Darcy looked from one to the other. “I thought I heard something about packing.”
The housekeeper inclined her head respectfully. “Miss Bingley informed me this morning, sir, that the household is to prepare for departure tomorrow.”
Darcy stared at her. “Departure?”
“Yes, sir.”
He glanced at Fletcher, whose expression confirmed that this news was entirely new to him as well.
Darcy spoke calmly, though his surprise was evident. “Mr. Bingley left for London only yesterday. He did not mention any such arrangement.”
“No, sir,” Mrs. Nichols said carefully. “That is what I explained to Miss Bingley.”
Darcy was silent for a moment. “Mr. Bingley intends to return within a few days,” he said at last. “I see no reason why the house should be closed.”
Mrs. Nichols appeared neither surprised nor troubled. “I thought it likely that such a clarification might be necessary, sir.”
Darcy gave a short nod.
“Thank you, Mrs. Nichols. Did Miss Bingley give any reason for this?”
A shake of the head was his answer.
“Pray suspend any preparations until Mr. Bingley himself gives instructions.”
“Yes, sir.”
Fletcher looked faintly relieved.
Darcy turned away at once. “I will speak with Miss Bingley.”
He found Caroline in the side parlour, where she sat at the writing desk with an air of injured patience.
She rose the moment he entered. “Mr. Darcy! At last.”
“I understand,” he said evenly, “that you have instructed the household to prepare for departure.”
Caroline smiled faintly, as though the matter were perfectly simple. “Yes. As Charles has already returned to London, it seemed only sensible that we should follow him.”
Darcy regarded her steadily. “Charles did not mention such a plan to me.”
“He had no reason to trouble you with the particulars,” Caroline replied smoothly. “It is merely a practical arrangement.”
Darcy shook his head. “This does not make sense. Bingley has leased the estate for a year. The servants were engaged for that long.”
Caroline waved this aside. “A small inconvenience.”
“For whom?” Darcy asked quietly. He shook his head in disapproval.
The question was so direct that it caught her off guard for a moment, but Caroline recovered quickly. “My brother will certainly approve. Netherfield has already served its purpose.”
Darcy’s expression hardened slightly. “Hardly. He intends to return.”
Caroline blinked. “Mr. Darcy, we must keep him in London. He cannot come back here.”
Darcy’s brows drew slightly together. “And why not?”
Caroline gave a small, impatient laugh, as though the answer were perfectly obvious. “Surely you see it as clearly as I do. This neighbourhood – this society – is hardly suited to Charles. He is easily pleased, easily attached, and quite incapable of judging what is best for him when he is encouraged.”
