Chapter Thirteen

"I see, you were serious about having a child."

Phryne turned around at the familiar voice the owner of which she did not expect to see that evening. Though now Phryne did recall that her aunt mentioned inviting the Chestertons and Phryne just waved it off saying that Aunt P could invite whoever she wanted.

"Rosie… You look well."

"I think, we can skip the pleasantries. Is this Jack's child?"

Phryne was not surprised by the question. She did not know however what good it would do for Rosie to know the answer. "There is something I have been wanting to ask you for some time, if you answer truthfully than I will do the same to this and any other question you want."

"This is a tempting proposition, Missis- ah, this is rather awkward to call you by the name I once bore."

"Indeed."

"I agree to your terms. A private setting is more suitable, is it not?"

"I completely agree." Phryne searched for Jack with her eyes and found him near the back of the room talking to the sent constable. He looked delightful in his tuxedo, but not because of the well tailored suit, but the very posture that exuded confidence and strength. At that same moment, Jack turned his head and their eyes connected in silent conversation. Phryne mouthed 'blue parlor' and tilted her head towards her future interlocutor. Jack frowned in confusion seeing his current wife planning to converse with his former wife. Phryne gestured for him not to worry and headed to the blue parlor hand in hand with Missis Chesterton.

"What is it you wanted to ask, hm… Phryne?"

"Why did you give Jack up, Rosie?"

"What do you mean?"

"I do not understand how a woman can have such a man and give him up. He is highly intelligent, an accomplished musician, a man of great physic and beauty. The way he dances and sings, embellishes his speech with most beautiful quotations. The man of honor, endless kindness and integrity. Not to mention, an amazing lover. How could you let such a man go? How could you push him out of your bed?"

"The war-"

"The war changed everybody, it is not an excuse to abandon your husband."

"I did not abandon him! When Jack returned from the war, he was different, broken. Withdrawn, melancholic, without a purpose. If he played, which was rare, the tunes were so sad they made me cry. But he was not the only one. We, the wives of other veterans, gathered together to find the solution, to help our husbands to truly return back to us. The nightmares, the depression, the unexpected flares of anger. I went through it all. And I really wanted to help, but he did not let me in. His pride would not let me. But that was not the worst of it. Other men returned to their jobs, the tailors, the butchers, the bakers, but the war did not stop for Jack. He continued to kill. During his first year in the service after the war he killed six suspects. Six! The number gradually decreased with the years, but I just could not share my bed with a killer! And then the baby died-"

"As if Jack killed his child."

"Yes!"

"He did not kill Sydney Fletcher, though, and I am not sorry to say that the bastard deserved that bullet. One does not need to take a life to destroy it and you willingly shared the bed with that man."

"I did not know!"

"Yes, you did not. Does not mean, that the suspects Jack shot did not deserve it. It could have been self-defense for all you know. But let us not dwell on the past. I still do not understand how you could exchange Jack for such pretentious scum as Fletcher but heart is blind."

"For a long time Jack was not who you describe him to be. I do not remember when was the last time I heard him laugh. All I remember is the pain, screams and tears. And silence. You can accuse me of being blind towards Sydney's true nature, but I wanted to feel like a woman again and he gave me that. Yes, I was blind, but at least I was happy for a while. You promised to answer my question in return. Is Jack the father of your child?"

"No, but he will be."

"You cheated on him and he still married you?! Does he even know it is not his?"

"I have never cheated on Jack."

One did not need to be a Lady Detective to understand what that statement insinuated. "So you are only using him. You do not love him. How is it better than what I, according to you, did?"

"I care for Jack very deeply."

"And what happens if you lose the baby? You will leave him to continue with you previous lifestyle?"

"No. I will never do something like this to Jack. I will not divorce him, neither will I leave him. I lived through the war, I know what Jack went through. I am amazed at his ability to remain sane, to fight that nightmare off. I am sorry that your marriage must have been sacrificed for that, but Rosie… you did not fight hard enough. Jack is worthy that fight."

"And you are worthy to be with him?"

"No and I doubt I will ever be."

There was a painfully familiar knock at the door and Jack entered without waiting for a response. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, Jack. Missis Chesterton was just leaving."

"I wish you an easy delivery, Missis Robinson."

…

"With all this commotion around the baby, we have never discussed your marriage, Phryne dear."

Phryne looked up at her aunt from buttering the toast. She put it down on her plate and went on to pouring another cup of tea, prolonging any kind of response on her part.

Aunt Prudence was not to be deterred, however. "I did not object to Guy's marriage to Isabella, because, frankly, I doubted it would last. And believe me, they are not drawing divorce papers only because their finances I tied up in some joined venture. But it is their business-"

"As is my marriage."

"Yes, yes, but, Phryne, I just want you to have a normal marriage without your usual flippancy. Even if the circumstances were not favorable in the beginning, you can still build a proper family."

"What do you mean 'not favorable'?!" Phryne bristled, putting her cup down with a loud clunk, making her aunt fear for the state of her precious china.

"Do not take me for a fool, dear. Jack Robinson can be of low station, but he proved himself to be a man of high moral values. If his intentions had been honorable, he would have made them known right from the start. There would have been a proper period of courting, a properly long engagement and then a proper wedding, not a rushed ceremony in a public office with no reception or guests."

