Chapter 6
Phryne could hear steps coming down the stairs, her anxiety increasing proportionally to each beat. This is ridiculous, she chastised herself but looked around nevertheless, hoping that the pleasant atmosphere of Doughty Street would help her calm down.
The door ahead of her was opened at last, revealing a woman close to Phryne's age wearing a grey smock and an equally plain scarf on her head, the edges of a brown fringe and bob peeking from underneath.
«Surprise!», Phryne said, an enormous and heartfelt grin on her face.
Diana's blue eyes brightened with recognition and happiness.
«Phryne Alexandra Fisher, you minx», she said, mischievous, before enthusiastically hugging her friend.
Seeing and holding Diana shattered that odd anxiety immediately and Phryne was back to her normal senses at once. London seemed to be tampering with her in a very particular way, but she would attempt to parse that later. Now, she would relish in her friend's company unabashedly.
«Do come in. What are you doing here?», she continued, fondly putting an arm around Phryne's shoulders and leading her towards the stairs. It wasn't her friend's first visit, but it had been so unexpected, Diana was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Phryne was actually there, in her hallway. « I mean… you know what I mean.»
«It's a long story, but I thought I'd be able to tell you over a cup of tea and these», Phryne said, raising a box of chocolate truffles. «I hope I didn't interrupt anything», she added, meaning Diana's work clothes.
«If you had called three hours ago, you'd probably end up dying on that doorstep, but I was just cleaning up now», Diana said, as they kept going up the stairs.
«Even if you knew I'd bring truffles?»
«I don't dabble in the occult, I'm afraid, but since when did I say no to truffles?»,
Phryne laughed as Diana closed the door behind them and they both walked through the hall of her flat.
Divided into kitchen and parlour by a wooden arch, the front room was painted in dusky blue and the large windows were garnished by bold floral curtains.
The textiles and the colours made it feel tremendously cosy and lived in. The geometric spread over the sofa in front of the fireplace, the embroidered pillows on the two leather club chairs, the upholstered ottoman where the grey tabby Shakespeare was sleeping warmed up by a patch of sun, the shelves nearly overflowing with books, the Chinese rug which tied everything together.
It was nicely balanced by the dark wooden furniture and the black and white photographs adorning the walls, taken by Diana herself and developed in what had once been a tool shed on the roof terrace and which she had laboriously converted into a functional dark room in spite of its small size and odd placement.
Diana had always been fascinated by images and soon took to photography, starting with a Kodak 3A and moving onwards as technology and fancy lead her. She brought a camera with her nearly everywhere she went, capturing almost anything that caught her eye, so she changed the photographs on display rather often. At the moment, they featured photos of elaborate shoes and of a woman's football team, training and playing.
«That's the Preston Ladies», Diana informed, removing the scarf and the smock upon noticing Phryne's particular interest. «Well, officially because most people still call them the Dick, Kerr Ladies. That ridiculous FA ban may have taken its toll, but they keep on playing», she continued admiringly, smoothing her moss-green dress with her hands. «I'm working on a series about women's football in Britain, that's the first set».
«'Football is unsuitable for ladies'», Phryne quoted. She might not be as knowledgeable about the sport as Diana but news of the team's progress were discussed from now and then at the Adventuress' Club and they were held in great regard for that. «It seems that for some people ladies' health and constitutions are only suitable for marriage and child-bearing and rearing».
Diana scoffed in agreement from the kitchen. The kettle was already on the stove.
«They can play rings around some men's teams out there and that's what they can't take. It was all good, healthy, and wholesome but once it got too popular it was just a futureless novelty. Fulham wishes they had Lily Parr. The last seasons would surely have been way less pathetic», Diana said angrily while she set the table for tea. She got easily invested. Fostered by her father, excited about this increasingly popular new game, Diana had learnt to love football from an early age and she had followed the rise of women's football during and immediately after the war with great enthusiasm and praise. She had actually sent a flurry of letters to the Football Association contesting the ban over the years. «I'm sorry, I guess I got carried away. My Father and I argued about this just last week and I guess I still had it running inside. In fact, my mother has forbidden us from discussing this particularity of football so our debate got curtailed sooner than what I wished it to.»
«Nonsense», Phryne replied, sitting down. «Knowing him, I'd wager Colonel Chapman is a firm supporter of the ban».
«Obviously», Diana said with a chuckle, lighting up a cigarette. «He can tolerate ladies watching the game as long as they aren't too boisterous or call attention to themselves, but playing? Heavens, no! I think he was actually shocked when he read about it in the paper and he was in the trenches».
