Work Text:
“Come back to bed,” Maria begs her lover. “Just a few more minutes.”
“I can’t,” Eliza replies, the longing obvious in her voice. “They’ll notice I’m gone if I stay any longer. Fanny is such an early riser.” She absently caresses her swollen midsection.
And if there is one thing that they could not let happen, this is it. They cannot let Eliza’s husband and children discover this affair of theirs. He is a better man than James is by far. This very affair, in fact, is probably the only good thing — apart from her wonderful little Susan — that Maria's own husband has ever been involved in.
Eliza is such a wonderful person, how can anyone expect not to fall in love with her? Just taking in Fanny, the orphan from the streets is proof enough, even if — or perhaps especially since — she insists that it was all because of her husband — the man that James thinks Maria is sleeping with.
Eliza and Maria share a last kiss before Maria is left all alone. This mess would undoubtedly blow up in their faces — and probably sooner rather than later — so they have to enjoy it as long as possible.
(they never talk about the horrible things that will happen once they are discovered.)
(they do not need to sully their moments with such pain.)