Author's Note: I hope you're enjoying this story. I've really enjoyed writing it and I love reading your reviews each chapter. Thank you for all the support!
London had proved delightful for Georgiana. There was always something diverting for her to do. Georgiana spent days in company, shopping, and exploring the city with her Aunt. She had seen a great number of operas and to her delight, had made a few friends.
She had become acquainted with Lady Emma Harrington, the niece of one of her Aunt's dear friends. She too loved music but she was not the least bit shy. She had a serious suitor and was likely to be engaged by the end of the season. Georgiana had acted as chaperon for her and the young Mr. Ravenwood. It was in the parlor at her Aunt's house with the two of them that she received an important letter from her brother.
She ripped open the seal and began to read. Emma and Mr. Ravenwood were too engrossed in their own conversation and did not mind if she read quietly. As her eyes scanned her brother's perfect handwriting, she gasped audibly, tearing Emma and her suitor from their conversation.
"Georgiana, what is the matter?" Emma asked looking up from the settee. Mr. Ravenwood was seated beside her, far closer than proper. Georgiana was not the strictest chaperone and she allowed them more liberties because she expected them to be engaged shortly.
"It is my sister! She has taken ill. I must return home at once," Georgiana said standing up, clearly distressed.
"What is wrong? Is she alright?" Emma asked, her voice filled with concern. It was widely known that Georgiana held affection for her new sister.
Georgiana began to pace. "As you are aware, she is with child and has already suffered a few complications. She took ill while walking and must stay confined to bed for the remainder of the summer. My sister Mrs. Darcy is a very active lady and she must be losing her mind. I must return to Pemberley at once to keep her company. It must be very difficult for her."
"But you cannot leave! Georgiana, you must finish the season. Did you brother tell you that he needed you to return?"
"No," she said pausing from her pacing, "in fact, he encouraged me to stay the rest of the season."
"Then it is settled. You will stay. You must be here for my Aunt's ball." Her Aunt's ball was to be the event of the season. It was very exclusive and always characterized by elegance. It also had a reputation for setting couples up. Many couples that met at her ball each year later married.
"I have been looking forward to it," she admitted sitting back down. She had no shortage of gentlemen willing to dance with her and found balls to be enjoyable, despite how exhausting she found them to be.
"Your brother will let you know if you are needed at home. For now, stay with me and enjoy the season. You have been enjoying the season, haven't you?"
"I have. Despite Miss. Bingley's cold behavior to me each time we have seen her, the season has been very enjoyable. I simply love the theater and I am so happy I have seen so much of it."
"I cannot wait to see the opera on Thursday. Do you think we shall see Miss Bingley and Mrs. Wickham there?" Lady Emma had been acquainted with Caroline Bingley for nearly as long as Georgiana had. Her elder brother Robert briefly courted Louisa Bingley before she married Mr. Hurst.
"I know not. My Aunt told me she saw Mrs. Wickham picking out new jewels. Perhaps she was getting some from the opera."
"Perhaps they were a gift from her husband," Emma tried to reason.
"Oh Emma, I find that to be highly unlikely. Mr. Wickham is a negligent husband. Miss Bingley has been supporting Mrs. Wickham the entire season."
"I know it is not my place to say," Mr. Ravenwood entered the conversation, "but something about those two ladies does not sit well with me."
"I believe that they are just very good friends," Emma said.
"The have little in common," Georgiana told her.
"If you ask my opinion, they are having an unnatural relationship."
"Edmund," Emma scolded with a rare use of his Christian name, "no one asked your opinion."
"I still do not really understand what that means," Georgiana said, "I have heard it mentioned but I am still not sure."
"It means that they commit terrible acts – sins- on each other. They do things that even a husband and wife would not." Emma explained.
"You should not even know that," Edmund said.
"I cannot help it. Living in London these past few years has caused me to hear certain things that are not usually spoken of."
"I know that it is not something that should be spoken up," Georgiana said, "My Aunt advised me against it but I think I should write to my sister about all of this."
"Mrs. Wickham is her sister after all, perhaps she can tell us if the rumors are true."
"Oh hush Emma, she should tell her sister because it is the right thing to do, not to confirm bits of gossip."
"At the very least she will be entertained, Mr. Ravenwood."
"Emma," he said emphasizing her Christian name, "this is a very serious matter. Miss Darcy will have to do what she believes is best."
"I think that if the two ladies were in an unnatural relationship, they wouldn't be so open about it."
"Believe what you wish, but we will never know."
"Please do not quarrel!" Georgiana exclaimed. "I hate when the two of you bicker."
"Do not worry about us," Edmund said, "I would be worried if the two of us did not bicker."
"Very well," Georgiana said. "Now please, let us speak of something else. I have settled on writing to my sister to tell her of the gossip. Let us all agree not to speak of it until I have heard from her."
"Alright," Emma said, "let us speak of the opera and all the fun we will have!"
Georgiana joined in the conversation with her friends, but was thinking about what she was going to write to Lizzy later. Once she was out of their company, she sat down and wrote a very long letter to her sister detailing all the rumors and speculation about the friendship or relationship, for lack of a better word, between Mrs. Wickham and Miss Bingley.