Eliza Doolittle: The Life and Times of a Good Girl
Chapter Ten: A Family
Eliza returned to her rooms in a daze. It was true, she had fled the idea of becoming Mrs. Freddy Eynsford-Hill to return to 247A; Eliza just never imagined she would be welcomed back as the fiancé of Professor Henry Higgins. If she could be rewarded a shilling for every time Henry proclaimed himself 'A Confirmed Old Bachelor', Eliza would be very rich indeed!
"He won't be a bachelor any longer," Eliza sighed, falling back onto her bed. She could not think about the kiss they shared without blushing deeply. So, that is why Freddy was keen; kissing is a marvelous business! Eliza giggled girlishly. She was glad that Henry had suggested she retire to her rooms in order to rest before dinner. Surely, he would rescind his proposal if he saw her behaving so foolishly!
A knock on the door pulled Eliza out of her reverie. She stood up, smoothed her skirts, and crossed the room. "Who is it?"
"It's Mrs. Pearce, the Professor told me you had come home. Is there anything I can get for you, Miss Doolittle?" Eliza threw the door open, and impulsively embraced the astonished old woman. Mrs. Pearce returned the embrace warmly, albeit a bit awkwardly. "It's good to have you back, Miss Doolittle."
"Thank you, Mrs. Pearce." Eliza released Mrs. Pearce and grinned at her. Mrs. Pearce gave Eliza a quizzical look.
"You look very happy, Miss Doolittle. Has that Eynsford-Hill boy really proposed?"
Eliza's face fell. "The Professor didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what, dear?"
Eliza shook her head. "Never you mind, Mrs. Pearce. I won't be needing anything right now. I will be down shortly for dinner."
Eliza mentally scolded herself for being disappointed. Of course Henry wasn't going to shout his retirement from bachelorhood from the rooftops. He wasn't the demonstrative sort, and marriage to Eliza wasn't likely to change that.
"She's returned? Good lord, Higgins, how did you manage that?" Pickering asked. The two gentlemen had been reading quietly in the study, when Henry had made an offhanded comment about hoping the cook would prepare Eliza's favorite dish.
Henry shrugged, his eyes not leaving his book. "Oh, that. I proposed to her."
Pickering burst out in laughter. "Oh-ho! That's a good one, Higgins. Come now, how did you really get her to come back?"
Henry furrowed his brow, and closed his book, setting it down on the table beside him. "It's not something I would ever jest about, marriage."
Before Pickering could reply, the door to the study opened, and Eliza entered. Henry found himself unable to repress a smile at the sight of her. "Hello, Eliza."
She blushed. "Hello, Professor Higgins. Colonel Pickering." Pickering stood up and crossed the room so that he could take Eliza's hand.
"I am so glad you've returned, Miss Doolittle, so glad."
"Mrs. Pearce sent me to announce dinner. The cook must have heard that I returned, he's prepared lamb."
Pickering began to offer him arm to Eliza, but was interrupted by Henry. Eliza gave Pickering an apologetic look and accepted Henry's arm. Pickering was stunned. Perhaps they were engaged!
Eliza felt inexplicably shy. Dinner was, for the most part, silent, as if the rest of the table had been stricken with their ability to speak as well. Ordinarily, dinner was an occasion for discussion and debate. Pickering would usually mention something he read about in the paper, and Henry would give him not-so-humble opinion, and Eliza would be absorbing the proceedings with rapt fascination. Occasionally, when she felt particularly bold, Eliza would lend her view to the discussion. Henry would scold her, saying that women were not expected to debate on such matters, but he would have an amused smile on his face.
No lively debates this night, it seemed. Pickering kept looking from Eliza to Henry, as if expecting one of them to break character and declare it all a fine joke. Henry was seemingly ignorant of Pickering's inquiring glances, and ate his meal with an indifferent and carefree air.
"Eliza, you know Cook will be upset if you don't touch your meal. Is there anything wrong with it?" Henry asked, seemingly innocently unaware of the tension at the table.
"No, Professor Higgins, there's nothing wrong with it. I suppose I am just distracted."
Henry reached over the table to pat her hand. "You've had a trying day. Two proposals in one day, and all that." He cleared his throat. "I also think we are above certain niceties. Please, call me Henry."
Pickering nearly choked on a bit of lamb at that. He took a drink of water to clear his throat.
"Yes, Pickering, it's true. I've asked for Eliza's hand in marriage, and have invited her to be on a first name basis with me." Higgins turned to the door to the kitchen. "I say, Mrs. Pearce, did you hear that?"
