All Things Must Pass

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

The usual suspects copyright Mr. Simon Barber

Millicent Wei looked again at her dress in the full length mirror, noting again the daring neckline that showed much more soft colored fur than she was happy with. “I look like a street walker my lyubof” she told her wife.

Tatiana looked up from the papers she was studying, her own outfit a more male design in form, though it did show her true form quite well, and had many bright sparkly bits. “Tomorrow it is Hawaii. You and I. Tonight we make all clear to Lady Allworthy. We have waited her return. Kuo Han her great test. Is true, is terrible what happen to Molly. But is dangerous path we now on my lyubof. I walk carefully for you.” She waved a paw towards her English housecat. “Anyway. You look as I like to see you. No one else need ever see.” She straightened up, walking to her English wife. “Is from palace vaults. Starling plays game, we pieces in game. If works, we very powerful pieces. If not, we sleep together. Forever. Thus we must play game they give us. I see you this way though” her paw wandered across exposed fur with no resistance or complaint from its owner. “I want forget party. Forget everything but you.”

Millicent purred at the touch, leaning against the sable as she allowed Tatiana free access to her young body. “Then let us. My bed has clean sheets.”

“We cannot” the sable admitted. “Lady Allworthy will leave very soon. We must tonight, or be very difficult ever.” She removed her paw after gently brushing that soft fur back into position, then gave her wife a hug. “Starling be very angry we not do this. Send Leveler. Not be pretty time.” She sniffed the perfume Millicent was wearing, releasing a throaty rumble from her own chest at the well remembered scent. “Will be interesting see what Lady Allworthy and party wear. Perhaps only Songmark best.” Kissing the felines cheek she stepped away reluctantly. “Now finish. We must be there in few minutes.”

Within the English Consulate Major Hawkins stood with his beloved, both having full view of the main entryway. “Wagers are” he said in a low but clear voice “That Lady Allworthy attacks Millicent on sight, leaving nothing but bloody cloth behind.”

Doctor Annette Riverstone lifted her wine flute to her lips, sipping the dark red liquid before answering. “You Englishmen. So crass. Why, if she does so Tatiana will become involved. Then the other three and Mother Oharu is here as well. Her first day from self imposed withdrawal from open life. Should she become involved...”

Hawkins snickered. “Not self imposed my love. Forced upon by the High Priestess herself. I thought you knew. Not to meet with any Songmark girl until the end of this school year. And my money is on polite snubbing.”

“Fifty shells that she is polite and listens first. Then slaps Millicent.”

Pulling out his wallet the bulldog checked its contents, thought a moment. “You have fifty shells?”

Annette smiled, as though at a passing person. “If I do not, then I will have to hock my brand sparkling new engagement ring shant I? Of course I have fifty shells.” ‘Barely’ the otter reminded herself. 

Hawkins nodded in agreement. “My terms are very good. I have only but thirty shells. Will you accept that wager?”

“Yes.”

So quickly had Annette agreed that Hawkins now knew exactly the condition of her finances. It worried him, that his wife to be had only ten pounds to her name. Upon their wedding next week he would be certain to take care of that problem. A pre-arranged signal warned him of who was arriving, so quickly replacing his wallet he nudged his partner. “It is about to begin” he warned.

“Showtime” Annette agreed. Had Thomas seen the look on her face he would have truly feared for his bank account. 

As was proper Lady Allworthy and her party were announced. Wearing their very best Rachorska gowns, they stood for the correct amount of time in full view of the assembled throng, then started to join the crowd. Only to stop at the next name.

“Mrs. And Mrs. Wei. Representing Imperial Russia” rolled over the crowd.

Into the place of viewing stepped Tatiana and Millicent. Tatiana wore what could only be called an Imperial uniform. One supplied by the Russian consulate for exactly this purpose. Millicent also wore a gown that had also been supplied by the Russians. A very special gown. Starling was having his fun one would quickly realize.

