Everyone in the room nodded except Rose. “Oh, Georgie. All will be well, though. He will marry her and none will be the wiser.”
Sophie shook her head. “I’m afraid that is not the case. Though he wooed Georgie, he’d signed a betrothal contract for another lady.”
“Who is he? I will give him the cut direct. He needs to be called out for what he’s done.” Rose’s fierce scowl boded ill for the lord.
Dory laid her hand on Rose’s. “That would not reflect well on Georgie. If no one yet knows of her fall from grace, then we cannot in good conscience share the man’s duplicity. We must believe in fate, that ill will befall him, as is deserved. Though fate can be a fickle mistress. But Aristotle believed that our fate was made of our choices. Hume agreed, and—”
“I am not as concerned about the lord as I am about Georgie.” Knowing that Dory could discuss fate and even the universe for two days at least, Sophie had to interrupt.
“Sophie’s correct.” Ellie shook her head. “Poor Georgie. All she’s ever wanted was someone to love her. Her heart’s desire was to marry and be able to give all that love she has closed up inside her to someone.”
Everyone nodded as silence filled the room.
Elsbeth broke that silence as she placed her hand on her enlarged belly. “Do we know if she is with child?”
Lissa spoke up. “Yes, Sophie. Tell us that you know so that we might find a way to help her.”
Sophie thought back on the letter she’d received. “I only know what Georgie wrote. She has not been allowed to leave her parents’ townhouse and had to bribe a servant to post the letter. As you know, she can’t keep a secret, and she is so heartbroken that she tells me she can’t get through the day without crying.”
Rose waved her hand. “Meanwhile, that libertine is no doubt dancing away his evenings.”
“Rose, I understand your anger, but we must focus on Georgie. She told me that her parents plan to arrange a marriage for her in an attempt to avoid a scandal. Since her four brothers and three sisters have married, her parents don’t want her actions to reflect upon the family.”
Lissa wrinkled her nose. “Mon Dieu, the priorities of that family.”
“That’s why we have been Georgie’s family.” Ellie set her hand to her chest. “Sophie, you obviously believe there is something we can do to help.”
“I do, though I’m not sure what. I’m afraid all the characters in the books I’ve read that have been in this situation did not handle it as well as it needs to be handled. I hoped between the six of us, we could come up with a plan.”
Elsbeth smiled. “You’re right. We are smarter together.”
“I feel so awful for poor Georgie.” Ellie’s eyes lit with an idea just as her knee hit the small table in front of her, setting the tea service to rattling. She looked at it in surprise before continuing. “Perhaps I can call on her. I am a married matron with children, so her parents may allow me to see her. If I have to, I can indicate I will keep any secrets Georgie shares. The poor woman has no one who will be sympatheticto her, and we all know she greatly needs that even when there is no crisis.”
Immediately, Sophie felt better. “I know Georgie would appreciate that.”
“You stated that Georgie’s parents were going to arrange a marriage for her?”
She nodded to Elsbeth’s question.
“Then, since we all know her the best. What if Dory, Ellie, and I asked our husbands for possible contenders?”
“Elsbeth, that’s an excellent idea. I’ll ask Tam as well.” She was quite sure Tam would know many men since he was so popular.
Lissa cocked her head. “It would have to be someone who needs to marry. Finding a gentleman in difficult straits, either financial or in need of an heir, that would be not only willing to take a soiled bride, but possibly raise her child,andbe sympathetic to her plight, will be difficult. That means we have time to recommend someone to the Edgertons, but the task will not be an easy one.”
At Lissa’s grasp of the true situation, Sophie’s hope started to dwindle.
“Lissa, that’s where you can help.” Dory grinned. “You and Lord Bellamore are excellent investigators. You could search out possible men in that situation and relate them to us. Then we could decide on the best match, and whoever’s husband is closest to the man could make the suggestion to the Edgertons. It would have to be done subtly, in casual conversation, otherwise they will know we know.”
“Oh, I do like that idea.” Sophie smiled, already feeling much better about Georgie’s prospects.
“What can I do? I don’t have a husband.” Rose’s eyebrows lifted high in expectation.
An answer came to Sophie immediately, and she gave her friend a sly grin.
Ellie took notice. “Sophie Crauford, what are you thinking? I’venever seen such a diabolical look on your face.”
Sophie laughed because Tam had said the same thing the other night in their bed. “I’m thinking that Rose can do what she does best.”