He shrugged when there was no answer. "She's obviously embarrassed that I'm aware the staff eavesdrops on every conversation in this house."
Pickering his attention to Eliza, her serene eyes cast on her plate. "Congratulations, Miss Doolittle. Although, I've no idea how it came about, I am happy for my dearest friends, all the same."
"Thank you, Colonel," Eliza replied in a sweet, breathless tone.
"Yes, thanks Pickering. I daresay I will have to make you best man, if my brother doesn't object."
Eliza's fork clattered to the table. "You have a brother?"
"Hmmm…? Oh, I suppose I never told you. Yes, I have a brother. He's ten years my junior, and is an utter prat. Mother named him Edward."
"Will I get to make his acquaintance before the wedding?" Eliza was curious now. Henry had a family that consisted of more than just his mother. Eliza only vividly remembered ever having her father in her life, with grainy images of her long dead mother. No brothers or sisters. Although, there was a niggling little flash of an elegant hand upon a flat stomach, and a childish voice asking if that was her baby brother.
"Oh, I suppose once we tell Mother, a luncheon with Edward, his wife, and their multitude of screaming brats will be inevitable. Pickering, you needn't attend. The whole affair would be of no interest to you."
Pickering nodded. "I wouldn't wish to impose." He smiled up at one of the maids as she set dessert down in front of him. "Thank you, Jenny."
"You have nieces and nephews?" Eliza asked in an astonished voice. She had automatically assumed that any sibling of Henry would be as committed to bachelorhood as he once was.
"He can't seem to stop giving me nieces and nephews. Let's see; There are the eldest set of twins, Julia and Margaret; The younger set of twins, Little Edward and June; My namesake, Little Henry: and now, if I'm not mistaken, another on the way. Poor Jane, I would put a lock on the bedroom door if I were in her position. Monsters all, with the exception of Little Henry. He's only three, but he shows good sense."
"How lovely to have such a big family," Eliza mused, scooping a bit of chocolate mousse into her mouth.
"I agree, Higgins. A namesake and everything, that must have been a proud day for you!" Pickering remarked.
Henry looked unruffled by Eliza and Pickering's comments. "It's not bad, I suppose. As I said before, Edward is an utter prat, and his children are little heathens. His wife is a good sort of girl, though. I daresay you will get on splendidly with her, Eliza."
"I can scarcely wait," was Eliza's reply.
Henry studied her with an amused little smile. "And when shall we break the news to your father and your new step-mother? I am positively chomping at the bit to see the nouveau riche monstrosity they've undoubtedly taken residence in."
Eliza felt her enthusiasm wane a bit, and took a deep breath. "Oh, soon. I am curious to see their new home as well." Nothing could be further from the truth. She wished her father well, but did not want him to have any place in her new life. He always seemed to sour any bit of happiness she possessed.
"Well, it's settled then. We'll make a day trip of it, starting at Mother's and ending at your father's. Let's surprise them."
Mrs. Higgins certainly was surprised. However, she recovered from her shock in order to congratulate her son on his good sense, and to embrace Eliza.
"This is so sudden, Henry. What happened to your vow to never marry?" Mrs. Higgins inquired.
"I've changed my mind. Eliza is invaluable, and if marriage is the only way to keep her at my side, then so be it." Eliza tried to manage a smile. Not once had he confessed that he loved her, and she doubted he would do so in front of his mother. As if sensing her distress, Henry took her hand and squeezed it.
"Well, that is all very romantic, I'm sure. Will the two of you stay for tea?" Mrs. Higgins motioned for the two of them to have a seat.
Henry shook his head. "Oh, no thank you, Mother. We have to drop in on Edward and Jane."
"Good lord, really? You haven't spoken to Edward in almost a year! Surely you've at least warned Jane that you are coming?"
Henry shook his head. "No, I thought it would be pleasant to surprise our loved ones today."
"Loved ones? Henry, the last time you spoke with Edward it ended with you calling him-- well, something not entirely fit for ladies ears, and him threatening to call the police."
"Water under the bridge, I assure you."
"Does he know that? Have either of you apologized to one another?"
"Well…"
"I see. I am coming with the two of you to keep the peace then."
The moment Eliza stepped into the parlor of Edward Higgins's residence, she sensed an air of unrestrained chaos. The butler seemed to be a man who lived under constant stress; Some of his hair was missing in patches, and his clothing was rumpled. He gave Henry a look of serious distaste, before leaving to announce the guests.
