[For Dot] "We've been in worse jams than this, haven't we, Hildy?"

[st_illunsmeared]

"Now, this is how one ought to be held captive."

For a few glorious moments while Dot busied herself unpacking her trunk, Phryne allowed herself to go from room to room in the beautifully appointed suite, surveying it as a guest in a hotel rather than a woman possibly magically trapped outside of time. The soft blue and rose gold palette soothed senses overstimulated by the riotous color of the lobby and shops. Satin, silk, natural light and not one but two balconies appealed to her love of luxury and appeased pathological loathing of the small, filthy and mean developed in her youth.

Having ducked out onto the east-access balcony, Phryne now called to Dot. "Come and look, Dot. The lights are beautiful." And so plentiful. Displays like this had been unthinkable in Melbourne.

Comments

[st_illunsmeared]

"Now, Dot. There is always a clue," Phryne chided her gently, but only very gently. Under the circumstances, worrying seemed only natural. "We may just have to think like villains to uncover it."

But that wasn't the meat of Dot's question. In general, Phryne was ill-equipped for solace and comfort and left that to those in her employ better suited, but at present, there was nothing for it. Chin up, and carry on. "We may not like what we learn, but we shall learn. The important thing is that wherever we are and whyever we're here, we're together."

[st_oh_honestly]

"We're together," Dot repeated. And it did help. After all, hadn't she given Hugh back his ring because she didn't want to leave Miss Phryne. Because she wanted to go on investigations and motor in the Hispano and improve her typing.

It was hardly christian to bemoan getting what she wanted - even if this wasn't quite how she'd imagined it.

She smiled at Miss Phryne, a real smile, even if it wasn't a brilliant one. "If we're going to start investigating tomorrow we should probably get some sleep then."

[st_illunsmeared]

"Yes, Dot, we probably should." Even so, Phryne wasn't quick to rise, and instead stretched her legs out in front of her and flexed her toes. "And you should stay here tonight, I'd rather we not make things too easy for anyone with bad intentions."