Eliza Doolittle: The Life and Times of a Good Girl

Chapter Seven: Love Tokens

Disclaimer: Not making any money out of this little flight of fancy.

Author's note: Honk if you adore you beta! *beep beep*


Colonel Pickering prided himself on being a perceptive sort of man, and something was amiss. The mood of 27A Wimpole street had gone decidedly sour. Not that it had ever been of a peaceful sort of cheer, mind you. His good friends, Eliza and Higgins were always battling over something or other, voices raised, wits sharpened and the like. But now-- nothing. A week after the disastrous Ascot affair it seemed the two of them had become extremely uneasy in one another's company.

If he had to pinpoint an exact moment, it would have had to been the morning where they were all having breakfast, and a letter had come addressed to Eliza from Freddy Eynesford-Hill. This was usually an occasion of great mirth of Higgins's part. Ordinarily, he would playfully ripped the missive from Eliza's hands and treat the table to its contents, with poor Eliza blushing and sputtering furiously on her end of the table. Not so that day. Pickering could have sworn he saw Higgins narrow his eyes in Eliza's direction.

"Well, let's hear it then," Pickering insisted.

Higgins directed his glared towards him. "Can't you see it's none of your damned business?" He growled.

Pickering scarcely had time to register his astonishment at the outburst before Eliza abruptly stood. Always the gentleman, Pickering rose from his seat as well. Higgins, as per usual, stayed in his seat.

"Excuse me, I am feeling unwell," she whispered, before leaving the pair to an awkward silence.

"Well, I'll be dashed. You don't suppose our little lovers are having a row?" Pickering asked once Eliza was out of earshot. He could've been knocked over with a feather when Higgins threw down his napkin quite violently, and stood up.

"I've lost my damned appetite," he grumbled before taking his leave as well.

"I'll be dashed," Pickering repeated to no one in particular.

Yes, if had to pinpoint a moment, it would've been that one. It was all very confusing and unsettling. He had to do something about it. Shake things up a bit, perhaps. Running ideas in his head, he walked into the drawing room where Higgins was tersely drilling Eliza on various titles of royalty. The poor girl looked ready to burst into tears, and Higgins was being quite unmerciful.

Pickering cleared his throat. Higgins shot him a look of annoyance, Eliza, one of relief.

"Higgins, I've just had a capitol idea! Why don't we take a little trip to Brighton? The weather is beautiful, and perhaps the concept of sea bathing would be quite novel to Miss Doolittle." He felt a stab of pride when he noticed Eliza's features light up at the prospect. Higgins frowned.

"Can't you see we have limited time to turn out this insect to proper society? What's all this nonsense about Brighton? Do you think she deserves a holiday?" Higgins presented his questions in one rapid stream of dialogue, ignoring the crestfallen look on Eliza's face.

"Oh, Higgins, you can't still be talking about that business at Ascot. That was merely a slip-up. I think she deserves a little break. You've been divine, my dear," he addressed Eliza at the last bit. She smiled charmingly. Higgins caught the smile and his frown deepened.

"I see her charm has worked on you, Pickering. I suppose I can't fight you both. Let's arrange a trip to bloody Brighton. Why not bring Mother in on this fool's errand as well? She's always queuing up to sea-bathe, damn her." Higgins stormed out of the room, shouting for Mrs. Pearce to make the proper arrangements.

Pickering smiled at Eliza. "Well, aren't you excited, my dear? I daresay we will have to get you a bathing suit and slippers before we go." He noticed Eliza bite her lip. "What is it, Miss Doolittle?"

"Oh it's nothing, Colonel Pickering except that… well I've never been sea bathing. I don't know how to swim."

Pickering chuckled. "Oh, it's nothing to fret about, I am sure you will enjoy it." Her apprehensive look did not lift. "My dear?"

"Oh, Colonel, don't fret about me. It's just that I've been bloaters before and it isn't pretty."

Bloaters? "Oh! No, I assure you, Miss Doolittle, the proper precautions will be taken to ensure that you won't drown." He sat beside her and patted her hand reassuringly. "Come now, you've earned a little holiday, and despite what Higgins may say, I know he agrees deep down. Now, let's get a taxi arranged for you so that you may get your first bathing suit." He assisted her to her feet, offered her his arm and the two of them went off to the business of shopping.

"I'm not coming out!" Eliza cried. She stood shivering in the changing hut, despite the weather being quite warm. The suit had seemed alright when she had purchased it, but now--there were men out there on the beach! She had heard a rumor long ago that men and women sea bathed at different times at the beach, and that wooden contraptions with wheels squired a lady to the water, where they could bathe in privacy. She expressed this assumption to Mrs. Higgins, who patiently waited outside the hut.

The old woman laughed. "Oh Eliza, that is so old-fashioned!" Eliza frowned at that statement. Professor Higgins' elderly mother was calling her old-fashioned?

"They will see my legs!" Eliza bemoaned.

This statement sent Mrs. Higgins into gales of laughter. "Darling, hardly! No one is really going to see anything but the bare skin of your arms. Come now, I want to get to the water."

Reluctantly, Eliza stepped out onto the beach. She was wearing a lovely bathing suit of pale pink with red piping. The neckline was square, and the hem fell just below her knees which were sheathed in black stockings. The pink slippers matched the suit, and her dark hair was bundled up under a fetching pink cap. She was blushing furiously.

