"Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation, and conversation must have a common basis, and between two people of widely different culture the only common basis possible is the lowest level." Oscar Wilde

Later that evening, Phryne was well-dressed in a cobalt blue gown of satin and silk with silver embroidery, it showcased her engagement ring perfectly. Mrs. Stanley had arranged to have the cocktails on the outer lawn- it had been such a lovely afternoon and Phryne had seemed anxious to be in the fresh air, the week or so of fairly strict bedrest had gotten on her absolute last nerve. Jack had been trying to convince her to use the wheelchair Mac had brought by, but she absolutely refused to meet his family while sitting there in a chair like someone's paralyzed Great Aunt.

She followed the sounds of laughter and teasing down the stairs and out to the lawn, where she was greeted by the site of Jack playing some form of tag with his four nieces and nephews and Jane. She stopped and smiled at the sight of Jack's rolled up sleeves, his tie loosened about his neck, his jacket thrown casually over a lawn chair and that one curl of his dangling in front of his forehead in the most endearing way. She didn't think she had ever seen him quite so carefree and relaxed- even, somewhat silly! He was playing and wrestling and tugging on one girl's braid in a teasing fashion.

Just as she was about to wave to him, he looked up and saw her and was struck again by how incredibly beautiful she was, and his heart almost stopped at the thought that in 24 hours she would be his wife- how was that possible? How could this ever have happened to him?

He called for a timeout to the frustration of the two youngest kids, but Phryne thought she noticed a little relief in his face, he did look tired from wrestling and running after these kids all afternoon. He came towards her, slipping his jacket back on as he walked and she moved to meet him and began to straighten his tie, just as he pulled her to him in a firm but tender kiss of greeting. As he pulled back he looked in her eyes and softly asked, "Are you ready to meet everyone?"

"If I said no, what exactly would you do?" He saw a glint in her eye, telling him she was joking… but he could tell there was some sincere anxiety and trepidation. He kissed her again, and while still holding on to her about the waist, maneuvered them over to the grouping of chairs and small tables where his parents and his sister and brother-in-law sat, sipping their drinks and talking with Aunt P.

"Jonathan and Lillian Robinson, this is my fiance, the Honorable Miss Phryne Fisher. Phryne, these are my parents, and of course you already met my sister, Jenny and this is her husband, Nathaniel Martin. They shook hands all around and Phryne was looking at Jack's parents, trying to determine who he got his striking features from. She saw his bone structure and his eyes in his mother, but his height, hair and bearing were identical to his father's… including a look on his father's face that she was all too familiar with- scrutiny, vague disapproval and a little bit of curiosity- it was the look she generally got from Jack for the first year of their acquaintance… at least!

"I'm so pleased you could make it on such short notice." She shook hands all around, taking in the soft and warm smile from Jack's mother, the frank amusement of his sister, a somewhat forward look from Nathaniel- but Jack's father was a mystery. He wasn't exactly cold, he shook her hand as though she were a business acquaintance or someone Jack had gone to school with, but was giving her a VERY thorough looking over- trying to size up this Flapper his son had lost his head, and all sense of discretion, over.

Feeling a little thrown, but not wanting to let it show, she smiled again and motioned for Jane. "And may I please present my ward, Jane Ross?" Jane came over, looking especially lovely in a light peachy-pink dress of silk and lace, her hair up- Phryne was noticing how adult she was looking tonight. She also noted how Jack's oldest nephew, Eddie, seemed to be noticing as well. Well, the girl was 17, it was about time she had her first affaire de coeur. She exchanged silent but amused looks with Jenny over the top of Jane's head, it was a bit obvious that Jane was wearing a rather cheshire-like grin and blushing slightly under the rather obvious gaze of the handsome dark-haired boy who looked like a slightly gawkier version of Jenny's husband.

"I apologize for not being able to come down earlier, I'm afraid Jack has me under lock and key to make sure I truly rest as I'm supposed to." Jack squeezed her shoulder in support, noticing how pale she looked, but absolutely as beautiful as ever. He smiled down at her, she could do this- God help the person who tried to resist her charms.

"Oh please, don't trouble yourself about it, we have been resting and enjoying your Aunt's beautiful home. It was so kind of Mrs. Stanley to let us stay here." Jack's mother had just a tinge of a lilting Scottish accent to it, but it was very refined and soft. This woman was beautiful and warm, she beamed at her son with love and pride- and why not? He was a remarkable man, the best she'd ever known (and honestly, she'd known quite a few).

