A Hole in the River

Chapter Four: A Plan

"Mother!" Henry shouted as he entered Mrs. Higgins' home for the second time of the day. "What the devil are you doing here?" This was directed at The Boy… Freddy Eynsford-whatever.

"I-…"

"It's quite alright, young man, Higgins is just on edge." God damn it, Henry hated it when Pickering took it upon himself to apologize for him.

Eleanor Higgins walked into the front hallway to greet her son, betraying no astonishment at his unorthodox greeting. The cool eyes behind her calm smile brightened considerably when she noticed the Hill boy.

"Why, young Freddy! How is your mother, dear?"

"Why-…"

"Oh, never mind that, Mother, I've terrible news. Eliza has completely lost her marbles!"

"Oh, Henry!"

"She tried to shake herself loose the mortal coil, and managed to botch it up royally; stupid girl."

Eleanor glared at her son. "Are you disparaging her for not succeeding?"

Henry blanched, and then blushed crimson. "How could you suggest such a thing? No, I am glad she isn't dead, of course. I am damned angry at her for thinking she had no other option but to throw herself off of the Waterloo Bridge!"

"Oh no!" Eleanor pressed her back against the wall, feeling slightly faint.

"She injured her head during the fall… she doesn't remember anything." Henry raked a hand through his hair. "She's reverted back to the squashed cabbage leaf of Covent Garden- all of my hard work…"

Eleanor noted the tone of despair in her son's voice, and took him by the hand, leading him and the other two men to her sitting room. "Poor Eliza! To think, she might have been killed…" She patted her son on the cheek, and gave him a scrutinizing look before softening her features into a sympathetic smile. "Poor Henry."

Freddy, apparently, could not wait another moment. "Gentlemen, I went to 27A to reassure you that you have my complete confidence in regards to Eliza's condition. I was told I had just missed you, and was redirected to your excellent mother's home, and I took a taxi in my haste." He placed his right hand over his heart. "I shan't tell a soul!"

Henry felt the ill-regard he had towards the boy lift slightly. "Good man," he replied flatly, before turning to back to his mother. "Now, Mother-"

"Couldn't you just teach her again?" Freddy interrupted.

"Don't you know it is rude to interrupt?" Henry fired back. To his mother, "I've received an invitation from the Ambassador to Transylvania's wife, requesting Eliza's presence at her country home in _shire, in one month's time. I am at a loss…"

"Henry, she may recover in a month's time-"

"And she may not!" Henry savagely interrupted Eleanor.

"Higgins, couldn't we do as the boy says and teach it to her all over again?" Pickering asked in his soothing way.

"One month, Pickering! Not to mention the added headache of country etiquette… damn!"

"Now, Henry, that is easily rectified." Eleanor Higgins gave her son a patented 'you silly boy' look, and continued. "She will need a place to recover from her accident; what better location than my country home? It is not far from the Ambassador's summer home, after all- and I could accompany you to help Eliza with the more delicate side of feminine behavior." She straightened her spine and gave her son, and Pickering a serious look. "You seemed to have failed to work the rougher edges the last time around."

"That is a fine idea, Mrs. Higgins," Pickering congratulated.

Eleanor nodded, giving no pretensions of being humble. It was a good idea. "Young Freddy is welcome to join us as well, for I know him as a fine gamesman, and my estate is fairly overrun."

Henry's expression soured considerably.

"Henry, don't look so glum. I know you enjoy the hunt as much as any man, and young Freddy may afford some healthy competition." Eleanor smiled in a manner that Henry perceived as secretive. She was a sharp woman, his mother, and he didn't wonder if she saw something the others did not.

"I would be delighted to join you all, thanks very much!" Freddy exclaimed, good-naturedly. "I daresay I could show Eliza a bit in regards to horsemanship. She could have the finest seat in England by time I am through with her." Henry glared daggers at the boy's choice of words. They damn near sounded impertinent!

Eleanor clapped her hands together and laughed. "Good! It is decided then. Once Eliza is released from Hospital, we will whisk her off to the countryside. The air will improve her outlook considerably."

"But still, one month…"

"Tosh, Henry! I am sure the knowledge is still there, only buried. She is a clever girl, I saw it myself."

"I agree with Mrs. Higgins; I believe Miss Doolittle can do anything." Freddy's love struck vote of confidence caused Henry to roll his eyes.

"That is true, sir." Pickering really needed to stop addressing the pup as though he were one of their peers.

Irritating or not, his companions' faith in Eliza did wonders to encourage Henry that the task in hand was not as difficult as previously believed.

Eliza Doolittle was apprehensive to say the least. Dr. Drake had given her a clean bill of health, and took it upon himself to explain what was to happen next. Her old flat had apparently been let months ago, and she had been staying with the Angry Man, trying to better herself through elocution lessons. The Angry Man's name was Henry Higgins, and his kind, older, companion was named Colonel Pickering. The handsome young man was Freddy Eynsford-Hill, and they had met at a horse race.

Eliza had to take a few minutes to register that shock that her father was now a wealthy man, and married to boot. Eliza wondered briefly if that made her an heiress, but then deduced that her father would more than likely drink away the money before he obliged everyone by dying. Ah well, Eliza always expected to some extent that she would have to make her own fortune.

A thrill raced through Eliza when she remembered where she would be going after the hospital. Recovery in the countryside, imagine that! Her nose lifted just a hitch, when she thought of all the servants that would be fawning over her hand-and-foot while she lay prone in a bed far more magnificent than the hard cot she was now residing on.

"Loverly," she whispered.

An hour later, Eliza found herself in the arms of Henry Higgins, being carried to a taxi. The younger man had made a move to pick her up, but Henry moved quickly, nearly bowling Freddy Eynsford-Hill over in the process.

"I'm not as old as that, boy," Henry snapped.

Eliza blushed when Freddy threw a blanket over her knees, tucking it in snugly. She noticed that he was blushing as well.

"Are you very comfortable, Miss Doolittle?" Freddy asked, breathlessly.

"Erm… O'course. Thank'ee, Freddy. "

Eliza overhead a loud groan from outside the taxi.

"Wot's that, Professor?" Eliza inquired.

Henry peered inside the taxi. "Nothing that cannot be remedied, Eliza."

Eliza smiled at him. "That's a mercy, innit?"

"Is it not."

"Right."

Soon, the door was closed, the automobile fired up, and the journey begun.