Mid-May 1812
The second week of May, Darcy was finishing reviewing some contracts, when Charles Bingley was announced. Bingley had returned almost a month ago from Scarborough, and as soon as he got to London, he went to visit Darcy, but the housekeeper told me that he was in Rosings. They hadn't spoken for several months and they were glad to see each other again.
"Darcy, I finally found you! I returned to London almost a month ago, but your housekeeper told me you were in Rosings. A few days ago, I found out by chance from an acquaintance of White's that you had returned. How are you?"
"Indeed, I was in Rosings and came back a few weeks ago. I am very well, and you? How is your family?"
Bingley's smile darkened slightly, "I've been very well. Fortunately, everyone in Scarborough is fine. Despite Caroline's protests I decided to invest £10,000 in my uncle's factory. I am amazed at the new inventions, there are machines that do the work of several men." He paused, "As for Caroline, she's been courted by the youngest son of a baron since last month. The gentleman is a captain and Hurst introduced them… But actually, I came here to ask for your advice" sighed, "for a few months I've been seriously thinking about my future and whether or not I should go back to Netherfield Park."
Darcy looked at him carefully and cautiously replied, "You have the estate leased until the end of September so you can come back whenever you want. What exactly do you mean when you said whether or not you should go back to Netherfield Park? Are you talking about Netherfield Park or Miss Bennet?"
Bingley sighed, "I guess it's both. The truth is that in the last few months I have thought of Miss Bennet. I know in the past I was interested in other beautiful women and after a short time I forgot all of them, but I still haven't been able to forget Miss Bennet. At times I feel I was wrong to leave Netherfield Park and leave her behind. But at other times I remember what happened at the Netherfield Park ball and I feel like I did the right thing. I have many doubts about what I should do."
Darcy sighed. "Do you want to go back to Netherfield Park just for Miss Bennet, or do you also want to continue learning to administrate an estate?"
"I guess both. I still want to buy an estate at some point, I promised my father on his deathbed."
"Charles, I can't tell you what to do about Netherfield Park. You have to make your own decision, a few months ago I told you what I thought about Miss Bennet and her family." Darcy sighed, "I haven't seen Miss Bennet since the ball, but I've been courting Miss Thompson for a month, and she told me that in a few weeks the Bennet family will be moving to Sandstone for a few months."
Bingley looked at him surprised, and after a few moments, he reacted, shook his hand, and congratulated him "Congratulations, Miss Thompson is a lovely lady and she is also very pretty! I figured you were interested in her…"
They talked for half an hour and Bingley asked to accompany him to the Gardiner house in the afternoon. On the way home, Bingley thought seriously about Miss Bennet and what he wanted to do… If Darcy married Miss Thompson, which everything indicated would happen in a short time, the Bennets would have better connections and might even be accepted into London's first circles. Besides, Miss Lydia was very young and he was sure that in time she would improve her behavior and Darcy would probably find a good governess for her. In addition, if the Bennets were going to live in Sandstone, Netherfield Park was a long way away… He was definitely going back to Netherfield Park.
Three hours later, the two friends and Georgiana arrived at the Gardiners' house. Needless to say, both Mary and Elizabeth were extremely surprised to see Mr. Bingley, but they greeted him courteously and invited him to join them for tea.
They talked mostly of trivialities, and Bingley told them that earlier that day he had sent a note to Netherfield Park's housekeeper to let her know that in three days he would be back at Netherfield Park...