Chapter Three

Phryne did talk to Mary. Though the girl was rather surprised by the topic of the conversation. The said topic was no longer a small red something at the bottom of the basket, but a three year old boy named Mark that wrecked havoc on Aunt Prudence household, but the matron did not mind much. Phryne was surprised by such attitude, since, to her knowledge, Aunt Prudence was as proper and strict as they come, but the child's laughter seemed to fill her with energy and hope for yet another day.

Phryne asked Mary about pregnancy and labor and problems of bringing up the boy with her rather limited resources. Phryne disguised the questions as much as possible not to reveal the reason the topic interested her. It came out that Mary married the new gardener just three months ago. The man was eighteen years older than Mary and they did not marry because of some great passion, but they were happy, even thinking about having another child in two or three years.

Phryne returned to Wardlow with mixed feelings. Why did Jack tell her to talk to Mary? Was he trying to convince her to keep the baby? To bring up the child on her own? She cannot give the baby up, because it is a blessing not everybody is given? Well, they can have this baby, this is the reason the adoption procedure was created, isn't? But what if she does an abortion? Nothing lost, nothing gained, life goes on the same way it was before. But does she want it this way?

The ultimate question of what next. Another case? Waiting for Jane to come to Melbourne? And what if she does not? What if she starts life in France, Italy, India? She is not a child anymore, she is not obligated to return to the nest, she must spread her wings, fly high.

What awaits Honorable Miss Fisher in the future? Cec is married to Alice and bringing up a son, Bert could be married in the very near future (he spends an excessive amount of time with some girl he does not want to introduce), Dot is half through decorating a nursery (she does not want her mistress to know, but Miss Fisher has eyes and ears), the announcement about Dot's pregnancy is if not days then only months away.

So where does it leave Phryne? She is no spinster, but is it enough? Has she lived her life to the fullest? Maybe she needed to talk to one more woman.

…

Locating Rosie Robinson nee Sanderson turned out to be more difficult than it should have been since she was now Rosie Chesterton nee Robinson nee Sanderson. Phryne admired the woman for her spirit. Or it was probably self-preservation. Rosie Sanderson was not a woman who strived to be independent, she was a woman with a single goal – to be a wife, to be cared after. But she was not discouraged since her previous endeavors fell through. Phryne's research informed her that Rosie married seven months ago a rather wealthy gentleman whose business was with construction. Phryne found it strange Jack did not mention anything about his ex-wife remarriage.

"What a great surprise, Miss Fisher!"

"Excuse me for appearing without any previous agreement-"

"Please, do not apologize, it is an utter delight to see you!"

Phryne was lead into a richly but tastefully decorated parlor. A wealthy gentleman indeed.

Rosie called for early lunch and at least three maids started running in preparation. Somewhere deep Phryne thought Rosie did it with intention to show off her wealth to an honorable visitor but with only one maid. Or she was just overthinking this.

"Thank you again for admitting me, Missis Chesterton."

"Rosie, please."

"Call me Phryne then. I was not aware you have remarried. Congratulations."

"Strange. Jack did send us a card."

"I am not knowledgeable of everything Jack does."

"Are you not?"

The implications behind that simple question… "I came to discuss a rather personal subject. I would like for our conversation to remain between us. That includes Jack."

"Well, Phryne, this is rather unexpected, but, please, go on."

"I will be frank with you. I am considering having a child."

"Jack's child?"

"Erm, no. Just a child. In general. And while we were discussing this topic-"

"So it must be his, if you were discussing it with him."

The woman did have a point. "No, he was warning me."

"Warning?"

There was no way around it, so Phryne just blurted, "He told me about your child. And before you accuse him of sharing such private story with a stranger, Jack did not think that I will be talking to you about it."

"He still had no right."

"It was his child too."

"Yes, well…"

"I want you to tell me why you stopped trying."

"Stopped trying?"

"Why did not you try for another child?"

"Because I could not bear to lose another one! You cannot understand what I went through! Looking at that dead tiny body… I had nightmares for weeks!"

