I have just had a thought, I have only ever had female feedback on my work; are there any men reading this? Just a random thought, anyway back to my story D !
Henry nodded at his mother, but for some reason unbeknown to him, he just couldn't get his feet to move in the right direction. He just stood there rooted the ground. Mrs Higgins noticed this and began to climb back up the stairs. She walked up to him until she was inches from her son.
She placed a hand on his shoulder, "I know."
Henry looked at her severely, "What do you know?"
She smiled in a kindly, loving way, "I know you're scared."
Henry was quick to retort, "I'm not scared; she's going to be fine." He looked toward the floor,"She is fine, isn't she?"
They both knew deep down, that such a strong bout of influenza, on a pregnant woman was dangerous. Perhaps even deadly.
Mrs Higgins pulled her son toward her, and whispered in his ear, "She is so strong, but she still needs you."
Henry nodded to himself, and was quickly ashamed of how he was doing his best to do anything that would prevent him from facing his wife. More to the point, he was ashamed of how scared he really was.
He turned to the door and gently opened it. Mrs Higgins put her hand on the panels, stopping him from entering.
"Oh, and Henry dear; don't let your emotions get the better of you, be strong." She let the door open, and Henry entered.
Henry surveyed the scene in front of him. Mrs Pearce was still dabbing at Eliza's forehead feverishly, Eliza was just laid there with her eyes closed arms across her stomach. Henry strode forward toward Mrs Pearce. He held out a hand, and Mrs Pearce delivered the cloth into it, she pointed at a small basin of cold water, to which he nodded in return. Eliza opened her eyes, though the strain it took on her to turn her head was almost pitying.
"Morse code is it?" she asked quietly.
Henry looked baffled.
"Silent nods." She closed her eyes again.
Mrs Pearce vacated the chair, where Henry took seat.
"I shall make you both some food." Mrs Pearce began to leave.
"Oh, I couldn't stomach it." She was terribly hungry, but the thought of eating nearly made her retch.
"Come now Eliza, you must try." Pushed Henry.
Eliza nodded her head ever so slightly, Mrs Pearce took this for a yes and headed down to the kitchen.
Henry resumed Mrs Pearce's relentless dabbing.
"Talk to me Henry, I need to hear your voice; stop me from going in-insane."
"I'd feel ridiculous having a one way conversation." He sighed.
"Read to me then, an-anything." She pleaded.
"Ok," he relented, "What do we have in here then." He began searching through a pile of books, conveniently situated by her bed. "Goodness, what rubbish." He thumbed through a few, but threw them aside until he reached the very bottom of the pile. "Ahh, this is mine isn't it?" Eliza didn't reply. "Goodness, I haven't read this in some time."
Eliza asked quizzically, "What is it?"
"The complete works of William Shakespeare." Replied Henry.
"You've read it all?" Eliza was astounded; she herself had barely finished the Tempest.
"Well, yes. Yes I suppose I must have." Henry smiled to himself. "Aren't you supposed to be conserving energy, and letting me do the talking?"
Eliza nodded and relaxed into the bed.
"Let's see, yes this will do nicely." He began to read Anthony and Cleopatra, with the thoughts that Romeo and Juliet was not quite subtle enough. "Nay but this dotage of our general's O'erflows the measure..."
Henry read solidly throughout the day, even when he thought Eliza was asleep, it was far easier than trying to talk of anything else, and it appeared to ease his wife's, and indeed his suffering. Mrs Pearce came in with food for them both, she tried with all her might to get Eliza to eat something, and eventually won out, although Henry refused to stop reading therefore he went without.
It was about eight o'clock, and eventually Henry realised he could go on no more, he had already read Anthony and Cleopatra, The comedy of Errors and even Richard III, he wasn't even sure of how much Eliza had taken in, but he had felt something pushing him on. But now he stopped, closed the book after securing the marker, and laid it down upon the bedside table.
"Henry."
The sound of Eliza's frail voice made him jump a little. "I thought you were asleep."
"No, I haven't been able to." She replied sadly.
She rolled to face him more fully.
Henry was at a loss of what to say, he wasn't terribly good in these situations. "Er...How are you feeling?"
"Very much the same, although I appear to have regained the art of speech." She sounded playful, though Henry knew she was very weak.
"You sound tired, you really must get some sleep." Henry was about to get up to turn out the dim light.
"Oh please don't go, I couldn't sleep alone in here." She sounded almost fearful, this worried Henry; was she really feeling worse? Was she truly afraid of what would happen if she were to be left alone?
Henry couldn't bear to leave her, he pulled his chair closer and held out a hand.
She made an effort to take it, and when she did she felt the rush of warmth run through her cold fingertips.
"Eliza, your fingers are stone cold!" exclaimed Henry.
"I feel awfully weak, Henry." Eliza was beginning to feel faint again.
"You should have eaten more, gained more sustenance." He replied as he rubbed warmth back into her hands.
"I couldn't it made me fe-feel awf-full." She yawned.
"Sleep Eliza, you need your rest." He then added, "I will stay here if you want."
"Oh, but what if you catch it as well?" the thought had just hit her, though she wanted him to stay so badly.
"I wouldn't, I'm never ill." He replied.
Perhaps she might thought Eliza, the repetitive circular motions of Henry's fingers on hers was helping her relax. With him there for some reason she felt safe, she was not a needy person, she was generally very strong, but his presence softened her into a world where she felt secure. And with these thoughts she drifted off into an untroubled sleep, and soon Henry followed suite, resting on the side of his chair with Eliza's hand in his.
Sorry that was such a short chapter, but I didn't think it needed to be overly lengthy, just to show more character development, and how Henry really feels. Hope you agree please review! x
