] Perhaps he told them at the very last possible moment to preserve his home from the silliness that he detests and have reactions condensed to as short a time as possible.

My point was, I wouldn't have thought that the silliness that accompanied the knowledge that he had visited/would be visiting Mr. Bingley could be any worse than the attacks of nerves that accompanined thinking that he wouldn't. If Mr. Bennet disliked brouhaha so much, I would think he would act to avoid it rather than acting to stir it up. He seemed to get a certain amount of enjoyment out of stirring it up, though when he tired of the sport, he could always withdraw to his library and leave Lizzy and Jane to deal with it.