Natural Woman
By Laura Schiller
Based on: Bleak House
Copyright: Charles Dickens' estate/BBC
"Looking out through the morning rain,
I used to feel so uninspired
and when I knew I had to face another day,
Lord, it made me feel so tired.
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind.
You're the key to my peace of mind
'cause you make me feel
(…) like a natural woman …"
"Natural Woman", by Mary J. Blige
Caddy Jellyby smiles to herself as she watches the rain hitting her window. Less than a month ago, she would have cursed the rain, seeing nothing in it but an opportunity for Peepy and the others to track mud into the house, for Ma to send her out to buy ink and paper in a shabby cloak and no umbrella, and for Pa to catch a chill and force himself to go out to work regardless. But today she is meeting Prince, and nothing, not even the weather, will spoil her happiness.
He is waiting for her. He will take her arm, compliment her dress (with Miss Summerson's help, her patches and darns are getting better), greet her with a soft "Good morning, Caroline," and she will thrill to her toes at how strange and grown-up it feels not to be called by her ridiculous nickname. At the dancing school, she will watch his cheerful confidence as he directs his pupils, and his heartbreaking patience with his popinjay of a father. She will try not to feel jealous when he touches some girl's hand or waist by way of correction, and she will try not to blush when he pays these attentions to her. Perhaps today they will practice the lifts again, and she will feel light as a butterfly in his arms.
She has never been allowed to be a child or even a girl, but Prince Tureydrop makes her feel like a woman. For that reason alone, she is resolved to never let him go.