Create an illustration inspired by Edward Gorey's distinct style. The scene depicts two women in a close, intimate embrace, as shown in the reference image. Use intricate cross-hatching and fine details to convey shading and texture, emphasizing the lace patterns of their attire and the wet reflective elements of the rain. The characters should have simplified, stylized features typical of Gorey's work, maintaining an emotional ambiguity--keep their expressions neutral or unreadable. Their clothing should draw on late 19th to early 20th-century fashion, featuring intricate lace and flowing gowns. Incorporate minimalist backgrounds with a sense of emptiness, using symbolic elements like dark birds or a faint street sign to hint at a narrative. Emphasize the contrast between the intricate, finely detailed characters and the sparsely rendered backdrop to evoke an eerie, surreal mood.