Chapter Text
East Balmain
24 March
Dear Jack
We are all excited that you are coming and so soon, and bringing with you the intriguing Hon Phryne Fisher. You know of course that anyone who has stolen your heart will be very welcome here and I will be on my very best behaviour. We cannot wait to see you and meet her.
Nev and Pam are beside themselves and have already planned your days with them in minute detail I am afraid. They will be on Easter school holidays for the first week of your stay. I haven’t mentioned your friend to them; Pam would have drawn a picture of you both in wedding dress in preparation, you know that tireless creative spirit of hers. So those introductions can wait until your arrival, and in an Hispano-Suiza no less – you will travel in style!
Alec will expect you to play a round of golf or two at his club. And with Pavlova currently touring Australia, we have secured tickets for her opening night here. It is to be Giselle on 13th April at the Theatre Royal, so you must stay until at least the 14th. I am sure work can spare you until then.
There is no need for any anxiety, dearest Jack; all will be well I promise. And anyway, everyone knows that if a relationship can survive both travel and in-laws (so to speak), it can withstand anything. Alec, Nev and Pam send their good wishes for a safe journey, and I send all of my love,
Cath
Jack smiled at the letter. He had indeed expressed his anxiety to his sister at the prospect of spending so much time with Phryne. He always thought that each new day of their relationship would be the last, so lived in a constant state of fluctuation between apprehension and pleasure. Since their separate returns from Yarrawonga over a week ago, they had seen very little of each other, but had been in regular contact.
For Jack it had been deliberate, but practical. He had a lot to do before allowing himself a fortnight’s leave. He had to ensure the Crown Prosecutor’s office was well briefed on the Middleton case, all the evidence filed and stored, and procedures in place for Sergio Del Vecchio’s immediate release and the subsequent overturning of his conviction. His hours at the station and in court were long.
The men at City South were pleased to have him back but frustrated to learn that it was temporary and that Acting Inspector Livingstone was to stay on for a few more weeks. The Acting Inspector was not popular and only served to emphasise the positives of the superior he was replacing.
On Phryne’s part his lack of attendance left her, initially, with some discontent that he didn’t visit of an evening but she became captivated by his actions none the less. He would ring her every day from work, the phone calls rather formal and business-like, updating her on the case and the advancement of Del Vecchio’s release. But he also rang her again late in the evening when the office was quiet or he was at home. These calls were different – he was familiar and relaxed. He wooed her: he would talk about their trip, tease her about her driving or how intimidated she would be by Cath, then how much he wanted to be with her, how much he missed her, the things they would do. Phryne was enchanted and found herself looking forward to every call.
Sergio’s release was to be a celebration hosted by Phryne. She had invited Ricci Lombardi and his wife Maria, Sergio’s two friends Marcello and Salvatore as well as the man himself - with her extended household of Dot who had of course invited Hugh, and Mr Butler, Bert and Cec. Dot had also asked Isa Glover who was to travel to the city by train from Yarrawonga and stay for a couple of days beyond, after some earnest entreaties and promises of her welfare to her mother. Phryne had also requested the company of Mrs Thompson, Jack’s neighbour who she had decided was a friend indeed.
The party was set for the evening before Phryne and Jack’s departure for Sydney. It was also to be Phryne’s first opportunity to see Jack again and she found herself focussing more on this aspect of the evening than anything else. Jack would bring his neighbour with him, but she was determined that Mrs Thompson’s return home would be facilitated by Cec and Bert. As she and Jack were to leave on their trip next morning, she saw no reason why Jack would not spend the night with her.
She chose her outfit carefully, Dot having packed an array of her outfits for the stay in Sydney which was to include an opening night at the ballet. She didn’t want to outshine her guests but she was determined to impress Jack, and moderation was not her style. She chose an evening dress of taupe silk chiffon over a silk slip, with intricate beading and sequins that sparkled in the light, and a full scalloped dropped skirt with sheer draperies that wafted as she walked. In her hair she attached a black and gold beaded rhinestone fascinator, and did her makeup prudently with a deep red flash for her lips.
As Phryne anticipated, the ever-reliable Jack arrived early with Mrs Thompson, the latter wearing a gown that glittered from a bygone era, clutching an evening purse rather closely but looking delighted at these new surrounds.
“Good evening my dear and thank you so much for inviting me. Here is a little gift. You do look lovely, doesn’t she Mr Robinson?”
Jack nodded before escorting Mrs Thompson into the parlour, and placing her into Mr Butler’s capable hands. He returned to Phryne who thought he was looking more handsome than she had ever quite seen him and she felt a spontaneous quickening of her heart.
“Good evening Inspector, it has been far too long,” she held her hand to him.
“It – has ,” he paused between the words, taking her hand, bringing it to his lips without taking his eyes from hers for an instant, “You do look very beautiful, Miss Fisher.”
For a moment both stood inches apart, eyes and hands locked in an embrace that only they understood, before the reality of the party intervened. Another knock at the door heralded the arrival of the Lombardi’s with their young crew in tow, including the man of the moment, Sergio Del Vecchio.
