Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Oh No She Didn't! The Silent Treatment

The end of 1786 was a rough time for Georgiana.  In Autumn she suffered from spasms, which may of had something to do with her bad health later in life.  Lady Spencer arrived to nurse her daughter and Bess took it upon herself to take Georgiana's place and order around the servants who raised eyebrows at her.  When Lady Spencer reported Bess' behavior Georgiana refused to believe her mother.

After Georgiana's health returned she confessed some of her debts to her husband who flew into a rage (I would be upset too if I found out my spouse had the modern equivalent of a $6 million gambling debt) and screamed for a separation. Georgiana was reasonably upset and turned to her best friend for support.

For whatever reason, though, Bess gave Georgiana no shoulder to cry on.  In fact she refused to talk to her altogether!

5 comments:

  1. I have no sympathy for Bess at all, she was never a true friend of Georgiana.

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  2. Oh, don't you just love that ungrateful besom even more?

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  3. Bess Foster was never a true friend to the Duchess of Devonshire.
    Why was Georgiana surprised by her behaviour? That's the question that constantly strikes my mind!

    I mean that "friend" your Bff' became your husband's mistress by taking advantage of your good disposition to help her in times of despair and lives in the same roof as you do!

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  4. did I just said "lives in the same roof" :S that's what happens when writing in a rush haha, I meant under the same roof

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  5. whenever i think of "friends with benefits1" i always think of georgiana and bess' friendship. She is like a devil in disguise

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