Jack's father interrupted, pointedly. "Yes, very generous of your aunt. Especially given the short notice, I'm afraid it would have been very difficult for us to find other accommodations in time."

"Yes, well…" Jack moved in towards her, protectively wrapping an arm around her waist and taking a half step forward, as though to put himself between his fiance and his father. He refused to let his father create stress or cause any pain for Phryne. He looked to his mother, hoping she could step in before it escalated.

"Well, regardless the timing, we're so thrilled to be here and to meet you, Phryne. That dress is absolutely stunning- and I daresay your ring is even more so! Come closer so I can look at it." Phryne obliged and sat next to Jack's mother, who took her hand to inspect the ring, but took a moment to pat her hands, squeezing them lightly in between hers- her eyes twinkling. "My my, did my Jackie pick this out?"

"It's a family heirloom, actually. It belonged to Phryne's grandmother, but had been in my father's family for quite some time before they married. They lived a very happy life together, forty years in fact. I thought it only right that these two start off together with such a talisman." Prudence was a shrewd woman- she had begun with a smile towards Jack's mother in reassurance that she approved of the man Jack was- and then a look to Jack's father- a challenge to say anything less than supportive about this couple in her presence. "And of course, some day it will go to their child- a very lucky baby to be." With that she raised her glass to salute the couple (one sherry before dinner, every night, for her digestion). They were the picture of domestic bliss- Phryne resting in the chair, Jack with his hand on her shoulder, protectively but also tenderly- smiling down at her beatifically.

"Well, Prudence, you must have had quite a bit to do, trying to pull together a wedding in such a short period of time- is there anything Jenny and I might be able to help you with?"

"You know, now that you mention it Lillian, I could use your opinion on a few items, would you care to walk in with me? I have some differing thoughts on flower arrangements, and of course the menu…" They both rose from the group and moved towards the house, heads together, not even stopping to consider whatever Phryne or Jack's opinion on these matters might be. Phryne looked around to see that Jane was quietly speaking with Eddie- he seemed very interested and Phryne thought she heard a comment about University entrance exams, but she would have to corner Jane later for a recap.

On the lawn, the other three of Jenny's children were playing- they were each young enough that they had been fed dinner and when everyone else walked through to dinner, they would be sent up to bed for the night. The game they were playing seemed vaguely familiar to Phryne, a variation of HIde and Seek wherein the goal was to join the original "Hider" in hiding, rather than simply tagging them as it. They were giggling and as they ran for the "Home Base" they would loudly sing "Olly Olly Oxen Free" at the top of their lungs- and while normally she didn't much enjoy being around loud children, this tableau found her smiling warmly, only belatedly looking at Jack, who was trying to converse with his Father- a stubborn man if Phryne had ever met one.

"Nathaniel, Jenny has told me that she's a great fan of aviation- I don't suppose you have ever taken the time to learn to fly, have you? I can't possibly take her out in my plane while you're here, but you would be more than welcome-"

"Thank you, Miss Fisher, but I'm afraid since the War, I don't have much appetite for flying."

"I understand of course."

"But I did see someone out front working on a rather impressive Hispano Suiza, that wouldn't be yours would it? It seems much too flashy for Jack here, and I didn't have your Aunt pegged as a roadster."

"Yes, it is my car, thank you. You must take it for a drive while you're here- I'm afraid it will be a while before I'm allowed behind the wheel-" Jack tensed up at the suggestion, she knew he was thinking "Damn right", her driving had always been something of a sore spot between them- even were she perfectly able to drive, these days she was pretty sure Jack would see the car burnt down before letting her use it.

"Thank you, Miss Fisher, I just may do that."

"Phryne, please, none of this Miss Fisher nonsense." Nathaniel nodded and took another sip of his gin martini, causing the group to be quiet.

"So, my son tells me that you are something of a Lady Detective. That's an interesting line of work for a woman." Jack's father looked so much like Jack when they first met- the air of derision about a private detective, and a woman to boot, was obvious.

"Well, I suppose it's an interesting line of work for anyone, despite their sex."

"You are not wrong about that." And he looked at Jack, obvious disapproval in his gaze- from Jenny's light chatter earlier she had heard that this was maybe a bit of contention between Jack and his father, stupid pregnancy brain, she barely picked up on the comment earlier and then put her foot in it.

Brother, this was going to be a very long evening.