Chapter 29
Mr. Collins's triumph, in consequence of this invitation, was complete. The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and of letting them see her civility and brutality towards himself and his wife. Was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon, was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension, as he knew not how to admire enough.
"I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised by her ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there (an invitation, moreover, including the whole party) so immediately after your arrival!"
"I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William, "from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. You people would not know about it, but let me assure you that the inner circle of knights and dames of our Empire are as debauched and imaginative as any other, if not more so, I dare say. And I do have quite a wealth of experience in such matters as domination and, more to the point, submission. Our gatherings make the Netherfield orgy look like a common tea party. About the court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon." Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they were to expect, that the sight of such playrooms, so many servants, so brutal the methodology and weaponry, and so splendid an outcome, might not wholly overpower them.
When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth –
"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which becomes herself and her daughter. She will likely undress you upon your arrival and select for you from her vast wardrobe of chainmail and leatherwear. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, and the easiest to remove –she has been known to cut the cloth from your skin in haste; there is no occasion for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved, and she maintains that rank at all times with not only her dress, but also her whips and her handcuffs." While they were dressing, he came two or three times, taking Charlotte roughly from behind in his excitement about the proceedings that would soon take place at Rosings. Then he went to their different doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner, and even more so for the after dinner activities. Such formidable accounts of her ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas who had been little used to any form of punishment. She looked forward to her introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension as her father had done to his presentation at St. James's. Maria had divulged to Elizabeth in a quieter moment than she, also, had not yet experienced an orgasm and anticipated the evening with a sort of horrified excitement at the prospect of having one beaten out of her.
As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park. Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with. Though she could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh.
When they ascended the steps in the hall, Maria's alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had already decided not to willingly partake in the more extreme of the evening's goings-on; she would participate as a voyeur, if need be, or to assist if required to. But she harboured the secret desire to enjoy the throes of climactic revelry at the hands of man she might reserve tender feelings for: a romantic notion, to be sure, yet one she was resolved to indulge. Mr. Collins, certainly, did not approximate sentiments approaching 'fondness', nor any of the others in attendance save Charlotte, and her affection towards Charlotte was altogether of a more civil, platonic variety. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, aside from her command. Which she hoped to politely decline, and the mere stateliness of money or rank she thought she could witness without trepidation. From the entrance-hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion and the finished ornaments. They followed the servants through the ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. Her ladyship, with great condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it with her husband that the office of introduction should be hers. It was performed in a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary.
In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word. His younger daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. She wore a gloriously well-made leather catsuit, which was adorned with a utility belt of sorts. Off the belt hung a plethora of designer tools of the dominatrix, of such superior quality as to possibly render them one of a kind. Whips of several varieties, chains and handcuffs, and flexible, leather spanking tools. Around her wrist she wore a solid gold charm bracelet that dangled with small keys. Those to her handcuffs, presumably, her playrooms and other devices of restraint. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone, as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind. And from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he represented.
When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy. She turned her eyes on the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at her being so thin and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any likeness between the ladies. Miss de Bourgh was pale and sickly; she wore a long, black leather dress with billowing, accentuating detail, as though it had been designed specifically to give her a more menacing impression than her thin body might otherwise have offered. Her features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, except in a low voice, to Mrs. Jenkinson. In whose appearance there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes.
After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to admire the view. Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth looking at in the summer.
The dinner attendants were exceedingly handsome. All dark-haired strapping young manservants who served the table wearing naught but miniscule black leather loin cloths and matching studded dog collars, and served all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised. And, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish nothing greater. He carved, and at, and praised with delighted alacrity; and every dishy manservant was commended, along with the meals they presented. First by him and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered how Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss de Bourgh –the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner-time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss de Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she was indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.
When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk. Which she did without any intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner, as proved that she was not used to have her judgement controverted. She inquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them all. Briefed her on the intricacies of how to deliver a rousing and well-executed spanking, which she used one of the manservants to illustrate. Told her how everything ought to be regulated in so small a family as hers, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry.
Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth. Especially to the latter, whose connections she knew the least, and who she observed to Mrs. Collins was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her, at different times, how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, whether or not they were virgins, what their sexual preferences were, whether or not they were big-breasted, what their pain thresholds were like, where they had been educated, whether or not they were coquettish or bold, whether they were skilled at the art of fellatio, what carriage her father kept, and what had been her mother's maiden name? Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions but answered them very composedly. Lady Catherine then observed.
