Re: The missing eight months

Strangely, I never thought that "inmate" should be taken literally in this instance. I don't have a proof, of course, but I always took it to mean that he spent a great deal of time there, even informally, not waiting for actual invitation, perhaps even spending the night sometimes. I don't really see why Bingley would be staying with Darcy permanently, rather than with the Hursts who were relatives. It would be like Miss Bingley to pretend that Bingle belonged in the Darcy home to puff up the degree of intimacy between the families. The second part of the sentence increases the suspicion- I hardly think Darcy discussed his plans about house decoration/new furniture with Miss Bingley, if he didn't want to give her ideas about her potential role of future mistress (which Caroline, in turn, was likely to pretend). The letter was full of false bragging.