I send Juliet home to think upon her wedding night and hurry out into the hot day. I must prevent Tybalt’s arrival at the Untamed Shrew and apprise Benvolio of this drastic alteration in our plan. ’Tis only half past eleven. My maid is not due to deliver my communique to Tybalt for a quarter hour yet.
I will hasten to Tybalt’s home, intercept the message, and continue on to the Untamed Shrew to confer with Benvolio.
’Twill be simple.
O, ’tis not simple at all!
Damn Tybalt! Damn his roguish charm!
I arrive at my cousin’s house to find Marie sobbing in the rear courtyard. Sobbing and quite nearly undressed.
“Marie! What in God’s name is the matter? Where is Tybalt?”
She lifts her guilty eyes to me, producing a shower of fresh tears. “’Twas not my fault, Lady Rosaline. On my oath, I did endeavor to follow your directive faithfully.”
“But Tybalt had other plans?”
She nods. I fold my arms across my chest and frown. “Tell me precisely what hath occurred.”
“Well, you see, my lady, I arrived nearly a full hour prior to the time you bid me give your cousin the missive. I could see him within, for his window is low. He was still abed and sleeping. O, he did sleep sweetly, his handsome face made even more beauteous in repose, and of course, his torso was bare and perfect—”
“Marie!”
“Aye. He … he was asleep. As I dared not to awaken the gentleman, I loitered here in the courtyard. I was quiet, lady, I swear it, but he awoke nevertheless. ’Twas as though he was aroused by my very presence—”
“Marie!”
“Aye, aye … he awoke and beckoned me to his window.”
I let out a long sigh, for I know where this is going.
“The next I knew, he had removed himself from his chamber by way of the window, and then he led me to yon bench and began to kiss me. Naturally, I returned his kisses—”
“Naturally.”
“And naturally, his hands did begin to, well, roam … and, quite by accident, one of those gentle, manly hands of his slid into my pocket, although I do believe ’twas not my pocket he was aiming for.”
I nod slowly, my eyes narrowed. “And while that manly-and-so-forth hand of his was in thy pocket, he discovered the missive.”
“Aye, my lady. And he read it.” Her voice breaks suddenly on a sob. “And … and … ’twas then that he stopped kissing me!”
With that, she dissolves into tears. I wish I could spare a moment to console her, but time is short. I give her a hasty pat upon her shoulder, then turn and rush from the garden, knowing one thing for certain:
If I do not get to the Untamed Shrew in time, blood will be shed.