He was transformed from the cowed, frightened prisoner at Pentridge to a rather dashing specimen of a young man with olive skin and dark hair that flopped over his forehead, flashing ebony eyes and a larrikin grin. He shook hands again and again with Phryne and Jack in turn, kissing Phryne on each cheek several times, stopping only with the descent of Isa and Dot, joining him from upstairs. He was clearly delighted to see Isa, kissing her too on each cheek, doing the same to a rather startled Dot. Hugh, alarmed at such a show of affection to his fiancée, ushered everyone into the parlour where Mr Butler ensured that drinks flowed easily to assist conversation across languages, ages and circumstances.
Maria Lombardi had outdone herself with contributions to the food and was explaining it all in Italian with a word or two of English here and there and many hand gestures to Mrs Thompson who responded in English, then endeavoured to repeat the Italian, which resulted in their both laughing at her attempts in the process. Ricci Lombardi saw himself as the responsible male and ensured the young men in his charge were monitored when it came to alcohol consumption, behaviour and attention to their hostess.
Jack kept himself slightly apart from the rest, leaning in the doorway to the parlour with a glass of champagne in hand, watching the party unfold, but never having Phryne too far out of his sight. The younger ones seemed to get on well although Hugh, out of his comfort zone, seemed to have eyebrows permanently raised and an ever-present slight blush to his cheeks; Mrs Thompson and the Lombardis formed another group, with Cec and Bert alternating between the two, wherever Mr Butler’s flow of alcohol appeared to be stronger. Phryne kept circulating, every now and then standing close to Jack to pass comment on the evening’s proceedings.
The gramophone provided the background for music and subsequent dancing, and despite several attempts, Phryne was unable to draw Jack into partnering her. He merely shook his head and she made a mental note that this situation must, one day, change. Eventually, Ricci Lombardi, eyeing the piano asked Miss Fisher who played and then insisted on a song.
“Come, you sing Mees Feesher. We dance.” At that point the younger members of the party made loud noises of agreement.
“And Mr Robinson too. I know you play,” said Mrs Thompson. This was followed by loud enthusiastic backing from the slightly alcohol-influenced guests who clapped in unison until Phryne and Jack sat at the piano.
“What would you like us to play? We are no experts you know. And Inspector Robinson plays far better than I.”
“It’s true Mr Robinson plays very well. As long as we can all join in with a bit of a dance,” said Mrs Thompson. “I am a Cole Porter fan myself. What about ‘Let’s Do It’? I heard it the other day on the wireless and I thought it very amusing. Do you know it?”
“Well, yes I do as a matter of fact,” responded Phryne, looking through sheets of music in the piano stool. “Here it is… Inspector?”
When the little bluebird
Who has never said a word
Starts to sing “Spring, spring”
When the little bluebell
At the bottom of the dell
Starts to ring, ding ding
When the little blue clerk
In the middle of his work
Starts a tune to the moon up above
It is nature, that’s all
Simply telling us to fall in love
As they began the following stanzas, couples formed to dance, Ricci and Maria Lombardi, Isa and Sergio, a slightly reluctant Dot and Hugh, Mr Butler and Mrs Thompson, then with a shrug of the shoulders Bert and Cec, Salvatore and Marcello.
And that’s why birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love
In Spain the best upper sets do it
Lithuanians and let’s do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love
The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it
Not to mention the Finns
Folks in Siam do it
Think of Siamese twins
Some Argentines without means do it
People say in Boston even beans do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love…
To rapturous applause and calls of “bis”, they re-sang the last few verses. The Italian contingent then launched into O Sole Mio to signal an end to the evening with much thanking, hand shaking and cheek-kissing. Isa and Dot escaped upstairs to dissect the evening after the farewells, leaving Jack, Phryne and Mrs Thompson in the parlour, and Cec, Bert and Mr Butler in the kitchen. Mrs Thompson suddenly remembered something she must ask Mr Butler, leaving Phryne and Jack alone.
“Cec and Bert have had far too much to drink, I will need to take Mrs Thompson home. I can’t entrust her with them. So I shall see you in the morning.”
Phryne was disappointed, “Are you sure? It seems practical to stay here, doesn’t it?”
“Not only practical,” he murmured into her ear. She smiled and leaned into him. He slipped an arm around her waist, and pulled her into a kiss, light and delicate.
“So one more sleep?” she smiled up at him.
Jack sighed and nodded, then called, “Mrs Thompson, your carriage awaits.”
“I am sure Bert can give me a ride Mr Robinson, he has said so.”
“Probably with words slurred and a bleary look. Come along, I have to be home to finish packing. Here’s your shawl.”
As she was being wrapped up for the night air, Phryne opened the gift from her, a white handkerchief with hand-crochet edges and a letter P embroidered in one corner surrounded by a tiny ring of rosebuds. The cursive letter P had a serif at the end of the downward stroke of the P forming a J. Was that a J and P entwined?
“Good night my dear. I have had such a lovely evening and made so many new friends. Thank you. I do hope you travel safely and have a really good holiday – I am sure you both deserve it.”
“And thank you for my embroidered gift. Such beautiful intricate work.”
“A pleasure my dear. Good night.”
“Good night Jack,” she said rather wistfully as he kissed her on both cheeks as had all their European visitors and a wink of the eye and was gone.