Chapter Sixteen
The next two months were hectic in the Robinsons' household, first of all because they were still living on two houses. Phryne surprised absolutely everybody with her decision to breastfeed the baby herself for as long as she could. Dot had to get back to her own family, but Jane staid to help out.
Jack wanted to take leave to share the responsibilities for the newborn, but since his promotion did hinder on the convictions of the Irish mobsters, he had no choice but to spend considerable time at the station. Though, he did drive every day to the Stanley's residence to be with his wife and daughter. On Phryne insistence he slept in one of the guestrooms on the opposite end of the house so the baby's cries did not wake him. That was not an easy choice for both Jack and Phryne, but the practicality of it was clear to both of them.
One of the parlors was turned into the investigation headquarters where Jack and Phryne conducted a joined detective work on the evidence in the Irish mob case. Despite of disrupted sleeping patterns Phryne was completely engrossed into the investigation since so much was at stake. Adele's cradle was always close by if she needed attendance. The baby's constant presence at the headquarters did bring up some embarrassing situations…
Once Hugh arrived late in the evening to bring transcripts of the interviews conducted during the day and almost let the papers fly around the room when he saw Phryne's state of dress, well more like undress. She was in deep discussion with Jack so did not acknowledge Hugh's beat red face and eyes that were looking everywhere but at her. Hugh finally neared the table and put the papers onto the lid, still averting his glance looking rather comical in the process.
"What is wrong with Hugh?" Phryne asked upon the Leading Senior Constable's leave.
"I think, you should cover yourself before allowing anyone to enter, cheri."
Phryne looked down onto her gown which she found very presentable and even modest. Oh. Adele was contently sucking on her breast that made the said breast completely exposed. "He will get used to it."
Hugh Collins has no choice but to get used to it.
…
April rolled around without anyone noticing. Only Richard Hastings, who reluctantly agreed to go into service for the Robinsons (he had no other place to go, so why not?), did and only because Mr. Butler constantly reminded him to be on his best behavior and do everything properly (not leave even a speck of dust on the piano! (another form of torture surely)) because the masters are finally coming home. Richard was definitely intrigued. He has not spoken to Detective Inspector or his pregnant wife since the day they visited him in his cell with an unexpected proposition. Mr. Butler did keep him updated on the going ons, like that the mistress gave birth to a girl, but he had no idea what the Robinsons were actually like.
He was slightly afraid of the Inspector. He seemed to be a good sort. Richard only briefly saw him when he appeared at the residence late at night. The Inspector always looked sad and distraught, so Richard stayed away from him, not to butt into other people business.
But no matter what young Richard thought about his masters, they were coming home at last.
…
"Jack? Is that you?" Phryne called out, hearing the front door open and close.
"Yes. Are you ready?"
Phryne hurried down the stairs to reunite with her husband. They saw each other only yesterday, but it was mostly a fleeting moment of them being alone together. The whole day was spent unpacking, settling Adele in her new nursery, admitting friends that somehow found out she was back in town and then Jack left for the courthouse… And in the morning he needed to go to the Central for the… inauguration or something of the kind.
Phryne reached the bottom of the stairs and… Phryne Fisher swooned for no man. No matter how handsome, alluring or seductive he was she did not allow all her senses to be overwhelmed to the point of completely losing her grasp on reality. That is until Jack Robinson stepped through the door wearing a police uniform.
She came right then and there, in broad daylight without even a word or a touch. The orgasm was so strong that she had to grab the railing to remain standing.
Jack was instantly by her side, steadying her. "Are you alright?"
"Tell me, Jack…" she breathed out in a raspy whisper, her arm going slowly up from Jack's elbow to the back of his neck, pulling them closer, "since when the rough, scratchy and utterly indistinctive uniform became so arousing?"
"Depends on who is looking at it."
"Or who wears it…"
Jack's lips were a breath away from hers when he pulled away. "We really need to go, Phryne."
"Uuuuuuuuurh! You cannot do this to me, Jack! It has been five months!"
"It most certainly was, but we need to go, it is a long drive."
"We can save the time if I drive."
"Not with me in the car."
Phryne pouted, knowing that that expression worked wonders, but Jack was adamant. "This is what you have been doing all this time, you devious man! Ever since your divorce!"
"What are you talking about, Phryne?"
"Oh do not play innocent with me, Jack Robinson! The easiest and the most effective seduction technique there is! You were playing hard to get, were you not?!"
"Using a seduction technique against you, Phryne? You give me too much credit."
"I most definitely do not. You pushed me away until I begged you. And you are doing it again right now."
"I am not pushing you away. I am just concerned about you wellbeing. Has Doc-"
"Yes."
"Then I advise we move on. It is not rude to leave early if we arrive on time."
Jack was a man of few words but he could say a lot with just one glance and Phryne liked very much what she saw in those darkened hazel eyes.
…..
"I did not know that Chief Superintendent's salary allows for such luxurious accommodations," Phryne commented on the large mansion they arrived to.
"This is not Charles's place. I heard a friend allows them to use it for the ceremony and reception."
"You are on the first name bases with a Chief Superintendent from Central Station? Well, I supposed you will be with your cousin marrying him…"
"No, I have known Charles for a long time. We went to the Policy Academy together. He is two years older than me."
"Two years older and already Chief? Was his first wife Commissioner's daughter? I am sorry, it was quite insensitive of me. But seriously, Jack…"
"Charles is a very good officer. Loved and respected by many. He always made wise choices. Survived the war. Got married, had a daughter. Never was as… impulsive as me, thought things through."
"You, Jack? Impulsive? This is an oxymoron if I ever heard one."
"I married you, did I not?"
