A Marriage of InConvenience

Chapter 1

January 13 1915 was as cold as it was wet. Eliza sat in the study attempting for the fourth time that evening to read the complete works of John Keats. She was waiting for the return of Professor Higgins and was uneasy when the clock struck 11pm. He had not arrived home and had not telephoned her as he was usually won't to do.

At the outbreak of the war in Europe had an impact on every household. A good number of the young men from the market in Covent Garden and in the Higgins household had left to join the army or navy. Many that were left behind had taken up the empty jobs left vacant at a moments notice.

Henry Higgins had been deemed too old for active service, but the War Office and more to the point, Army Intelligence had decided they had a use for Henry's peculiar talent with language. From that moment, he had been drafted into the reserves and spent many days and hours in Whitehall. Eliza saw very little of him these last few weeks but kept herself busy arranging his appointments, papers and assisting his war work wherever she could.

At 11.30pm Eliza heard the main door open and close. She placed her book on the desk and found Higgins stood in the hallway removing his army issued great coat to reveal the uniform of army intelligence adorned with the insignia of a Captain and a small patch denoting he was a reservist. At times Eliza thought him almost handsome in his uniform but never dared to tell him so. At that moment he was soaked to the skin.

Eliza quietly watched him from the doorway of the study. Making no move, he clearly wasn't expecting anyone to be there. Given the hour, most people would have been in bed. The lines of his face were deeper than usual, his eyes were red. Eliza guessed he was exhausted. A sudden movement by the study door caught his attention.

' I thought you'd be in bed by now.'

' I was waiting for you.' Walking over to him, Eliza indicated for him to remove his jacket. It was damp. Without a word Higgins turned and shrugged it off into her hands. He started removing his tie as he went into the study.

Eliza disappeared for a few minutes, returning with a plate of sandwiches and a glass of milk.

'Cook left these for you.'

' I'm really not that hungry.'

' You didn't telephone this evening.'

' I'm sorry, I was caught up. I didn't mean to make you worry,' Higgins sounded unusually in touch with her feelings. His eye narrowed when he saw the evening news paper open at the war casualty pages.

'Anyone we know?' Higgins asked.

' Not in the killed in action section thank god, but there are a couple of chaps from the market who have been wounded.'

' So the Hill survives another day.' Eliza felt her ire rising. This was an old conversation.

' Do you have to be like that. Wishing someone dead is appalling.'

' I don't wish him dead, I was merely in awe that he has the imagination to survive. Good on him.' Higgins tried to redeem himself and end the conversation before it degenerated into a full blown argument. He was too tired and besides he thought his secretary looked quite pretty this evening. Maybe he was just exhausted.

' I'm not going to Whitehall tomorrow I have other plans if you have none. We need to discuss something important.'

' Do you want to discuss it this evening?' Eliza had her interest piqued. Generally he was very guarded about discussing his day.

' Not really, but I'd like you to consider matters if anything were to happen to me.'

Eliza felt a heavy feeling take shape in her stomach. What an earth did he mean. Was he making arrangements to be rid of her. In times of uncertainty it made sense to plan but what was happening for him to consider sending her away and where was he going?

'Are you sending me away?' She was almost fearful of the answer. At Wimpole Street she had found a home, a career, a sense of purpose and she had always thought they were good together despite their frequent disagreements.

' No, what in God's name makes you think that?' Higgins asked incredulously.

' You come home late, you didn't telephone and now you talk in riddles.' Eliza started to tear up.

' Oh for heavens sake don't start to blubber, I'm too tired and it's far too late for such hysteria.'

' Then what is it, what am I to consider?'

Higgins knew he should draw a line under the conversation but ploughed on. Sighing heavily, he walked from behind his desk and sat himself next to Eliza on the sofa.

' I don't want to argue, but I need you to consider the fact that in the current situation in Europe... well I have to go away for a little while and ...' Elizas eyes were going from red and tearful to panicked. ' What you'd like to do with the house, my collections and such.'

' What is that to do with me?'

' Because I intend to write my last will and testament leaving everything to you.'

Eliza was stunned.