A Hole in the River
Chapter Fourteen
The Right Direction
Author's Note: I am afraid we are to the end of our tale, save the epilogue. Special thanks to Jacqueline Viana, who has really helped me punch up some of the passages. Thank you, darling! Thank you to all my readers for their patience as I pulled myself out of what I like to call "Megablock 2010-11", and I hope you will join me once again for my untitled 'My Fair Lady' sequel set in the years of WWI.
Eliza rose early, the day after the incident. The sun had just begun to peak over the horizon, and she could still hear the servants, bustling about as stealthily as they could. Sleep, while coming to her easily, had not stayed with her that night. It seemed that every hour, on the hour, some nocturnal disturbance brought her to alertness; one moment it was the incident with Freddy, the next, her increasingly intimate acquaintance with Professor Higgins. Henry.
"Good morning... Henry," Eliza found it difficult to use his given name, even when practicing in front of her looking-glass. She sighed, and covered her blushing cheeks with her hands. "You are a fool, Eliza Doolittle; a silly girl, indeed." Eliza went to the task of readying herself for the morning, hoping against hope that Freddy Eynsford-Hill and his mother would be the last to join the breakfast table, or that they would just disappear into a puff of smoke.
Eliza stepped into the corridor, finding no sight of Freddy or his mother, and made her way downstairs. Upon passing the open door of the study, she nearly missed Professor Higgins, who was engaged in light reading. She paused, and turned back. He had not noticed her, surely he would not take offense if she did not greet him? No, that would not do.
"Good morning, Professor Higgins."
Henry gave a start, and dropped his book.
"Eliza... Good morning." He greeted, picking his book from the floor, avoiding making eye contact with her altogether.
"Are you unwell, sir?" Indeed, the look upon his face was downright bilious.
Henry cleared his throat, and finally met her gaze. "I am very well, indeed; why are you up so very early?"
"I could not sleep, sir." Eliza cast her gaze to the floor at the admission.
Henry scrutinized her appearance, with concern in his eyes. "You needn't have lost any sleep over the matter, Eliza; I've taken care of everything. That boy will never haunt your presence again."
"I confess that Freddy's indecency was not the only thing that weighed heavily on my mind."
The implication of Eliza's words struck Henry quite dumb for once, and there was no reply. Eliza suddenly wished that a chasm would develop beneath her feet to drag her down to the safe depths of Wherever-The-Professor-Was-Not.
"Oh, I see; very well, sir. I shall see you at breakfast." Eliza's humiliation was complete. As she made a hasty retreat, she heard Henry stand up and begin to follow her, but she did not look back.
"Eliza!" Surprisingly, two pairs of voices called her name. One of the voices belonged to Henry Higgins, the other was from the top of the staircase, and belonged to Freddy Eynsford-Hill.
"See here, boy, I believe I was very clear-"
"I will not leave without explaining myself!"
Eliza paused, but did not turn around to face the two men; she closed her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose, as though experiencing a headache.
"Do not take another step towards her!" Henry warned, as a flurry of footsteps drew closer. A hand touched her shoulder, and Eliza felt her reserve snap; without knowing who was touching her, Eliza turned and struck the man across the cheek with her open palm. Her handprint bloomed red across Freddy's otherwise pale cheek.
"I have had just about enough from the two of you!" Eliza shouted, heedless of how ladylike it all was. "You are too forward, sir, and your attack on me last night is just one reason among many that I could never accept your hand," she directed at Freddy. "You... You, sir-...
Eliza faltered when addressing Henry. "You are the most frustrating of all!"
"I?"
Eliza glared, and walked around the two men in order to head towards the front door.
"I say, Eliza, that is not the way to the breakfast room."
"I ain't takin' me breakfast wiv t'likes of you two!"
The two men were left alone in the middle of the hall. Henry turned on Freddy. "There now, boy; was that enough to hasten your departure? Must sting, to be twice bested by a woman."
"I shall leave immediately; Mother has already been told, and she is packing her things. I only wanted to explain myself a bit better to her."
"You came to her in the night, and tried to take her by force. You were lucky that she did not cut your throat."
Freddy unconsciously covered the throat in question with his hand. "She is a remarkable woman."
"Yes, quite a tower of strength, a consort battleship; she always has been."
"I wonder what will become of her, once her stay with Ambassador's wife is at an end."
"What do you mean?"
Freddy shrugged. "I just wonder where she will stay."
"I am sure that is none of your business!"
Freddy nodded. "The way I conducted myself, I agree wholeheartedly; I worry, though. Eliza seems to need a place to belong, more than anyone I have even seen in my life." He sighed. "Well, some lucky chap will snap her up soon enough."
"You asked what I was going to do with her, now that I had her... last night, I mean." Freddy was on his way upstairs, when Henry's statement gave him pause.
"Did I? Odd, that. Well, you'd better do something, old man."
Eliza stormed up and down the gardens, allowing time for her anger to ebb and die. Stupid men, the whole lot of them! Well, Colonel Pickering was a dear, but he was the only exception.
"I can't wait until this whole business is over and be free of the whole lot," Eliza muttered under her breath. In a very unlady-like move, Eliza flopped down on the ground, beneath the shade of an obliging oak. The sun was beginning to warm the earth quite pleasantly, like a warm bath, and Eliza stretched out, becoming completely prone. She felt very much like a lazy cat, and resolved not to move from the spot for the rest of her life.
Professor Higgins. What was the matter with the man? At one moment he could be all tenderness, as he was when she caught him on the edge of waking, and then next all silence and reserve. His actions the night before... surely there was more to his outrage then the sight of a woman's virtue being threatened?
