Much Ado About Slippers- A My Fair Lady Story

Much Ado About Slippers Chapter 3: I Could Have Danced All Night

Hey all! Here's chapter 3! It's high time for Henry and Eliza to stop playing games. Will Lord Harrison's Ball be the catalyst they need? Read on to find out! There will be a couple of OC characters in this chapter, but they are not the primary focus. Happy reading!
-OBG98

"Blast it Pickering! What's taking her so long?" Henry asked irritably, fidgeting with the lapels of his coat as he leaned up against the staircase in his hallway. He had been pacing the floor for the past hour or so, stopping every few seconds to straighten his tuxedo jacket and adjust the coattails.

"Patience Higgins, we have plenty of time. Besides, your mother hasn't arrived yet either," Pickering soothed, attempting to bite back a smile as he took in Henry's nervous demeanor. Mrs. Higgins had very graciously offered for the Colonel to accompany her to Lord Harrison's ball and was currently on her way to 27A Wimpole Street. However, the comment did absolutely nothing to reassure Henry, who growled in frustration when he noticed his cape had been accidentally hooked on the bannister.

"Blast women and their infernal tardiness. The sooner we leave the sooner we can get this over with," Henry snarled, yanking on his cape with vehemence.

"I say Higgins... you were much calmer about The Embassy Ball than you are about this little event," Pickering remarked casually, chuckling lightly as Henry finally managed to free his cape.

"Well...I.... I wasn't... I just hate these bloody things," Higgins spluttered, his face turning red as he adjusted his tuxedo yet again. Pickering smirked in spite of himself, rather enjoying his ability to subtly tease his already frustrated friend.

"Well do try to enjoy yourself Henry dear," a woman's voice called out from the front door, causing both Higgins and Pickering to spin around. Mrs. Higgins strolled through the door, making her way over to Colonel Pickering with a smile.

"After all Higgins, we have been graced with the company of the two most lovely women in London," Pickering remarked, striding over to Mrs. Higgins and kissing her hand.

"Oh stop it Hugh," Mrs. Higgins blushed, causing Henry to fix his mother with a rather indignant look.

"Since when is he Hugh?" Henry demanded, causing Mrs. Higgins to roll her eyes and Colonel Pickering to cough in slight embarrassment.

"Hello to you too Henry dear," Mrs. Higgins sighed, receiving a begrudging kiss on the cheek from her son.

"ELIZA! MY MOTHER IS HERE AND WE ALL WOULD PREFER TO LEAVE SOMETIME BEFORE THE END OF THE EVENING!" Henry hollered at the stairs, his hands shoved firmly into his pants pockets. He muttered something under his breath about a drink before stalking into his study, leaving his mother and Colonel Pickering out in the hallway.

"He's been like this for the past hour. I've never seen the man so on edge. I almost gave him a coronary when I walked through the door unannounced," Colonel Pickering chuckled, causing Mrs. Higgins to grin.

"As long as he doesn't drink the whole bottle of brandy to steel his nerves, I think he'll be alright," Mrs. Higgins laughed, before a noise at the top of the stairs caused her to look up. Eliza stood at the top of the stairs, looking positively radiant as she began her descent. She was wearing a flowing white gown, her dark hair pinned in a perfect bun. Her blue eyes were sparkling as brightly as the diamond necklace she wore. She was utterly spellbinding in her simple elegance.

"You look beautiful my dear," Mrs. Higgins said softly, glancing over at Colonel Pickering with a knowing grin. Eliza smiled shyly as she carefully made her way down the stairs, blushing as she caught the colonel's wink as she approached.

"You are an absolute vision Eliza," Colonel Pickering gushed, giving her a fond kiss on the cheek.

"What on earth is taking...?" Henry growled, choosing that moment to reappear from his study. Any sort of harsh remark he had prepared was instantly silenced the moment he saw Eliza. He froze abruptly, his eyes going wide as she stood in front of him. A million thoughts rushed through his head at once, but the only thing he was capable of was to stare at Eliza in stunned silence.