Work Text:
The upper crust of Melbourne would have been surprised to know that when not entertaining, dinner at the home of the Honorable Phryne Fisher’s was amazingly familial. Food was arranged in a buffet-style so that all members of the household could serve themselves before joining together at the dining room table.
As the youngest member of the family was filling her plate, she was informing her family of the comings and goings of school life. “Aunt P was there today showing the students off to the new school board members. I think one of them may have been ill.”
“What makes you think that, Jane?” Dot asked.
“The teacher had us introduce ourselves and when Mrs. Eddington got to me, she asked, ‘And you, young lady, what’s your name and whose family do you belong to?’ I said, my name is Jane Ross and Mrs. Stanley is my great aunt. My mother is the Honorable Phryne Fisher. It’s very nice to make your acquaintance.’ Just as I glanced at Aunt P to make sure she liked how I handled the introduction the woman went pale as a ghost and started to cough. Aunt P didn’t see her expression, she just smiled at me and patted me on the arm as Mrs. Eddington went to the next girl.”
Mac and Phryne’s eyes went wide and Mac asked, “Henrietta Eddington?”
Jane nodded.
The two women exploded in laughter.
Bert leaned into his partner and whispered, “This should be a good one.”
As both women struggled to catch their breath, Phryne turned to her best friend and asked, “Should I tell this one, or should you?”
Mac lightly touched her chest then pointed into the air. “You told the last one.” As if in agreement, Phryne swung her arm out as though to give her the stage.
“While the majority of the time that Phryne and I got in trouble, we were totally at fault, I can say with all honesty that in this particular situation we were both completely innocent of any and all malice or forethought. When Phryne would visit Prudence, I would be brought along as a companion. We would play with Arthur and Guy, go swimming, play in the gardens, go riding, go to the museum or concerts, it was like a short vacation away from Collinwood to a whole other world. We both learned fairly quickly that just like in Collinwood, children seemed invisible to the adults. If you were quiet, they forgot you were even there.
Well, Phryne, Arthur, and I were sitting in a cabana next to the pool when we heard a discussion during a party. We kept playing and thought nothing of it. Later in the afternoon, while we were picking up snacks, we heard some of the adults discussing putting together a group to go riding. The comment was made that they needed one more person and, in an attempt to be helpful, I suggested Mrs. Eddington. Your Aunt Prudence said, “That’s very considerate of you, Elizabeth, but Mrs. Eddington is not a horsewoman.” Your mother looked Prudence in the eye with every drop of innocence in her soul and stated in a voice that seemed to fill the room, “But she must be, Aunt P, we heard her tell Mrs. Bains and Mrs. Murray that when her husband is away betting on ponies at the Turf Club, she spends her time riding a feisty stallion!”
The family laughed heartily and then laughed even harder when, after a moment or two, Hugh’s face turned bright red when he realized that the woman in question had not been discussing a stallion of the four-legged variety.