Eliza brushed the spot on her forehead that he had kissed. That gesture had brought a sort of calming reassurance on a night of chaos, but it had also filled her with more questions. Was it the kiss of a prospective lover, or a man reassuring a favorite pet? Whatever it was, the mere memory was enough to set her heart to flutter, and her blood to burn in a manner quite shameful.
Perhaps it was time to return to the house. Eliza was certain that refusing breakfast was a serious breach in etiquette, and she could not bear to have Mrs. Higgins be cross with her. Eliza opened her eyes, and gave a start when she realized that Professor Higgins was towering over her.
"I knew I would find you about, but I would have never guessed that a dryad had taken your place." He extended a hand when Eliza sat up, and assisted her to her feet.
"I did not think that I was away long enough to warrant a search party," Eliza replied as she brushed debris off her skirt.
"After the incident after the Embassy Ball, I prefer not to take any chances with your sudden disappearances."
"You were upset when I left that night?"
Henry scowled. She was baiting him, trying to make him confess to something he could not form the words to tell her.
"I... You silly thing, of course I was!"
"Oh?"
"You threw my slippers at me."
"Oh! Is that really all?"
"I daresay you would be damned upset to if someone hurled footwear at your head!"
"Impossible man! I suppose you felt nothing, when you found me half-drowned in a hospital cot?"
Henry gasped. "You infamous creature! Pray, did you throw yourself in the river just to elicit an emotional response from me; to wound me?"
"I already explained why I did what I did."
"So you did."
An long silence fell between the two.
"Freddy is leaving?"
"What? Oh, yes. I spoke with him briefly last night and made my case about the matter. He decided that it would be in his best interest not to linger."
Eliza nodded, and looked to the ground. "You were quite... familiar with me last night."
"Are you comparing my conduct with that Hill boy's?" Henry's voice had taken a dangerous edge.
Sensing a tempest, Eliza shook her head. "Of course not! I only mean that - I don't really know what I mean." Eliza took a deep breath. "Your regard for me - sometimes I feel as though it may be a bit... warmer than friendly."
Eliza continued her study of the earth beneath her feet, more and more resolved to never look upon Professor Higgins' face ever again. It seemed everytime she encountered him lately, she caused herself to be humiliated beyond all reason.
"Eliza, have the courage to look at me."
Eliza obeyed, and found his gaze to be direct and intense. "Forgive me, Professor Higgins, for seeing things that are not there; rest assured that as soon as this is all over, I will not bother you ever again."
"Like hell!"
Eliza's jaw-dropped. It was not the curse, so much as the contradiction. "I beg your pardon, sir?"
"Do you think that after the trouble I have gone through for your sake, that I am ever going to let you out of my sight again?"
"I... beg your pardon?"
"You sound like a broken record, girl, and a thick one at that."
"I suppose that I do, but forgive me, I do not understand. How on earth am I to stay within your sights forever after?"
"I should have thought it would be obvious, but allow me to illustrate." Henry took Eliza's left hand, and slid her pearl ring from the middle finger to the third. "Are you sufficiently educated on the matter, now?"
Eliza could only stare at the ring, resting unassumingly on its' new perch. "Professor-"
"Henry."
Eliza looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Henry."
"Well?"
"This is terribly unromantic."
"And you may expect more of the same, should you accept... do you accept, Eliza?"
Eliza answered by stepping foward, wrapping her arms about him, and resting her head against his chest.
"I suppose you will be expecting a kiss?"
"No, not at all. That sounds entirely too romantic for the likes of you."
"I suppose I could be willing to make an exception, to please you."
Eliza looked up, smiling. "Very well."
He bent down his head, and brushed his lips against her own, gently. Eliza let out a small gasp, which caused Henry to deepen the kiss. It was over far too soon, and Eliza mourned the loss. "I think that will do for now, Eliza. I daresay if someone sees us, we shall find ourselves being hurtled towards the altar." They parted from their embrace, and Henry offered Eliza his arm, which she gladly accepted. The pair headed back to the house, neither quite able to wipe the smiles from their faces.
"I don't think I should mind a short engagement," Eliza whispered cheekily, causing Henry to blush.
They entered the main hall, to find Freddy Eynsford-Hill and his mother on their way out. Freddy took note of the pair's proximity, and looked away. Eulalie Eynsford-Hill, however, was in high-dudgeon, and was determined not to go quietly.
"Wicked, the pair of you! I cannot believe that you were raised to think it right to string a poor boy along, while making eyes at another!"
"I assure you, Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, that I did not mean to string your son along-"
"Indeed? Well, you could've fooled me, you... you jade! My son is the sweetest, most gentle, most handsome boy in London, and you throw him over for this stodgy academic? Absurd."
"Need I remind you that you are insulting your hostesses' son in her own home?" Eliza inquired, in a warning tone.
"No, indeed. Though I am sure Eleanor knows all about what everyone thinks about her son, and now she'll have an infamous sl-'
"Mother, enough!" Freddy thundered. Everyone within hearing range gave a start at the usually gentle boy's outburst. "I cannot bear another moment of you insulting Miss Doolittle; she is the finest women I have ever had the pleasure to meet, and if I hear another word against her I shall leave our home in London and set up my own residence!"
"Freddy..." His mother pleaded, suddenly meek.
"As a matter of fact, Mother, I do believe that is not a bad idea."
"Oh, Freddy, why would you?"
Freddy turned, and noticed Eliza and Henry gaping in astonishment at the scene. "I will not have this conversation here mother." He touched the brim of his hat and nodded at the pair. "Good day, Miss Doolittle... Professor Higgins." With that, Freddy swiftly ushered his mother - who was growing quite hysterical - out of the Higgins residence.
As soon as they were gone, Eliza looked up at Henry. "I do not think you are a stodgy academic."
"Liar,' said Henry with a smile, 'Come, let us go and tell Mother and Pickering the good news."