"Is there a reason you are on the floor, G?"
Georgiana had not expected Fitz to arrive back so soon, but wasn't surprised when she felt the weight of him next to her on the creaky old floorboards up in the Tower bedroom. Glancing over, she could see that he had caught the sun whilst out today, a soft redness across his nose and cheeks.
"The usual reasons," she said. "Why are you half-dressed?"
"It's very hot out there, if you hadn't noticed, and Willis worked me hard all morning."
She reached over, her fingers in his dark curls.
"Still damp, did you go for a swim?"
"I did."
"In your shirt?"
"Of course not."
"Fitz, you are incorrigible. Imagine if one of the Miss Hursts had seen you!"
"I would have simply asked what the Miss Hursts were doing so far out of the park and spying on an honourable gentleman as he took refreshment in his own pond."
Georgiana laughed, nudging herself closer to him so she could lean her head on his shoulder. Slowly, the siblings fell silent. Georgiana watched as the reflections from the lake danced across the ceiling of her mother's rooms, she felt Fitz take hold of her hand and squeeze it gently.
"I remember we used to come in here when you were very little," he said softly. "It still smells like her, you know."
"Violets."
"Yes…"
Georgiana turned her head to see him, the great and grand Mr Darcy, lying on the floor of his mother's rooms in his shirt sleeves as if he were a small child once again. He rose to his feet and walked over to the dresser by the window, opening a drawer, searching for something and finding it, before handing it to her.
"Here, smell this," he said, and she took it from his hands, opening the small silver flask, embellished with their mother's monogram.
"There is nothing left, of course, but you can smell it. Papa would get it refilled for her in town, even when she was gone, he would come up here and sniff the bottle, as if he could bring her back just by scent alone."
"I suppose he did in some way. I used to come and sit with him in here sometimes, and we would read her favourite stories. I think I wanted to feel close to her today," she said, "and when I feel like that I come here, because it's the place where I feel closest to her."
"I know."
"But," she hesitated, "these are Mrs Darcy's rooms and I know that very soon they must have a new occupant."
He turned quickly, "is that what you have been worried about?"
"What?"
"All the secret meetings with Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley, I have noticed, you know."
"Oh," she turned, "that? No, we were doing women's things… working on a…a new spencer. Miss Bingley was helping me with the embroidery."
"Wonderful, although I will say that Caroline's needlework is not as impressive as your own," he smiled. "There are new rooms for the future Mrs Darcy, you know. These rooms are Mama's, that will never change."
"Oh," she said. " I have to admit that I was apprehensive about that."
"I can tell. You should ask me these things if you are worried, G. You know I will always tell you the absolute truth."
They sat on the edge of their mother's bed, where both of them had been brought into this world and where Lady Anne had been prematurely taken from it. The bedspread had been embroidered by the Fitzwilliam sisters, Anne, Catherine, and Sarah, although only one of them remained walking upon the earth, the other two buried underneath it. Georgiana ran her fingers over the silk flowers and ivy, as she tried to convince herself not to say that which she knew she ought.
"You've been very quiet, these last few days. Everything alright?"
"Yes," she nodded. "I'm fine really, just exhausted by having to entertain everyone and ensuring that all of our guests are happy. I went through the menus with Mrs Reynolds, but some of guests have had particular requests, which are hard to satisfy."
"Ah, I see," he said. "It should be much easier for you when Pemberley has a new mistress. She will be able to take on the responsibility… have I asked too much of you, G? Has it been too much?"
"No, not at all."
He tucked her under his arm, pulling her in close and kissing her on top of her head, she hugged him back closely.
"I need to ask your opinion of Miss Godwin," he said. "You know your view on this matters more to me than anyone."
Georgiana hesitated, and he caught it.
"You do not approve of her?"
"I do not know enough of her."
"She has been here for nigh on a fortnight. I think, if you concentrated, you would see that Miss Godwin is delightful, attentive… accomplished! A perfect sister for you, in fact; a perfect wife for me, a perfect mistress for Pemberley!"
"If I concentrated?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm."
Georgiana got up from the bed and walked over the window, the sashes overlooked the gardens, hiding away under the portico on the south front, from here she could see the azaleas planted by her father blossoming on the lawn, a family of ducks swimming on the lake, could hear the rumble of Staughton bellowing at the young footmen, who were erecting the Bedouin tents with little success.
"What do you mean by that?"
She didn't respond.
"Do you not like her?"
Again, no answer. He was not used to people ignoring his requests for information, even Georgiana who was so often granted a leniency not given to others.
"Answer me."
Georgiana turned slowly, facing him directly, looking him in the eye.
"No."
Fitz looked taken aback, "no, you don't want to give me an answer or, no, you don't like her?"
Georgiana stood firm.
"I don't like her."
He guffawed, "don't like her? Pfft, you don't even know her… and yet you stand here and make judgement on a woman you have barely given any time to."
"And you are asking me to approve of a woman you know nothing about! Tell me, Fitz, why is a woman of no considerable means such a close confidante of Lady Piedmont?"
"Because she is charming and her family is well connected," he was getting angry now. "You do not know enough of society, of town… of life, Georgiana, to be so dismissive of someone who would be good for this family. Who would be good for me!"
"She would not be good for you. She would not be good for this family."
"Again, rash decisions and judgment. You do not know her!"
"And neither do you!" Georgiana, breathless and gulping back tears, "you have fallen for this woman without knowing of her or of her character!"
"I know that she is kind and considerate-"
"- and rude and mean. You invited her to Pemberley to meet your sister and your friends, and she has done nothing but look down her nose at all of us. What will happen when she is Mrs Darcy, Fitz? For I am sure she will either have me sent away to school or married off to someone who will benefit her own social climbing."
"That's not true!"
"I think we both know that it would do Miss Godwin well to have me sent away from Pemberley once you are wed."
"No, G," his voice softened a little, took on a little whine, "you do not know her like I know her. She is not how you perceive her." He reached over for her hand and took it gently, "you will love her as much as I do. I know you will."
Georgiana felt her stomach turn, for she knew that she did not want to give her consent to this match, that Jemima Godwin was not the woman for her brother, that she would make him sad, and unhappy, and regretful.
"All I am asking, Fitz," she said gently, "is that you wait, be certain that she is the person you think she is. If it's going to be forever, then what does a few weeks matter?"
"A great deal," he said. "When you meet the man you love G, you won't want to wait either."
"Probably not, but I will want to make sure that it's love and not infatuation… that's all I'm asking. You're so special to me, Fitz, that I want to make sure that this most important of decisions is the right one, and if Miss Godwin is the right one, then she will not give a mind to waiting a few more weeks."
Fitz studied his sister. She has grown up so much in the last few months, was now emerging as an accomplished young woman, and he realised that he should heed her word more seriously now, after all she was the one person who knew him best.
"You are right," he said, kissing her hand, "of course you are right. I shall wait."
"I am glad, and relieved… I do not doubt your affection for Miss Godwin, but I must know that she holds you in the highest of regard too."
"I agree," he nodded. "I am glad there is no need for us to argue about this… there is no rush, is there?"
"No," she smiled. "If Miss Godwin truly loves you, she will wait."
Fitz embraced his sister tightly before disappearing into the hallway and down the grand stairs, the soft thud of his boots on the wood. Georgiana exhaled. The next part of the plan was now in place.