Mine Eyes Dazzle

Chapter IX: The Incident of the Confession

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? -- Proverbs 27:4 (KJV)

"Of course after the wedding you and Simon will live with me," Mrs. Otterbourne said, patting Mildred's shoulder.

If Mildred hadn't already decided to break it off with Simon, the prospect of sharing a house with his mother would have settled the matter. Now if only she could speak to him alone!

"As for your wedding dress," Mrs. Otterbourne continued, to Mildred's despair. She watched in mute horror as Mrs. Otterbourne produced a book of patterns.

Mildred had come to Simon's home this evening hoping he would be alone. His mother usually dined with one of her friends. It was just Mildred's luck that she had picked the one evening when Mrs. Otterbourne felt like staying home. She'd been here half an hour and she hadn't even seen him yet.

Footsteps in the hall outside heralded Simon's arrival. When he opened the door and saw his fiancée he startled visibly. He plastered a smile on immediately after, but Mildred knew his first reaction had been shock, and not the agreeable sort.

"Mildred! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed.

She saw a chance to escape, in more ways than one.

"Simon, I need to talk to you alone," she said, standing up.

Mrs. Otterbourne politely excused herself. Mildred was sure she was listening outside the door, but she no longer cared.

"Simon, I've decided I can't put up with any more. I'm returning your ring."

Simon gawked at her. With his mouth hanging open, he bore a disagreeable resemblance to something on a fishmonger's slab. "Why?"

Mildred had decided to cite the other woman he was seeing. That was a reason he might actually understand; she was sure he'd never understand that she objected to being pushed into the spotlight.

In the distance the doorbell rang. She barely noticed it as she said, "I saw you this afternoon with—"

The door opened. "Excuse me, sir," the butler said, "but your friends have come to see you."

Simon spluttered incoherently. "Friends?"

"Mr. Goncharovsky and the Japanese man, with some others."

Mildred cringed internally. The last thing she wanted at a disagreeable scene was an audience. If it had been Cecilia, or even Philip and Xiao An, she would have been pleased and glad of the moral support. But she wasn't close to Kanayama, and downright disliked Goncharovsky.

Much the same seemed to be going through Simon's mind, judging by the way he paled. "Send them away! I'm busy!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but they said it was urgent. There is a policeman with them."

The butler managed to make it sound like Goncharovsky and Kanayama were about to be carted off to jail. Mildred's mind boggled.

She looked at Simon. His face shocked her. For a second she expected him to burst into tears.

"All right," he said faintly. The butler left. Simon turned on her with a ferocity that was as out of character as it was unexpected. "You knew! This is why you're... Why couldn't you keep your mouth shut, damn you?"

Mildred stared at him. It was impossible he'd gone insane, but it looked so like it that she was suddenly afraid.

The butler reopened the door and ushered a curious group in. "Miss Meng, Mr. Goncharovsky, Mr. Kanayama, Sergeant Zhu, and Mr. Seo."