"Oh how charming, Eliza! I praise the day those shapeless monstrosities were traded in for pretty bathing clothes," Mrs. Higgins praised warmly. "I am quite envious that we did not have such fine examples when I was a girl your age. Now I am too old to look well in them." Her own suit was a periwinkle blue.

"I think you look very well, Mrs. Higgins," replied Eliza with a small smile.

"Tosh, Eliza!"

The two women strolled about the beach, parasols protecting their faces from the sun. Eliza noticed Mrs. Higgins waving at someone, and her blush returned full force when she spotted Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering standing in the water.

"What charming bathing suits these young people are wearing nowadays," Pickering mused.

Henry felt at a loss for words. He scoffed at Eliza's visible prudery, the suit didn't reveal much, but she was a vision in it, and he willed himself not to gawk at her legs.

"Yes, I suppose the suits will become gradually more daring throughout the years until the damned coquettes will go starkers." Pickering sputtered a bit at Higgins' prediction, causing Higgins to grin wickedly. He did enjoy shocking people with his manner of speech.

"Henry, Colonel, how are you enjoying this weather?' Mrs. Higgins inquired, giving her son a peck on the cheek.

"You know I hate sea-bathing. This suit makes me look like convict," Higgins grumbled, referring to the black and white stripes of his suit. He noticed that Eliza was trying quite hard to avoid making eye contact. "And how are you enjoying your first trip to the beach, Eliza? Has your bathing suit caused any riots yet?"

Eliza's deep brown eyes met his and narrowed. "I wouldn't know, pray don't think that I came here to attract male attention. I am merely here for the health benefits. Good day." With that, she turned and walked away, not waiting for Mrs. Higgins to join her.

"Henry, I wish you wouldn't bait the girl so. She's not mature enough not to rise to the occasion," Mrs. Higgins scolded before following the girl.

"She may be right, Higgins. What would happen if you were to push her too far? What would you do without her?" Pickering questioned. Higgins kicked the water in irritation.

"Exactly what I was doing before she intruded on my life," he replied stormily.

Pickering shook his head. "I think I've grown tired of sea-bathing, Higgins. I think I have a need to do some light shopping-- tell me, does Eliza own any jewelry?"

Henry glared at him. "How the devil should I know?"

"I think a ring would be lovely on her finger, don't you? Maybe a token of appreciation?"

"Hell! Don't you waste your pension on her wardrobe as it is?"

Pickering shrugged. "I suppose you're right. But I did notice her admiring a certain ring in a shop near the pier. She had such a lovely look of longing on her face, that I was almost compelled to purchase it for her right then and there." He breathed a heavy sigh. "Well, I'm off. Perhaps I can find a clever hat while we are here." He headed for a changing hut.

"Wait! I will go with you, you can show me that bloody ring, and be done with this whole 'token' business."

Later that evening, the quartet settled down for dinner at an exquisitely decorated restaurant. Eliza and Mrs. Higgins wore pale-green and lavender evening gowns respectively, and Pickering was full of compliments for the pair. Henry was fidgety. The dinner passed amiably, despite Henry's strange behavior. Eliza even managed to smile at him, willing to forget the rough way he had spoken to her earlier at the beach. He seemed to want to look everywhere but her face. To put it plainly, the way she had behaved at the beach.

After the dinner, the four of them headed out, intent on catching the rail back to London. To Eliza's astonishment, Pickering chose to escort Mrs. Higgins, and the two of them walked ahead, their pace oddly hurried. She looked up at Higgins and he offered his arm, which she hesitantly took.

"Eliza, I have something for you," Henry explained, bringing their progress to a halt. He reached inside his coat pocket and produced a small velvet box. He unceremoniously shoved handed it to her, nearly dropping it in the process.

Eliza treated him to a quizzical glance before opening the box. Nestled in velvet was a small gold ring. A delicate looking pearl was set in the middle. It was simple. It was… It was…

"I can't take this from you!" Eliza cried, handing it back to him with such a haste it appeared the object had scalded her. Tears sprung to her eyes, and she stifled a sob. Sensing a scene, Henry pulled her into an obliging alley to calm her down. This act seemed only to frighten her. She opened her mouth to scream, only to be stifled by Henry's hand over it.

"Good heavens, Eliza, what is the matter?" Dash it all, she was trembling! "If you absolutely abhor the wretched thing, I can exchange it for another! Only Pickering was going on and on about how you were mooning over it, and I thought buying it would shut him up!"

Eliza's trembling ceased at once, as did her tears. Henry removed his hand. "T-truly?" She asked in a tremulous voice.

"It's…it's sort of a 'job well done' sort of thing, Eliza. What did you think it was? Did you think I was proposing? Usually a diamond is apropos for that sort of thing." Eliza shook her head. "Well what then?"

"It's nothing, Professor Higgins," she replied quickly, eyes glued to the ground. Realization dawned on him.

"Why you damned silly girl! Do you think so little of me? Do you really think I would shower you with presents in exchange for-- for a good girl, you certainly have wicked thoughts floating about your head!"

"May I have my ring back please?"

Henry roared with laughter. "Here is your stupid ring, you silly girl. Now let us hurry before we miss the train entirely." They emerged , Henry still chuckling. He didn't notice the incredulous look from bystanders, shocked to see a well dressed couple stepping out from the dark alley. Eliza noticed, and attempted to avoid the curious gazes.