/ / SATURDAY - Midmorning / /
Orpheus sat at the dining table the next morning frowning in disapproval as Phryne padded barefoot into the room. Her hair hadn't been combed, or her face washed, and she wore just a nightdress with a robe thrown over her shoulders, the loose tie slipping further undone as she sat and yawned widely.
In contrast he had been up since the rise of the sun, had showered, shaved, oiled his hair and dressed in his freshly pressed clothes before walking down stairs and accepting the paper and breakfast with tea.
"Ah, coffee," Phryne smiled weakly as Mr Butler set down a pot in front of her and poured it into a cup.
"Phryne," Orpheus scolded, "it is the middle of the morning."
"Hmm? Yes I suppose it is."
"You aren't even dressed."
She met his eye, arching an eyebrow that hadn't yet been drawn, "I promise I will dress before we go out, Orpheus."
"That's not what I- oh fine. I cannot believe you've become a- a-"
"A what?" She smirked and sipped her coffee -perfect- enjoying her brother's sudden flusterment.
"A flapper."
Phryne gasped theatrically. "What on Earth gave it away?" she wondered aloud. "Relax, brother dear, I will dress momentarily. Do allow me to wake up first though, if you will. We have a big day ahead."
"Yes," Orpheus seized the change of topic with both hands, "what is the plan, Phryne?"
"Well I need to meet with someone this morning, but I shall drop you back at Births, Deaths and Marriages if you like. Find the record of baby Baker, compare it with that of Ivy -birth date and place and such- then take note of the parents' names."
He nodded and Phryne smiled. "Well then," she said brightly, "I will just eat my breakfast and then get myself ready."
From that moment until the two were slipping into the Hispano Suiza ready to go, two hours had passed. Irritated and anxious for their task to begin, Orpheus sat next to her in the car, trying not to comment as Phryne drove recklessly through Melbourne.
She took him to Births, Deaths and Marriages as planned and Orpheus alighted before turning to her. "What time will you be back?" he asked.
"I'm not sure. Ta-ra!" and before he could even offer a farewell of his own Phryne had pulled back into traffic and was off.
She took herself to City South and parked the red car amongst a sea of black, shutting off the engine and stepping down to the pavement. Taking a deep breath and straightening her neck Phryne walked directly into the police station and passed the desk duty officer with a cheeky wave, ignoring them completely as they called after her.
The young officer gave up as she pushed open the door to Jack's office, and she smiled, letting herself in before shutting the door behind her.
"Miss Fisher!" Jack exclaimed, looking up at her in surprise.
"Hello Inspector," she said, "I received your note."
Jack swallowed, his eyes flickering across her face and she knew he was trying to read her. Trying to guess what she was there to say, trying to see if he needed to build himself up for another disagreement.
"I want us to have a chance to talk," Phryne continued, "This will never work if we do not trust each other, completely."
Her eyes flashed and Jack nodded, resisting the desire to drop his gaze as he remembered the accusation he'd made of her.
"What do you suggest?"
"Dinner. Tonight. But it can't be at my house. Orpheus is there and I don't want him to-" she drifted off.
"I'd be happy to cook for you at my house."
"Yes?"
"Of course."
Tentatively Phryne smiled, "Wonderful Jack. Around eight o'clock?"
He nodded, daring to smile back at her.
Phryne stepped forward then and sat down in the chair by his desk. "I don't suppose I could ask you a favour before I go, Jack dear?"
She was manipulating him. It was as clear as the impish smile on her face. But Jack could not bring himself to care much. She wanted to talk, to work things out. She was not running at the first signs of unstable ground, as a small part of him had feared she would.
"You can always ask, Phryne," he said, "and without offering any promises, I will see what I can do."
"Can you find if there is any record of Joan Baker and her husband adopting a child in 1906?"
He frowned, "I can try. Who is she?"
"Mrs Baker? I've no idea. But I think her daughter might be my niece."
"Your brother's lost child?"
"Yes."
Jack nodded, "Well then, Phryne. I will try my best, and get back to you."
Phryne beamed. "Thank you, Jack," and she stood and moved back toward the door. "I may be out all day, but if you find anything call and leave a message with Dot or Mr Butler."
"Of course."
"I'll see you tonight," she said, "and, oh! I almost forgot."
Stopping suddenly and dropping her hand from the door handle, Phryne strode quickly across the room then bent down, one hand reaching for Jack's cheek. She kissed him, swallowing his gasp of surprise as she pressed her tongue teasingly to his.
After a few dizzying moments she pulled back, forehead pressed to his, their heavy breaths mingling in the air between them.