"Gran! Uncle Henry!" Cried a chorus of childish voices. Suddenly, two almost identical ten year old girls flew into the parlor. They were dirty-faced, but quite charming with their strawberry blonde curls and blue eyes. One of them was holding what looked to be a long rope made out of neck-ties, and at the end of the rope, tied to it by the waist, was a very harassed looking male toddler.
"My word! Could these little ragamuffins really be my darling granddaughters?" Cried Mrs. Higgins, kissing the two of them soundly.
"What have you two she-beasts done to Little Henry?" Higgins asked, affecting a glare at the twins.
"He's our prisoner," Explained the one holding the rope.
"Don't talk to him. We need to keep his morale low," the other added, solemnly. Finally, the twins noticed Eliza.
"Who is that, Uncle Henry?" Asked the one with the rope.
"That is Eliza Doolittle, Margaret. She's going to be your aunt." Henry explained, who was in the process of untying the toddler. He picked scooped up Little Henry and brought the child to Eliza. "Say hello to Miss Doolittle, young man."
The little boy, smiled at Eliza, but burrowed his head against his uncle's neck, bashfully.
"You're so old, Uncle Henry. You can't take a wife," the other twin, Julia by deduction, informed her uncle.
Before Henry could give the child a retort that would singe her ears, the butler returned.
"Follow me, Mr. Higgins."
The group was led into a sitting room that was nicely furnished, but strewn with toys. In an armchair sat a man who very much resembled Henry Higgins, only with a few less lines about his face and no shocks of grey running through his dark hair. He was not smiling at the party.
"If Mother weren't here, I wouldn't feel obligated to conduct myself as a gentleman." Edward Higgins stood up, and crossed the room to kiss his mother on both cheeks. "It's so good to see you again, Mother."
"Behave yourself, Edward, there are ladies present." Edward stood back and visually took in Eliza. He appeared to like what he saw, for he smiled at her.
"Who is this vision of womanhood?"
"Eliza Doolittle, I would like you to meet my brother, Edward Higgins. Edward, Miss Doolittle is my fiancé."
"You're joking! This goddess has deigned you suitable for marriage?"
"Edward, moderate your language in front of the children!" Mrs. Higgins scolded. She disliked her youngest son's familiar tone.
"Indeed. Where is dear Jane?" Henry asked, reminding Edward that he already had a wife.
Edward shook his head. "You know she is with child again. She is not fit to receive guests in her advanced state. Also, the doctor has restricted her to bed rest."
Henry's face darkened at that. "You knew she was delicate before you married her. Why must you always put her in peril?"
"Henry, Edward! This is hardly the subject matter one should be discussing in front of children and unmarried women!" Mrs. Higgins's voice had an edge of hysteria to it. Eliza was uncomfortable in the presence of the two volatile males, and the children in question had already fled the room.
"Very well, Mother, very well." Edward sighed. He motioned for the party to set down. "I do suppose congratulations are in order. Congratulations, dear brother. Congratulations, Miss Doolittle, you've picked an interesting specimen of manhood." He studied her face once more with a queer expression. "I feel as though I've met you before, years and years ago. It's impossible, of course. You can't be more than twenty-two years old, I'm sure." He coughed. "Forgive me, I did not mean to speculate on a lady's age. I assure you, Mother raised me better than this."
"It's quite alright, Mr. Higgins. I think you will find I am not as missish about my age as some." Eliza smiled at Henry, and took his hand. "I find I've taken quite a shine to your older brother. I couldn't be happier to become his wife." Eliza's smile widened when she took note of Henry's blush.
"By George, your voice is a heady combination of rustling silk and Christmas bells. How charming!" Edward warmly complimented. Henry shot him a murderous look, which Edward ignored. "I daresay your face is going to drive me to distraction until I realize who you remind me of."
"I couldn't possibly imagine who I would remind you of, Mr. Higgins."
"Have you frequented Covent Garden before about six months ago, Edward?" Henry asked with a naughty grin. "She used to sell flowers there."
Edward just laughed. "What a joke, brother! Selling flowers indeed."
The group continued with small talk for a bit, before Henry announced that it was time for he and Eliza to depart for her father's house. Mrs. Higgins decided to stay on at her younger son's home, so that she may sit a while with her grandchildren.
Eliza approached her father's fashionable townhouse with a feeling of dread.