"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. It was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. Do you have any experience with the masochistic arts, Miss Bennet?"
"A little." She thought of Mary's constant study on the subject, her penchant for all things painful, and the spectacle she had made at a recent gathering.
"Oh! then –some time or other we shall be happy to assist you, to provide you with a submissive, and to watch your technique. I am confident we could please you on each front, and to offer instruction if you so required it. Our instruments of pleasure and pain are capable ones, to say the least, probably superior to any you may previously used –You should try them some day. Do your sisters engage in sexual deviance?"
"One of them does."
"Why did you not all learn? You ought to all have learned. The Miss Webbs all work at it, and their father has not so good an income as yours. Do you perform fellatio?"
"No, not at all."
"What, none of you?"
"Certainly one of us, and exceedingly well, so I am told. Mr. Collins, in fact, could attest to her skills, and I believe she possesses a natural talent to be envied."
"Indeed she does," confirmed Mr. Collins wistfully.
"And perhaps others, upon occasion," added Elizabeth.
"That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of the gentlemen."
"My mother would have no objection, but my father hates London."
"Has your governess left you?"
"We never had any governess."
"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education."
Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that had not been the case.
"Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess, you must have been neglected."
"Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wished to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read on the subjects pertaining to the sensual arts, and had all the masters that were necessary, visiting us on a daily basis, and offering their bodies to us to practice our skills. Those who chose to be idle, certainly might."
"Aye, no doubt; but that is what a governess will prevent, and if I had known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be done in sexual education without steady and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can give it. It is wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means. And it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalf's calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure for her four sons' education. 'Lady Catherine,' said she, 'you have given me a treasure. My sons never leave the poor girl alone, but they are developing so very well in the areas of foreplay and endurance.' Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?"
"Yes, ma'am, all."
"All! What, all five out at once? Very odd! And you only the second. The younger ones out before the elder ones are married! Your younger sisters must be very young?"
"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. Yet she is altogether willing, in every regard. But really, ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement, because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. The last-born has a good right to the pleasures of youth at the first –and I assure you that my youngest sister takes great pleasure in the sensual arts, and quite insistently, too. And to be kept back on such a motive! I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind."
"Upon my word," said her ladyship, "you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. Pray, what is your age?"
"With three younger sisters grown up," replied Elizabeth, smiling, "your ladyship can hardly expect me to own it."
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; she fingered one of her riding crops contemplatively. Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence.
"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, therefore you need not conceal your age."
"I am not one-and-twenty."
When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the discipline tables were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. Collins sat down to attend first to Sir William, who was on his knees before Lady Catherine had even commanded him. And as Miss de Bourgh chose to play with herself, the three girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her party, along with one of the scantily-clad manservants. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was uttered that did not relate to the manservant's technique as he stealthily unbuttoned Maria Lucas's blouse, removed her petticoats, dove under her skirts, and began to administer expert-level cunnilingus with gusto. Except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her fears of Miss de Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or having too much or too little light.
A great deal more passed at the other table. Lady Catherine was generally speaking and performing all of the domination play –stating the mistakes of the others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to everything her ladyship said, thanking her for every lash, and apologizing if he thought he was enjoying himself too much.
Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes and descriptions of the novel sensations he was experiencing. Only when he released a guttural groan at the receiving end of a particularly vicious assault by Lady Catherine, accompanied by a tightening of certain well-placed bindings, could his satisfaction be recognized for what it was. Lady Catherine then followed suit by whipping Mr. Collins enthusiastically, and Elizabeth was surprised by how much punishment the man could willingly take. Maria Lucas, meanwhile, had overcome any and all of her earlier reticence and was begging Alejandro to secure her nipple clamps just a little more tightly. Once he had done so, she loudly achieved a lively orgasm, giving every indication that it was as pleasing as she had dared to hope for.
When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, the tables were broken up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, gratefully accepted and immediately ordered. The party then gathered round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what whether they were to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by the arrival of the coach; and with many speeches of thankfulness on Mr. Collins's side and as many bows on Sir William's they departed. As soon as they had driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings. Which for Charlotte's sake, she made more favourable than it really was. But her commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise into his own hands.
