Spinsterhood

Elizabeth Taylor and Annie Dempsey have been best friends, sisters even, since they were children under the care of the same Nanny, but their debuts into society quickly begin to hinder their life-long friendship. So the two girls make a pact - a pact to remain single and without the need for a man, for as long as possible.

Lord Edmund Carlton and his friend Lord James Alder arrive in Bath for the summer in the hopes of some fun and the young Miss Marcus quickly catches Edmund's eye, but she's so flighty and distant that he can hardly pin her down. Instead of it warning him off, all he finds himself wanting to do, is chase her. How long will it be until she gives into his temptations, and are his intentions really as good as Annie would hope?

Meanwhile, Elizabeth is having a struggle of her own - Lord Alder is the most distant, cold man she has ever met and worse, she hears rumors that he may be engaged in a plot that could ruin his friend, Lord Carlton's life forever... and yet she has fallen for him.

--

"Promise me; we cannot fight like this again" Elizabeth looked reproachfully at her friend of forever, but she looked reluctant

"How else might we support ourselves, Beth? We are women after all! We cannot work, nor ear-"

"I would sooner become a governess than marry a soppy fool in a wig and lose my best friend" Annie giggled and rested her hand on Elizabeth's with a sigh,

"Okay... I promise"