"There was nothing impulsive about your decision, it was me who impulsively agreed. Best whim of my adult life."
"Was it now, cheri?.."
Phryne's breath hitched, after feeling Jack's fingers lightly grazing her hip through her silk dress. She chose to wear a simple and modest dress (by her standards) of soft lilac color accented by custom ordered long earrings.
They moved through the crowd of guests with Jack gallantly holding her close to protect her from running into anybody.
"Jack… Do my eyes see only blue or there are a lot of officers here?"
"As I said, Charles is a very respected officer. Almost the whole Russell Street is here. The Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner will at least make an appearance. Also, Charles is one of the officers that makes the final decision about your participation in the police investigations so be nice to him."
"You want me to flirt with the groom?"
"Being nice does not mean flirt, Phryne."
"Then what does it mean?"
"Frankly… we you? I have no idea. Just do not be disrespectful."
"I will try."
They took their seats on the bride's side just before the ceremony has begun. Due to Susan being divorced they could not have a church wedding, but being a high ranking police officer the groom did manage to get the city hall officiate to the lawn of the garden at his desired wedding location.
Phryne watched the couple that was about to become husband and wife. From the story that Jack told her about how the two met and their circumstances, Phryne got the impression that it was a marriage of convenience for the divorcee to have a financial stability in a form of a husband and for the widower to have a mother for his daughter. Looking at the bride and the groom, however, her opinion changed. They seemed happy, moreover they seemed in love. An ordinary annual event changed lives of four people. Changed most definitely for the best.
"Jack?"
"Hm?"
The ceremony was over and they were moving through the throng of people to greet and congratulate the newlyweds.
"If we did not have to have a hurried ceremony, would our wedding have been like this one?"
"You mean, with a lot of police officers?"
"Do not start with me, Jack Robinson! All women like men in uniform."
"So if I had received a promotion a year earlier-"
"Now you are teasing me. Do you still deny using techniques to-"
"To?"
"Better not say out loud in public. You did not answer my question."
"I suppose it would have been similar. Not as extravagant, of course. I have neither many guests to invite nor a friend to lend their country house for the occasion. But Susan and Charles would have been on the guest list. Why do you ask?"
"What do you think about renewing our vows?"
"Excuse me?"
"For us to renew our vows on our first anniversary."
"You want to… marry me again?"
"Yes. We can invite whoever we want and do it however we want with no hurry or strict rules of the law. Just a celebration of our union."
"You are serious about this."
"I told you before, Jack, I am always serious about everything that concerns our family. There is also another reason. Father telegrammed me last week, sent it to Phryne Fisher in his usual obnoxious manner, to inform me that my parents are coming to Australia to see their granddaughter. I cannot forbid them that, unfortunately. They are having a bit of a cruise (I am afraid to think who is financing this enterprise) so they will arrive right on time, late July, early August. The weather could be dreadful, but this is not a deterrent-"
"I am sure everything will be wonderful."
"Then you agree?"
"To marrying you again? An unexpected but pleasant proposal from you, Phryne. How can I refuse?"
"Are you not married already?"
During their discussion the Robinsons did not notice how they finally neared the newlyweds. It was the first time Phryne got a close look at the woman whom she deemed to be the possible 'other woman'. Despite being slightly over forty Susan Middleton nee Trenton was still attractive and only her self-imposed exile from the society prevented her from remarrying sooner. If she had not been related to Jack by blood Phryne was in real danger of losing him to Susan, not that Phryne actually had any claim on Jack at that time.
"It is an absolute pleasure to finally meet the Lady Detective in person."
Phryne snapped out of her musings hearing the groom addressing her. Remembering that Jack asked her to be nice but having no idea how to do that, she just smiled.
"I missed reading about your misadventures in Jack's reports these last months and now I am not going to read them at all. Such a pity."
"I am sure you will hear about us even if we are not in Melbourne." Jack's tightened grip on her elbow indicated that her response could not be considered a 'nice' behavior.
"I am sure we will."
Congratulations delivered, Phryne was almost forcefully pulling Jack towards where their car was parked.
"You do not want to enjoy the festivities, Phryne? It is a rare occurrence for you to attend a wedding after all."
"The festivities I want to attend now are conducted at Wardlow's master bedroom with only you as a guest."
"Master bedroom is it now, hm?.."
"I ordered new bras, they were installed last month."
"Now new bras are a justifiable reason to leave."
Phryne stopped abruptly, turning around to look at her husband's smirking face. "Are you teasing me, Jack Robinson?"
"Am I forbidden to?"
"Admit it, Jack, you were taming me."
"I retain my right to remain silent." The smirk did not disappear anywhere.
"When will I finally figure you out, Jack?"
"Are you in a hurry?"
"Not at all."
…
Richard heard the front door open with a bang. Afraid of an intruder, he grabbed the closest weapon at hand that happened to be a rolling pin and cautiously neared the door to the entrance hall. The bang was followed by female squeals and laughter. Richard peeped over the doorframe to check the hall for the intruder but saw... mistress thrown over a man's shoulder being brought upstairs. Her laughter clearly indicated that she was in no danger, but...
"Something wrong, Richard?"
"Nothing that I know of, Mr. Butler."
The masters were home, if that was a blessing or a curse was yet to be determined.
A/N: I am quite aware that the tradition of vows renewal ceremonies has not yet spread to Australia in 1930s, but I found the idea nice so I just ran with it. Sorry for the historical mistake. As far as the police uniforms go, I did not find an example from 1930s, so I base my understanding on "Doctor Black Mysteries" which I absolutely adore and the action there happens during 1960s. As I understood everybody in the police aside from detectives wears uniforms at all times. But I do not know about very top officers.