

"Aunt Prudence," Janey giggled, "how lovely to see you, I have missed you. You look so well. Here, let me out and I'll introduce you to my children."

The boys tumbled out onto the drive and Psyche lifted her arms to be carried.

"Come on, Miss," her mother teased, "you've got two good legs you can use, now, say hello to Aunt Prudence … William, Robert, Arthur and this little minx is Psyche."

The two older boys shook Prudence's hand most politely, Arthur wrapped his little arms round her legs and she managed to chuck Psyche under the chin as a greeting.

"Come along, there's milk and biscuits and toys to play with. I want to get to know you." She disengaged Arthur's arms and led him into the house, closely followed by the others.

"She's not been this happy since poor Arthur passed," Phryne's eyes filled with tears, "his heart finally gave out."

"Dear Arthur, such a sweet boy," Janey smiled softly, "and Guy? Though he was pretty beastly to him."

"He didn't want him to attend his engagement party; he's in England with Isabella. Perhaps Aunt P can persuade them to come over."

What's he like, now he's grown up?"

"He hasn't grown up, he's a complete idiot, and as I said Isabella's an airhead – absolutely nothing between the ears but hot air and cobwebs."

Janey laughed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After about half an hour, Phryne left saying she had to get some evidence to Jack, by which she meant the key to the house in Malvern.

"I'll collect you all later …"

"Why don't you and Jack come over for dinner, Phryne?" Prudence stood to walk her to the door, "my chauffeur can help transport people back to your house."

"That would be lovely, Aunt P, check with Janey – the children are well mannered at the table, or they were last night, Psyche eats with her fingers though."

"She's only a baby, Phryne," her aunt scolded. "If I remember rightly you could be as bad at that age."

"Janey said she was like me." Phryne laughed, Prudence rolled her eyes. "Let me know what Janey thinks, you can leave a message at the station."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The house looked abandoned – there was no other way to describe it. In the nearly ten years since the last of the girls had left the paintwork had peeled, the roof tiles had slipped in places and the windows were dirty and cracked.

"It must have been a lovely house," Phryne mused.

"I've got Hugh looking at the Land Registry," Jack hummed.

"According to Janey the only people who came to the house were tradesmen. He didn't have any visitors." She handed him the key, "Janey says she forgot to give this to you. I told her you probably expected me to use my lock-picks."

He tipped his head and gave a little smile – it had crossed his mind.

The hallway was dark and there was a thick layer of dust covering the surfaces. Phryne handed Jack her lighter and nodded to the candles still standing in the sconces on the walls. He lit them and an eerie glow settled over the space; a spider scuttled across the floor and made Phryne jump, Jack smiled at a certain memory.

"Where do you want to start?" she asked.

"I think we should try the parlour, Janey said they spent most of their time in there, the study and the kitchen. We'll leave his room to last. The ambos should be here by then."

"Will the girls be charged?"

"They should be charged with concealing a death, but in reality, after all this time, I'm not going to suggest it, unless Mac finds a suspicious death. And they were only children, Phryne."

She let out a sigh, "thank you, Jack."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The house was much as Janey and the girls had left it, albeit covered in a layer of dust. They found no money but reasoned the girls would have taken their share as they set off for their new lives.

The kitchen had been emptied, any food either eaten or taken and everything left neat and tidy.

"Can't fault the housekeeping," Phryne hummed.

"No."

In the study Phryne set about investigating the bureau.

"I'm sure Janey will have looked through that," Jack scanned the bookshelves.

"Maybe there's a secret drawer … lots of bureaus of this age have secret hidey-holes for love letters and such." She smiled, "but it would seem not this one."

"I'm thinking his rooms, where the girls only went to take him his morning tea," Jack stood up and brushed the dust from his coat. "Interesting texts on the shelves, though: poetry, history, science, mathematics … it would be quite easy for Janey to educate herself. There are also cookery books, art – not as exciting as yours – atlases for geography, French and German literature – whoever he was he was very well read."

"I'm beginning to think I might have liked him."

"Reserve that judgement until we find out who the devil he was."

Phryne looked at him and smiled, "you sound like a protective father," she almost laughed.

"Do I?" he frowned, "I didn't mean to."

"It's alright, Jack, you're probably better at it than our actual father." She put her hand on his arm and kissed his cheek. "I suppose we'd better find the man in question?"

"Right, I suppose you're coming?"

"You can see to the body, I'll 'discreetly search'," she shrugged.

"Of course you will."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The room was dark, the drapes falling apart, the carpet moth eaten as were the bedclothes and the sheet Janey had covered the man with thirteen years ago. Phryne carefully drew the drapes back to allow some light into the room. They almost fell apart in her gentle touch and as she turned and the dust motes floated in the air she saw Jack gingerly lift the sheet and uncover the face.

"Hm, desiccated, no apparent injuries, no fear in what's left of the face …" he dropped the sheet back. "Anything?"

She was looking through his desk drawers, lifting papers and setting them on the top.

"Lots, but it all needs reading slowly. There's a journal, papers, letters, bank books …" she turned to him, "can we take it with us, to read?"

"Alright," he agreed, "but I think I can hear the soft tread of the ambos, so let's get him out and lock up. We can come back if we need to."