Phryne laughed and opened the box of truffles, stretching it out for Diana. «And how has he taken the news that you're living with your fiancé? Proper congratulations on that, by the way».
«Thank you», Diana bowed her head, taking a truffle out of the box. «With relief, I guess? At least now there's a promise and a proper title to attach to Simon. It's still scandalous but it was even more before when we were just two immoral people». She laughed.
« Very thrilled nevertheless, certainly».
« How couldn't he? He loves that I work and earn my own money, that I go out whenever I want to do whatever I want and be with whoever I want. Besides, I had the audacity of leaving his house before getting married. He's very proud of his only daughter. I'm sure he has clippings of Vogue stored away in his desk», Diana offered sarcastically, expelling a puff of smoke. «But enough of my father. What are you doing here?»
Diana rose from the chair, picked up the kettle, and started to prepare the tea.
«I'm afraid we can't leave the theme of fathers behind completely», Phryne said with a theatrical shrug, «I'm in London because of mine after all».
«You brought him back ». Diana's mother, Irene, had been a girlhood friend of Margaret and when the Fishers had relocated to Europe they had been gleefully reunited in Britain. Neither mother nor daughter betrayed their respective friends' confidence but Miss Chapman knew enough to be aware of Henry's unforeseen trip to his homeland.
«I had to bring him back. It's more accurate that way», Phryne said with a sigh, eating a truffle afterwards.
Silently, Diana put her cigarette down and poured Phryne's tea without needing to ask any questions to know how she took it.
«I'm sorry you had to go through that», she said, her voice full of sympathy. Diana might not see eye to eye with her father most of the times, but he would never do something like that and – even worse – expect her to pick up the pieces.
Phryne nodded and for a while she unburdened herself from most of the frustration and anger that she had been storing for that month. There had been a couple of moments where their trip had come close to being a bonding father-daughter adventure but most of the time it had an exhausting trip and not only due to its logistical characteristics.
«And now? Is there any plan?», Diana asked.
«I don't know», Phryne shrugged, «my parents are in a meeting with the barrister as we speak. We'll see what comes out of it but even if there's something akin to a solution to the formal issues, I don't think my father is willing to actually do something to change, you know, to grow. He practically swore he would try to make up for his mistakes and rise to occasion but I had to keep him in my line of sight every time we landed and even so he still managed to get involved with dodgy characters and once I had to actually pull him away from a craps table in the middle of the street», Phryne took a deep breath. «As much as we wished, we can't keep him locked up at home».
«If you need something, just ask, do you hear me?», Diana wanted to help Phryne but she couldn't think of much to say that would be of actual use.
Phryne smiled, thankful, and put a hand on top of one of Diana's.
«Thank you. This helped».
«Anytime», Diana smiled. «And even better if you can bring truffles».
Phryne chuckled and reached out for one. «They're good».
«Divine, right?», Diana said mid-bite, covering her mouth with the free hand. «Listen, it's a bit melancholic, but would you like to go to Simon's operetta or something? Take your mind off things.»
«I'd like that. Maybe it will be cathartic», Phryne let out a small laugh. «What is it?»
«Bitter Sweet by Noël Coward at His Majesty's. We could have dinner first and then go?»
«I'm not sure if I'll make it in time for all that though. I did buy an evening dress today but I had my purchases sent to Chester Square», Phryne said, counting roughly the time she would need to go and come back.
«I can lend you something, if you want. You've always been the best dressed of us, but I want to believe you'll find something in that large wardrobe of mine», Diana offered good-heartedly.
«I'm sure I can. You're not a shabby dresser either», Phryne said truthfully. While the girls of their friend group all enjoyed fashion, it was accurate to say that Miss Fisher had been the one who dared more.
«I'll telephone Simon and see if he can arrange two tickets for us», Diana said, getting up from the chair, meaning to walk towards the hallway.
«You haven't changed: you still invite first and hope it all goes well afterwards», Phryne said, laughing.
«You know me», she replied, picking up the telephone.
Due the commotion, Shakespeare had woken up from his nap and was looking at Phryne now, his attentive green eyes seizing this stranger.
«Look at you. You grew up quite a bit since your master brought you home when you were a tiny little thing born in an alley behind the theatre».
The cat stretched, jumped out of the ottoman and went to Diana, tracing eights around her ankles.
«You can wear anything you want», Diana said, pointing to her jewellery box and the drawer where she kept the costume pieces. «Well, except this one, it would be odd», she continued humorously, putting it on her left ring finger.