"No, I cannot understand. But what I also cannot understand is why you just tossed your husband aside as if he was dead too. Did you even love him?"

"Of course I did!"

"Then why did you deprive him from having children? Why did you not adopt? Or only your children were worthy enough?"

SLAP! "How dare you say something like that, Miss Fisher?"

"I dare a lot of things, Missis Chesterton." The slap hurt, but somehow Phryne felt excellent. "Be happy in your marriage. Hopefully, you deserve this man, you definitely did not deserve Jack Robinson."

"And you do?"

Phryne doubted it.

…

"Miss Fisher, Inspector is calling to enquire if you will be-"

"Hello, Jack? What is this nonsense again? Just come. You are always welcome in this house. Yes, I do have something to tell you."

"Dinner for two, miss?"

"Yes… No… No, just tea."

….

"I decided to keep the baby. …And you do not seem to be particularly surprised, Jack."

"No, I am not. But I will not be surprised if you have not thought it through."

"I do take offense to that!"

"I apologize. But I keep my position."

"What is your apology worth then? What is there to think about? I will raise the child as my own."

"As a single mother?"

"There are hundreds of single mothers out there. This is nothing new. And before you deny my capability-"

"No one is born with the skill to be a parent, Phryne. But there are things you need to consider before you become one. Have you thought about the social backlash you and this child will receive after it is born?"

"As if I care about what those old gossiping hags are talking about! Scandal is my middle name and I am rather proud of it. They are old-fashioned and close-minded. In their minds, a single woman cannot bring a child up, but only because according to their understanding a woman is a weak, dependent creature that must always be attached to a pair of pants. Well, pants are the rage of women's fashion nowadays."

"And the child? You want to condemn this innocent boy or girl to be teased and bullied by his or her peers for not having a proper family? To be born out of wedlock, abandoned by his or her father because he did not want his child, because there is something wrong with him or her? The children see the world in black and white, they do not yet understand the world in its complexity. Sooner or later the question will be raised. No matter what lie you tell, it will hurt and possibly destroy the bond between you and your child."

"I do not need to lie, I will tell the truth."

"Which is, Phryne? An accident? A random dalliance? There is nothing worse to tell your child that he or she was unwanted."

"Unwanted does not mean unloved, Jack. I love Jane with all my heart and her appearance in my life was utterly unexpected."

"Have you already devised what you will tell her about your condition?"

"…Not entirely. But she is a grownup, she will understand."

"So this is your final decision, Phryne?"

"Yes, and you can do nothing to change it. Raising a child is not an easy process, but I will cross certain bridges when I reach them."

"There is another way… for you and your child to live without the public scorn (to a degree)."

"And what way could that possibly be?"

Phryne blinked then blinked again, but the small black box did not disappear from the table. The meaning of the container was painfully clear and could not be mistaken for anything else. She was yet again speechless. So many men went through her life, but none of them had actually dared to present similar box to her. Even if some were getting rather attached, her declaration of never being able to commit to a single man scared them off into the sunset.

She moved her glance from the confusing box to the man who dared to present it to her. He sat in the same chair he usually sat being in her parlor. She subconsciously started calling it 'Jack's chair' – his own place in her house. He was sitting there, piercing her with the knowledgeable gaze she was slightly afraid of, afraid he will see too much of her, see the real her. What is worse, Phryne have not managed to see the real Jack Robinson no matter how much she tried. She was sure he was much more than his usual calm and collected exterior; and yes, very rarely Phryne was sure she caught the glimpses of Jack's real self. When he smiled or played the piano or looked at her in that special way she has yet to completely decipher.

"It is getting late, I better leave you to your thoughts."

She caught him at the doorstep of the parlor. She just had to know. "Do you have a habit of having engagement rings at your disposal, Jack?"

"It was my grandmother's. Was gathering dust in the safe for fifteen years."

Phryne turned the little black box between her fingers. Yes, she had a lot to think about.