Pride and Platypus by Vera Nazarian

Author:Vera Nazarian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, true love, supernatural, satire, demons, australia, regency, jane austen, pride and prejudice, mr darcy, platypus
Publisher: Norilana Books

Chapter 29

Mr. Collins’s triumph, in consequence of this invitation, was complete. The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he had wished for.

“I confess,” said he, “that, knowing her affability, 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. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? An invitation to dine, for the whole party, so immediately after your arrival!”

“I am the less surprised,” replied Sir William, “from that knowledge which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. At court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon, even during the full moon.”

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, how to maneuver “delicately, like a little lamb” around the many cages, and that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner, 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. I would advise you merely to put on your best clothes. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved.”

While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. In regards to her ladyship, he thus terrified Maria Lucas entirely.

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. She was also but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house, and what the glazing altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh.

When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria’s alarm increased, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm.

Elizabeth’s courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that implied any extraordinary talent or virtue. And money or rank she could witness without trepidation.

From the entrance-hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion, the finished ornaments, and one cautionary guest cage, they followed the servants through an ante-chamber (with two more cages, albeit more genteel, of ornamental wrought iron), to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. Behind them, flush against the wall, was a row of over half a dozen very fine polished iron cages, at lest

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