AN: I apologize for the kind of late update (not a whole lot of time to write this past week) and the short chapter. The next part of the story is when the two finally meet, and the interactions are kind of complicated and I haven't quite worked them all out yet - I'm posting what I have because otherwise it might be another week before I post anything (and something's better than nothing I hope?).
I also had someone point out in a comment that in my last author's note I mentioned the Victorian Era in error when I meant Napoleonic. Whoops. (Though strange to get a correction about something in the author's note and not about the story...)
When Bingley first contacted him, telling him about his interest in finding a house to let, Darcy was a little surprised. Bingley's not the type of man to settle down, at least not at the moment, so it's a surprisingly expensive whim to be following. But as he always tries to be, he's supportive.
It's not terribly uncommon, for a bachelor in his position, to take on property in new neighborhoods. A young man searching for his soulmate (or at the very least for a wife) is in need of new company once the eligible young ladies in his own neighborhood have been met. Since he has yet to find the acquaintance of the mysterious Jane Bennet, Darcy can hardly blame him for continuing his search.
He almost envies the man the freedom he has. The Bingleys have a house in London, but no family estate demanding their attention. Charles is free to move in and out of neighborhoods as he pleases. Darcy is fixed at Pemberly, and though he would trade the estate for nothing, it does not allow him to roam the country in search of Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Which perhaps influences his encouragement of Charles. Because he knows that his friend does have that freedom. And that whenever he finds his darling Jane, Miss Elizabeth is sure to follow.
"I've found one," he says without preamble, taking a seat across from Darcy in the drawing room.
Without looking up from his book, Darcy answers. "I assume you mean that you have found a house."
Bingley doesn't wait until his friend finishes the paragraph and puts down the book, already going on and on about the house his agent has found him. "It'd mean very much to me if you'd visit with me." There's a shy, uneasiness in the way he says it. As though he worries Darcy will say no. "You're more versed in these sorts of things, and your opinion would be greatly appreciated-" he adds in a rush.
Taking mercy, Darcy cuts him off. "Of course. When do you plan on visiting?" Then he frowns, "Will your sisters be accompanying you?"
Only the slightest hesitation, but then answers. "I was hoping to arrive by the end of the month, if that's agreeable. The weather should be decent for hunting or fishing, assuming there's any to be had-"
"Bingley," he growls out in warning.
"Well..." He looks uncomfortable, which is answer enough, but he still continues. "Caroline and Louisa will both be coming along. I actually plan on sending them ahead, since they've expressed an interest in attending to some matters there involving the staff. Caroline especially..." He cuts off nervously and coughs a bit.
They've never discussed it. Bingley's not one to push in matters like this, and Darcy is gracious enough not to say anything. But it lies between them, the unspoken event that happened three years ago. All Bingley knows is that one day Darcy stopped speaking to Caroline altogether. That eventually they had some sort of discussion, came to an agreement, and now can barely stand to be in the same room with each other.
Darcy has no doubt that his friend is completely in the dark. He's not a talented liar, not by a long shot, and this type of deception would be abhorrent to him. The truth of Caroline's plan is something only the two of them are aware of, and Darcy for his part is more than happy to keep it that way.
The confrontation he had with Caroline had been uncomfortable for both parties involved. She denied the accusation at first, insisting that the names on her wrists were genuine. When pressed further, she of course had no choice but to confess her misstep. She apologized profusely, of course, because what else could she do.
Darcy shunned her for a while after that. Only at behest Bingley's gentle inquiries did he reconsider his position. Eventually, he forgave her. Although from a wealthy family, without a husband to offer security in the future, she was afraid. At least, Darcy chooses to hope she was motivated by fear rather than greed. Without a soulmate of her own, she feared being alone, saw an opportunity, and took it without truly thinking about the dangers or consequences.
He made an effort to not only see Charles more (an unfortunate side effect of the whole incident was that Darcy felt the need to avoid all the Bingleys, as it seemed the easiest solution) but to be if not kind to Caroline, at least he tried to manage civility. As an unspoken apology, she gave him a book of poetry that year for his birthday. There was a bookmark stuck between its pages, marking a poem on regret.
Their relationship, however, has never recovered. The easy friendship they once enjoyed flounders under the strain of awkwardness. He does not relish the idea of seeing her in general, and the prospect of an extended stay at Bingley's new home with her in attendance...
Well, he'll just have to endure for the sake of Bingley.
Darcy arrives at Bingley's townhouse just after breakfast. They have a few minor details to hammer out before they begin their trip to Netherfield, and today is just as good a day as any to handle them. He'll have to see to Georgiana, of course, but that has nothing to do with Bingley and can be managed at his leisure.
When he's shown into the sitting room, Bingley is nearly bouncing in excitement at the door. It reminds Darcy immediately of a child waiting for leave to go play or a puppy waiting for a treat. On a grown man it should be unseemly, yet Bingley makes every such breach of social mores endearing.
"I've gotten a letter from my sister."
He frowns slightly, because this hardly seems like occasion to celebrate. Neither sister is particularly warm towards Charles and surely there must be some love between the siblings, but it's never manifested in such a way before. The mystery does not remain for long.
"She's met Jane Bennet."
There's more after that, but Darcy's ears are ringing and he can't quite seem to focus on a word his friend says. Slowly, far far too slowly, his mind processes this information. Jane Bennet has been found. That means Elizabeth Bennet is likely to be there as well. There is the very real possibility that he is within a fortnight of meeting his soulmate.
He does eventually come back to himself, catching only the tail end of what's being said.
"-could be there by tomorrow, could meet her the day after-"
"What?" he interrupts, although there's really no need. Charles, in his recklessness, plans on arriving ahead of schedule. And perhaps Darcy's heart beats a tad faster at the idea of finally being able to behold the woman whose name has been etched on his wrist for a decade. He may feel a flush spread across his neck at the prospect of courting a woman who would surely meet his every expectation, who would be everything he could want in the future mistress of Pemberly-
With a concentrated effort, he reels in that line of thinking and focuses on the conversation at hand.
"I think you may be jumping the gun. No need to rush-"
"No need to rush!" Bingley exclaims, mouth hanging open in incredulity. "I find out my soulmate lives in the neighborhood of my new estate, and you expect me to just wait around London?"
"No," Darcy concedes. It's not in Charles' nature to be patient in matters of the heart. The man has fallen in and out of love at the drop of the hate for the entirety of time they've known each other. Of course he's going to rush into this without thinking things through. (And perhaps his own nervousness more than anything else makes him wish for the delay.) "But it would be unwise to change our plans so drastically." He carefully considers how best to convince Bingley, deciding that honesty is the best tactic. "You don't want to scare the poor girl. Let things develop naturally, a normal courtship, albeit one where you already know the outcome. There are matters to take care of before we can depart-"
"But... but..." The poor man seems stuck on the word and a pout marring his expression.
With a sigh, Darcy concedes, "I suppose we could adjust the timeline."
Bingley's eyes brighten considerably. "How much so?" he asks tentatively.
"We could probably leave by the end of the week, I think I'd have all my affairs in order by then-"
"Well, get to it man!"
He doesn't even bother disguising the eye roll his friend's enthusiasm causes.
