Chapter Text
It was bound to happen sooner or later. They couldn’t possibly have continued on the course they were on without it happening; this she knew. In all the time they had spent together, all the work they had done together, it was inevitable. She knew it in her heart; but it was still hard to come to terms with the situation she found herself in.
“Oh, no! Jack, help!” cried the Honourable Phryne Fisher, who felt less than honourable at the moment.
Detective Inspector Jack Robinson rounded the corner and stopped short. He didn’t often laugh out loud, but this time there was no way he could stop himself, even if he knew he’d regret it.
He had seen her straighten her hat in mid-chase. He had seen her pursue criminals through back alleys without batting an eyelash or mussing her makeup. He had seen her elegant scarves and day coats whipping around her as she tracked suspects through all manner of filthy situations. It had to happen sometime.
Some criminal had to trip her up, leaving her rolling in the mud and muck.
“Is that the best that you can do?” Phryne demanded furiously.
“Laugh at you, you mean?” Jack said, finally recovering his voice. “I’m afraid it is.”
Phryne huffed and tried to stand up. Everything around her was filth. She hated to push herself up—
“Phryne. Give me your hand,” Jack said, stepping up close and offering his hand to her.
She stared at him for a moment. “It is very tempting to pull you in here with me,” she said severely.
“I don’t doubt it,” he said seriously. Mostly seriously. A bit of an impish grin kept appearing, though he tried to quash it.
“And yet you’re going to risk it?”
“I am.”
“You’re a brave man, Inspector.”
“Or a very foolish one.” She put her grubby hand in his clean one, and he pulled her up out of the mess.
He beheld her in her squalor. Somehow she managed to wear it well. “And in this case,” he continued, “I wouldn’t be as brave as you are.”
She smiled happily. “Do you really mean that?”
“I do. We came in the Hispano, and you’re going to have to sit in it like this to drive us back.”
The horror on her face made it hard not to laugh again, but he did manage to control himself this time.