Darcy's Diary Read Free Page B

close with the agent before he has realized what he is about, and then he will ask me how he is to extricate himself from his predicament. It is far better that I help him to begin with, rather than having to rescue him at a later date.
    I must confess I am looking forward to seeing him again. I am tired of London, and looking forward to a visit to the country.

SEPTEMBER
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Monday 2nd September
    I have had a letter from Bingley.
    My dear Darcy,
    I have found an estate in Hertfordshire that sounds just the thing. Well placed, so that I can travel to London when the mood takes me, or to the north of England to visit my family, and it is not too far from Pemberley so that I can visit you easily, too. The agent recommends it highly, but I know very little about this sort of thing and I would like your advice. Will you meet me there?
Monday 9th September
    I left London today and met Bingley at Netherfield Park. I had forgotten what good company he is, always ready to be pleased and always cheerful. After my difficult summer, it is good to be with him again.
    â€˜Darcy! I knew I could rely on you. How was your summer? Not as trying as mine, I’ll wager.’
    I said nothing, which he took to be an assent.
    â€˜Caroline has been plaguing me these last three months, but now that I have found an estate I hope she will be satisfied.’
    Bingley was, of course, delighted with everything he saw. He said how splendid it was and asked no sensible questions, but instead walked around with his hands behind his back as though he had lived there for the last twenty years. He was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, and satisfied with what the agent, Mr Morris, said in its praise. He asked nothing about the chimneys, or the game, or the lake, or indeed anything at all.
    â€˜Is it sound?’ I asked Mr Morris.
    He assured me it was, but I inspected it carefully all the same.
    â€˜Will it be easy to find servants in the neighbourhood? My friend will be bringing some of his own, but he will need maids, gardeners and stable-hands from the local area.’
    â€˜He will not find any difficulty in procuring them from Meryton.’
    â€˜What do you think, Darcy?’ asked Bingley, when we had completed our tour.
    â€˜The price is far too high.’
    Mr Morris insisted it was fair, but he was soon brought to realize that it was excessive, and a far lower sum was settled on.
    â€˜Upon my honour, Darcy, I would not like to try and stand against youwhen your mind is made up. Poor Mr Morris might as well have agreed with you straight away, and saved himself the effort of trying to argue with you!’ said Bingley, when he had closed with the agent.
    He might laugh, but he will thank me for my care when he is well settled.
    â€˜When do you mean to take possession?’ I asked him.
    â€˜As soon as possible. Before Michaelmas, certainly.’
    â€˜You should send some of your servants down before you, then they can make sure that the house is ready for your arrival.’
    â€˜You think of everything! I will have them here by the end of next week.’
    I was glad he had taken my advice. If not, he would have arrived at the same time as his servants, and then wondered why there was no dinner waiting for him.
Tuesday 24th September
    â€˜Darcy, welcome to my estate!’ said Bingley when I joined him at Netherfield Park this afternoon. His sisters, Caroline and Louisa, were with him, as was Louisa’s husband, Mr Hurst. ‘The house, the neighbourhood, everything is exactly as I would wish it to be.’
    â€˜The estate is well enough, but the neighbourhood is small, with very few families,’ I pointed out. ‘I warned you of it at the time.’
    â€˜There are plenty of families,’ he said. ‘Enough for us to dine with, and what more do we want?’
    â€˜Superior company?’ asked Caroline satirically. ‘Entertaining conversation?’
    â€˜I am sure we