"Thank you for my flowers," Phryne whispered, and with a pat of his cheek she straightened herself up and left, Jack staring somewhat gobsmacked after her.
/ / /
Phryne returned to Births Deaths and Marriages and found Orpheus at the same tables they'd used the day before. He had two certificates before him, and was writing notes with a fountain pen styled with his name in gold.
"They match," he said, looking up at his sister with bright eyes. "Ivy Elizabeth Thomas and Louise Anne Baker. Same birthday, as we expected, and Louise's parents are listed as Joan -like you remembered- and William Baker. But look at this Phryne, Verity Lane signed as the attending midwife on both!"
"Excellent news!" Phryne enthused. "Let's celebrate over lunch."
Orpheus frowned, "Aren't we going to try find the Baker's?" he asked.
"Of course we are going to try; but my telephone directory is at home," Phryne explained with a kind smile, "we'll return and have a look through it for Mr and Mrs Baker while we eat."
And so Orpheus returned the certificates to their rightful places and followed his sister out of the building, to her car. They climbed in and made the journey back to St Kilda faster than they legally should have, and swept inside.
"Dot!" Called Phryne as she removed her hat and coat at the front door. "Bring me the telephone directory, we need to find Mr and Mrs William Baker."
She moved through to the kitchen where Mr Butler sat at the table polishing cutlery. "Mr B, I don't suppose you could whip up something simple for lunch? Sandwiches will be fine, it's just myself and Orpheus."
"Certainly, Miss."
She smiled and turned on her heel, moving to the parlour where Orpheus now sat. Jane sat across from him, a book in her lap, and the girl looked up as Phryne entered the room.
"Here's the telephone directory, Miss Phryne," she said, standing to pass the book to her adoptive mother. "Who are Mr and Mrs Baker?"
Phryne frowned, "Jane, what are you doing home, shouldn't you be at school- but, oh, it's Saturday isn't it?"
"Yes, and I've done most of my homework."
"Excellent; thank you Jane."
Jane smiled, but continued to look at Phryne curiously, waiting for the answer to her question.
"Mr and Mrs Baker are the parents of a girl Orph- Uncle Jack has asked me to find."
"Oh," that wasn't nearly as interesting as Jane had hoped.
"Why don't you go and see if Dot has some baking she needs help with?" Phryne suggested, "Or finish the rest of your homework in my study?"
Jane smiled and nodded, leaving Phryne and Orpheus alone with the directory.
Phryne took a seat in the chair closest to Orpheus and sat the directory on the small table she often used to play draughts with Jack. She opened the book and began to turn pages, scanning the names listed quickly until she came to B.
"Here we are, now let's see. Baalman, Backman, Backshall ...Badger, no...Bailey, Bain, Baines, Bake, ah Baker."
"There's a lot of them," Orpheus commented.
"Hmm, yes. But that's why we went back for the certificate. We know we want William and Joan, and here see? Baker William, Baker Joan Mrs. We have found them."
She stood and tore a page of note paper from the telephone table in the hall, then found a pencil and returned to her seat, copying out the address and telephone number for 'Baker William and Baker Joan Mrs'.
"Lunch is ready, Miss," Mr Butler appeared in the doorway.
"Fantastic timing, Mr B," Phryne beamed.
They were joined by Dot and Jane for their lunch, the small group conversing idly on the nice day and plans for the afternoon.
"Matilda from school rang this morning, Miss Phryne, she invited me to afternoon tea. May I go?"
"Of course," Phryne smiled. "What about you Dot, do you have any plans?"
"Yes, Miss," Dot nodded. "Today is Hugh's day off, we're going to go for a walk, then have our picnic."
"Lovely."
Jane sipped her lemonade, "What are your plans today Miss Phryne? Did you find the Bakers?"
"We did," Phryne replied, "But I don't think we should disturb their Saturday afternoon. No, I will ring them later today and arrange to meet them on Monday morning."
"What?" Orpheus demanded. "Phryne, I thought-"
"We need to talk about how best to approach this, before jumping into these people's lives. And you still need to explain it all to Aunt Prudence, or had you forgotten that part of our deal?"
Orpheus turned back to his food, fuming silently at his sister but knowing she was right. They couldn't just knock on the Baker's doors and claim their daughter as his own. And he had promised to talk to their aunt; the woman deserved to know, he supposed, that she may have a great niece as well as a great nephew. And what an awful conversation it would be, he thought.
