Eliza Doolittle: The Life and Times of a Good Girl

Chapter Eighteen: Without You

He had left her without another word spoken between the two of them. Eliza sat, staring gloomily into the fireplace as Henry went about the cottage, gathering his belongings. She heard his footsteps pause behind the sofa for several agonizing moments, before turning and heading out the front door. She waited for the gently click of the door closing before dissolving into tears once more. Damn him, damn him, damn him!

Rage coursed through Eliza so violently, that she had to bite on her lip to stop from flying about the cottage, breaking things. "So I am rabble once more, am I?" She asked bitterly, between hitching sobs. Eventually, she succeeded in crying herself to sleep on the sofa.

She awoke many hours later, to the sounds of the housekeeper making dinner. Eliza nearly shouted at the poor woman when she put out two place settings. "Just one, tonight. Professor Higgins was called away on business, and shan't be joining me for the remainder of my stay." How carefully Eliza hid her emotional turmoil. She felt as though every bit of life had been sapped from her, leaving a shell. Stealing a glance into the looking glass, Eliza realized that she remembered her mother always having a similar expression on her face. Her face was pale and drawn, the skin under her eyes bruised and purple. Her usually full lips were pressed in a thin line, and slightly pinched. What a difference between that moment and earlier that morning! Not surprisingly, most of her meal was left untouched.

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Henry sat alone in his compartment, miserably contemplating the events of the day. He wished he could conjure up Eliza's sweet face without it being clouded by Catherine's mischievous one. Henry thought about his brother, and how absolutely pleased he must be that he finally got his revenge. Never mind that Eliza's happiness got destroyed in the cross fire. Oh, Eliza…

Henry had hurt her so severely, that there was little chance they would reconcile, even after his year away from her. Perhaps he could draw up an annulment for her. Or she could divorce him on the grounds of abandonment. Henry shook his head. He doubted Eliza would go for either options; she would consider the shame to be too great.

He wondered if Catherine was watching him from the afterlife, laughing cruelly at him. He wouldn't put it past her, really. Henry could imagine her, sitting on a throne of gold and ivory, untouched by age or infirmity. Her curls would dance about her face as she laughed, and her eyes would sparkle. "You great fool!" She would cry. So he was.

When he reached Paris, Anson and Jillian were waiting for him. Anson was all smiles and thanks for Henry's change in heart, although he was concerned that Eliza had not accompanied Henry.

"We decided it was unwise," was all Henry had to say on that matter. He noticed that Jillian had a 'cat that ate the canary' look about her smug, aristocratic features. She insinuated herself between the two men, taking an arm each, and trying to make eye contact with Henry the entire way to the taxi.

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Eliza's days proceeded in silent misery. There were times where she would not rise from bed until late in the afternoon, ignoring the housekeeper's meal announcements. The poor woman tried to get Eliza to take her meals in bed, but Eliza steadfastly refused anything more than a few bites of dry toast.

Two weeks passed before Eliza realized how desperately she wanted to go home. The climate was becoming unbearable on her health, and most of her attempts at eating were ending in her becoming violently ill in the bathroom. Eliza notified Jane Higgins that she was coming home, wanting to see a friendly face when she got off of the rail.

It seemed the further away Eliza traveled from the Riviera, the more ill she became. She kept herself confined to her compartment, terrified that she had caught some sort of virus. It only went downhill on the ferry ride.

Jane and Edward Higgins waited patiently at the station for Eliza to arrive. Jane was glowing with excitement, Edward oddly subdued. Jane had asked Edward many questions about why Henry was not returning with Eliza, and finally, after evasiveness did not work, Edward sharply told her to mind her own damned business.

Jane nearly fainted at the sight of the colorless creature that stepped off of the train. She looked up at Edward, whose eyes were wide with shock, his mouth slightly agape. Jane was almost certain she saw a glimmer of guilt play across his features, but thought perhaps it was a trick of the light. She gave a concerned cry, and ran to Eliza, careful not to crush the delicate creature with her embrace. "Darling, whatever is the matter?"

Edward noticed that Eliza swayed slightly in Jane's embrace, and thinking quickly, ran to her side before she swooned, falling nerveless into his arms. Jane bit back a shriek at the display.

Eliza awoke in a bed that was not her own. Jane was sitting on a chair nearby, dabbing Eliza's forehead with a cool cloth.

"You fainted at the station, sweeting. You are at our home, and a doctor is on his way to examine you. "

Eliza sat up in bed. "May I have some water, please?" She inquired, hoarsely. Jane nodded, and guided a glass to Eliza's lips. Eliza took the glass herself, and swatted Jane's hand away. "I'm not a baby," she sniped, weakly.

Before Jane could apologize for her coddling, the house-keeper walked into the bedroom and announced that the doctor had arrived. The doctor was a timid, middle-aged man with a good natured smile, and a calm, even voice that soothed. Upon Eliza's insistence, Jane stayed in the room. Eliza found it improper to be examined by a man, especially with no chaperone in the room.

Eliza blushed and stumbled over answers to the doctor's queries. She kept a sheet pulled primly up by her chin the entire time he poked a prodded at her, and her eyes were squeezed shut. Finally, the exam was over, and both ladies looked up at the doctor expectantly.

"You had best bring your husband back from his tour, Mrs. Higgins."

Eliza felt the oxygen leave her lungs at his stern command. "Am I dying?"

He shook his head with a laugh. "No, of course not. But, I would hope your husband would find the news that you are pregnant reason enough to return."

Jane's delighted squeal barely registered with Eliza. Pregnant. That was as good as dying, wasn't it?