«Do show», Phryne asked with genuine curiosity. She might not be very inclined for marriage herself but she always appreciated beautiful jewellery.
Diana stretched out her hand. It had a round a blue zircon set in filigreed platinum shoulders. Simon had chosen well - the stone was a close match to Diana's eyes.
«It's a very elegant piece», Phryne complimented.
«And zircon is both our birthstones, which was a nice touch».
Phryne nodded.
«Just to think you didn't take to each other very much in the beginning and now you're set to marry». Miss Fisher laughed avidly. It wasn't that new of an occurrence, but it still amused her, particularly considering that was also how her first interactions with Jack had gone.
«What do you want? It's not my fault that he came across as a pompous actor the first time we met», Diana said, shrugging, and arranging the sparkly headband on her dark hair. «And how about you? There's any gentleman with whom you have been getting along with?».
Phryne was uncharacteristically silent for a moment.
«What? Did you think we would only be talking about me? Telegrams are very practical but also very limited. Is there indeed a gentleman with whom you have been getting along with? Is the Selfridges package currently on my kitchen table meant for him?», reflected on the mirror, Diana's eyes gleamed with mischievous curiosity.
While she believed Mac had an inkling about how she and Jack were beyond the flirting stage, Phryne had never openly talked about him in those terms and even less so ever since their passionate kiss at the airfield. Miss Fisher didn't exactly publicise her adventures, but the complexity and intimacy of their relationship seemed to make it somewhat difficult to talk about it, almost as if it were blasphemous?
«There's someone, I admit. But that's everything you're going to get from me», Phryne said, not yet sure if she was talking seriously, putting the second earring on.
«Alright. Apart from his name, where did you meet and who he is I wouldn't dream of wanting to know anything else», Diana said, taking a black velvet evening coat from the wardrobe to see if she liked to see it with the black dress with embroidered abstract floral motif around the hem she was wearing.
A smile dawned on Phryne's lips. She swallowed dryly and ran her hands over the blue velvet and orange chiffon dress Diana had lent her. They had ended up having toast and scrambled eggs at home before storming Diana's wardrobe to change into their evening clothes and it had been much more pleasant like this.
«His name his Jack, we met in Melbourne, and he's handsome, intelligent and witty», Phryne said succinctly.
Diana smirked and put the coat on.
«There's vague and then there's your answer».
«Excuse me, my dear friend, but I replied to your three questions. There was no particular instruction regarding the answers themselves. And now, would you be as kind as to lend me a coat I can wear?»
«That's what I get from trying to interview a detective. I should have known better», Diana handed her the matching blue velvet coat.
«Yes, you should, but I'm glad I can teach you, Miss Chapman».
«Thank you. It's very magnanimous of you, Miss Fisher».
Phryne and Diana laughed heartily. Those two years in which they hadn't seen each other felt like not a minute more than two hours.
A/N: Thank you for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it even if I ended up throwing another OC at you.
Maybe because we know so little of Phryne's time in London, I seem to fill those blank spaces with probably more headcanons that what you bargained for. I hope I can convey them in a compelling way at least that makes reading the story more pleasant.
Historical notes time:
Even if you don't care about football, do read about the Dick, Kerr Ladies (later Preston Ladies F.C.). It's such an interesting story - women's football had already appeared before, but it rose during WWI as women started working in factories and most of the teams came out of that environment (something that had already happened and would continue to happen with men's teams). The Dick, Kerr Ladies were called so after the munitions factory at which they worked. They were extremely popular and even played abroad, including an American tour (they played 9 games against men's teams: 3 wins, 3 draws, 3 defeats).
At some point the Football Association (FA) decided to be garbage and enforce the ban Diana and Phryne discuss in the story for the reasons mentioned - among other of equal ridiculousness . It was only repealed in 1971 (yes, you read it correctly) and banned women's teams from «using fields and stadiums controlled by FA-affiliated clubs for 50 years» (thank you wikipedia). It curtailed women's football severely but some teams were able to carry on in spite of the difficulties, like the Dick,Kerr Ladies.
Lily Parr was basically the star of the team and showed sports abilities since she was very young. For instance, in her first season she was only 14 years old and scored 43 goals. She played until 1951 and «she was the only woman to be made an inaugural inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Football».
To read more about the team, check
I made Simon Wallace intrude in Noël Coward's operetta, but it was indeed called «Bitter Sweet» and, at the time, playing at His Majesty's Theatre (now Her Majesty's Theatre) and was very popular, running for over 600 performances.
Thank you for your time and attention. I hope you enjoyed this chapter too and may we meet around here soon. Feedback is appreciated as always.