Aunt Prudence had never really forgiven Orpheus for being conceived out of wedlock. It was his conception that lead to his mother marrying below her place and moving to Collingwood with his father, who of course, Aunt Prudence had never approved of. He imagined that his abandonment of Celia and their child would put him even lower in her books. But he had a good wife and a good business and a good son back in Sydney, and he had tried to do the best he could by Celia, sending all the money he could spare until she'd asked him to stop.
The rest of their lunch passed without much comment. When they were finished Orpheus moved to the parlour and browsed the bookcase for a book to read. Dot went upstairs to finish some mending before getting ready for her outing with Hugh, and Jane called her friend Matilda to say she would be coming to afternoon tea in four hours time.
Phryne moved to the kitchen and told Mr Butler she would not be home for dinner that evening, then headed upstairs to rest.
At half past three she woke to a gentle knock at her door and Jane poked her head into the room.
"Miss Phryne?" she asked. "Mr Butler wants to know if you're taking me to Matilda's house or if you want him to drive."
Phryne sat up and stretched her arms high before lowering them slowly to her sides. "I'll take you, Jane dear," she murmured. "I just need a moment to refresh myself."
Jane nodded and left with a smile, closing the door behind her.
Fifteen minutes and a change of clothes later Phryne once again climbed into her Hispano Suiza, this time with Jane at her side, and pulled out into the streets of St Kilda.
The drive was pleasant and quiet, and when they arrived Phryne parked her car on the street, and stepped out with Jane.
"Call Bert or Cec when you're ready to come home," she said, walking Jane down the front path to a fine but rather modest house. "I won't be at dinner, so please behave for your Uncle."
It was strange to keep calling him that. But Jane smiled and promised to be good, then reached out to ring the bell. A maid answered the door and welcomed the guests, Phryne stepped inside just long enough to exchange greetings with Matilda and her mother before she said goodbye to Jane and walked out again.
She headed down the path to the Hispano, deciding not to go directly home again.
Having Orpheus so close after so long was a very peculiar feeling. Especially when his arrival had prompted her first fight with Jack. But it was nothing they wouldn't fix, so perhaps she shouldn't hold it against him; after all it wasn't Orpheus who decided not to tell Jack who he was.
But she still didn't want to go home to him.
Instead she drove placidly through the streets, obeying the speed limits as she went and idly watching the Melbourne streets as she passed through them. After half an hour of aimless wandering she stopped at a park. She recognised the area as being one she usually passed through on the way to Jack's house.
Climbing out of the car Phryne walked along the green grass until she found a bench under a nice tree.
It wasn't often that Phryne allowed herself to be completely alone with her thoughts. But she had had a long and emotional week. It would do her good, probably, to relax and think things slowly through. Especially if she was going to see Jack at dinner that night. They needed to talk properly, not -as Phryne was so sorely tempted to do- sleep together and pretend the fight never happened.
But her thoughts did not want to cooperate. Thinking of Jack simply made her miss him, made her consider how weak she'd become and how much better things had seemed when she'd been with him that morning. She sighed. She would see him soon enough, just another few hours and she would be at his house.
He'd offered to make dinner, Phryne remembered with a smile. She stood up, ready to return to her car, and thought about what he might prepare for them. What did a single man cook for himself, she wondered, and what would he cook for his... sweetheart?
Was she Jack Robinson's sweetheart? Phryne wasn't sure she'd ever been anybody's sweetheart. Her cheeks began to ache and she realised she was smiling again.
Shaking her head quickly and silently bemoaning her silliness, Phryne reached a hand out to the door of her car.
"Excuse me, Miss?"
She turned, jumping slightly as the voice pulled her from her thoughts.
A man stood before her, leaning back on an old car of faded black. The engine was running she noticed, frowning slightly.
"Yes?"
"Are you Miss Fisher?" he asked.
He had something in his hand. Something dirty, perhaps a handkerchief?
"Yes."
The stranger smiled suddenly, his eyes alight in a way that made the hairs on the back of Phryne's neck stick up. She should kick him in the shins, she thought, then climb into her car and hope it started promptly. And that he didn't follow her.
"I was hoping it was you," he said, and then all too quickly he jumped forward, grabbing the back of her head with one hand, his fingers pulling painfully at her hair as the other hand came to close over her nose and mouth.
She could feel the fabric of his handkerchief against her face. Could smell the chloroform as her eyes began to sting and her head became heavy and woozy.
Phryne struggled, her arms weakly trying to push him away, but his grip was too strong, and her feet, now kicking madly in the hopes he'd drop her, couldn't coordinate themselves to hit anything. She heard a strange thud of something scraping along the path, heard the stranger laugh as her eyelids drooped.
Darkness encompassed her, and Phryne Fisher fell limp in her attacker's arms.