"So this is your only concern? For my wedding not being a proper social event?!"

"No, Phryne, my concern is for you to be happy. I saw you two yesterday in the music room. You were singing some silly songs, but you were laughing, you looked like you were enjoying yourself. And then in the garden…"

Phryne smiled, recalling the circumstances Aunt P. was describing. Jack and she hid themselves from Mrs. Stanley's prying and judging eyes in the music room to spend some time in private. Jack was playing the songs from the sheet music Phryne recently acquired. It was pure fun. Later in the evening they reclined in one of the garden's secluded spots with her lying against Jack, who rubbed her belly in slow circles. Not much was said. Phryne has never enjoyed silence as she did then. Being in Jack's arms brought the yet unfamiliar feeling of contentment. Phryne made it her mission to not being content with anything, never stopping her search for the bigger, more exciting adventure, but not anymore. Jack left only a couple of hours ago and she was already missing his warmth, missing his very presence.

"It is not appropriate to spy on people during their private moments, Aunt Prudence."

"I was not spying! I just happened to be in the vicinity."

"Oh, just say what you so desperately want to say!"

"Let us have it your way then, Phryne. I will ask directly. Did you marry just not to disgrace this family even further or do you actually love the man?"

Phryne had never founded the activity of buttering a toast more fascinating.

…..

"I understand, Jack. You cannot do anything about it... Make sure that that bastard spends the rest of his life behind bars. …Yes, I feel fine. … You do not need to worry about anything. Dot came for a visit for a couple of days. … Yes, both she and Hugh are making it to the party. … At least next year I will be able to dance with you properly. … Be save, cheri."

"Is everything alright, ma'am? Are you… crying? Did something happen?!" Dot rushed to Phryne as the she saw her mistress hunched over the telephone.

"Jack cannot make it to my birthday party. He is being held in court for a whole week. But he said he would be here on Christmas."

"Cheer up, ma'am, it is only four days away."

"Four more days, Dot."

"Pregnant women surely are emotional," one of the maids remarked in passing.

Somehow Dot was not sure that Missis Robinson's tears could be attributed only to pregnancy.

….

After four excruciating days Christmas did come with Jack arriving driving the new Robinsons household's car which was technically Phryne's present for him. But since they had a joint bank account and Phryne could not personally make the transaction, it fell on Jack to inspect and deliver their new toy. Instead of grabbing the keys and wobble to take the ride in the brand new and shining vehicle, Phryne grabbed onto Jack and greeted him rather passionately in the middle of the entrance hall and her aunt's rules be damned.

The Christmas party was more or less a family affair, but Doctor Macmillan was also invited along with Albert, Cecil and Mr. Butler. Aunt Prudence was strangely lenient that year, allowing her staff to join the celebration so the whole event was turning to be remarkably informal. The dinner was followed by the coco in the music room where Jack took charge of the grand piano with Phryne by his side to provide dance music for the eclectic audience. Eclectic meaning not only people of different social classes but ages too, since a large number of staff's children was also present. Despite her declaration some years ago of her not doing children, Phryne spent quite some time with if not playing with Mary's son (since she could not possible run after the unstoppable boy with endless sources of energy), but at least watching their interactions for long periods of time. She took her preparations to be a mother quite seriously.

The party was slowly winding down with children already half asleep, but Jane wanted just one more game to play. The game that involved semi-parasitic greenery. Phryne and Jack were engrossed in a conversation about the car and the jazz tunes that were his present to Phryne, so they missed various couples ambushed by Jane, including Aunt Prudence and Mr. Butler, particularly Mrs. Stanley's blush after Mr. Butler brushed a kiss against her cheek.

"Now Jack and Phryne!"

Both were startled by the appearance of mistletoe in front of them. They were instantly transported to the almost identical moment during the celebration of Christmas in July. Moving just several inches towards each other could have changed their lives that day, but they did not, paralyzed by fears and misconceptions about each other.

"We are waiting!" Jane urged them on. Despite clear attraction between her foster parents, she had yet to see any displays of affection. Even Dot and Hugh shared light kisses in others' presence.

"There is no need to put us on display just for your entertainment-" Phryne started to protest, but stopped, feeling Jack's pulling her toward him.

"There is nothing for us to hide from now, cheri."

Jane clearly exaggerated her knowledge about men to Jack, since she had not yet seen anyone kissing like that. She also understood that if she witnessed such kissing on regular basics, she would be in constant state of embarrassment, since there was so much raw emotion shared in that kiss, emotion that was so intimate that should be kept only between them.

Aunt Prudence did make everybody sing another Christmas carol that time. However she did knew something her niece had not realized as of yet. She prayed Phryne realized it soon, since her happiness was indeed Prudence Stanley's concern.

…..

Closer to New Year's Jack managed to get a day off to spend it with Phryne. They found an extremely comfortable couch for Phryne to lie on in one of drawing rooms where hopefully no one will disturb them. Though it could be argued that Phryne's comfort depended more on Jack rubbing her feet than the lavish couch upholstery.

"I have a confession to make, Phryne."

"Sounds serious."

"It is."