“They claim the throne” Helen gasped softly at the sight of what Millicent wore. For only the wife of a Czar could wear that emblem. “Are they idiots?”

At the same moment Annette turned to glare at Thomas. “You didn’t do this, did you?” she demanded in a low voice.

“Don’t take us for fools my dear” the bulldog answered in the same voice. “This is Starling’s work. Besides” he admitted. “I could never manage two outfits that rich on my budget. Nor would Whitehall release our copy of that emblem anyway. It is too important.”

Stepping down directly in front of Amelia Tatiana bowed, while Millicent curtsied. “Lady Allworthy. Is a delight see you so soon.” Tatiana said. “My wife must speak to you. In private. I understand that room has been made available. By close friends.” She looked to Molly, who was no longer Molly but Miss Cabot. “Is good see you whole again my sister.”

Trapped, for too many around her had heard those words Amelia nodded in agreement. Following Millicent she left, both soon to vanish from sight and hearing.

“Are you crazy” the doe asked as she followed Tatiana into a secluded corner. “That is Imperial Russia you both are wearing. And what is this sister? I am but Lady Allworthy’s personal maid.”

“As is birthright” Tatiana agreed, not bothering to lower her voice as Molly had. “As sole surviving daughter Empress Alexandra Romanov is my duty. Would you not, were in my place?”

“No. I would stay alive” Miss Cabot admitted. “And that meeting, between Amelia and you wife. You are aware that Lady Allworthy hates her.”

Tatiana laughed. “An act. All act I assure you. Amelia required contact certain kind. Millicent provided it.” She reached out snagging two champagne flutes from a passing servant, artfully offering one to the doe. “You have powerful sponsor in Lady Allworthy. Millicent has powerful wife. I drink to your sponsor, if you drink to my wife. You my Songmark sister” she reminded the doe. “Always, and ever.”

Maria stepped in then, carefully studying everything Tatiana wore. “Half tha’ is from tha Russian museum” she stated bluntly.

Tatiana finished drinking from her glass, searching behind the bovine with her eyes before answering. “And if do not think that I bout to piss in pants, you sadly mistaken my good friend” she whispered. “I being played, my wife. If I not do as told, she dies. Slowly. Over months. In very great agony.”

“Then why not just take Anastasia’s place” Helen asked just as softly from Maria’s left.

“Becau-se” Tatiana answered. “Anastasia be twice my age right now.” She finished her wine, setting the flute on a table behind her to be picked up by a passing servant. “Come Millicent’s home tonight. Is wired yes, only by British. I explain all. Now laugh while we wait my wifes return. Your sponsors return. I fear your sponsor have much tell you tonight. And we all must wander through field of hungry sharks now.” She indicated the crowd behind Helen. Many were watching their corner intently.

Elsewhere, Major Thomas Hawkins motioned for the curtain to be closed on the one-way mirror that showed Lady Allworthy and Mrs. Millicent Wei. Then quite carefully he removed his wallet and presented his pretty otter companion with thirty shells. “How did you know” he asked.

Accepting her winnings Annette slipped them into her small purse before enlightening he whom she had chosen to marry. “I am a civilized woman. They are civilized women. That was all I needed to know. Now, may we rejoin the party?”

Very late that night Millicent closed her door behind the four departing Songmark girls, though only two held graduation papers she had discovered. As she turned she gently rubbed the left side of her face. “Lady Allworthy does have a great deal of strength” she reported to her wife Tatiana.

“This I warned you” the Russian laughed, patted the sofa beside her. “They understood. Is important she know who you are.”

“If you die you fat bloated Russian pig, I will follow you” Millicent argued as she settled down beside her love. “Not run to her for protection. I cannot longer face life without you.”

Throwing an arm around the felines shoulder Tatiana drew Millicent to her. “If have kits then must live. For them. If such, Lady Allworthy is only hope. We both know this.” She then smothered any further comments with a very hungry kiss, for she had allowed her heart to open greatly to the feline over the last few months.