Much Ado about the Shrew by Elizabeth May Page A

dropped to the ground.
                The
crowd, so silent for the tableau that played out in front of them, now erupted
into gasps and cheers and jaunts and jeers. Women dropped to the ground,
overcome with the excitement; some were caught by neighboring gentlemen, and
some were not, but were left to lie motionless on the ground. Ben stood
standing over Surrey, blinking with surprise at the unmoving form in front of
him. "Disgusting," he spat, and turned to Bee, who was cradling her
right hand in her left.
                "Are
you alright?" he asked, looking at her hand.
                But
Bee's eyes widened. "Ben, behind you!" she said, a moment before Ben
was grabbed from behind by another officer.
                Welles
instantly appeared and coshed the young man upside of
the head with a serving tray.   "Kendal, we can't take you anywhere," he said breathlessly.
                "Thank
you," Ben said.
                "Just
remember this the next time you chastise me about polite society," Welles
muttered.
                "This
appears to be turning into a melee," Ben said, looking around. Indeed,
there were small pockets of fights breaking out amongst the crowd.  
                "We
should go," Welles agreed.
                "Bee,"
Ben said, taking her left hand, "let's get out of here."
            "But... Lennox," she
said plaintively.
                "I
have a feeling that Lennox is the only safe one here," Ben said, ducking
as a glass flew overhead. "Let's go."
                The
three slipped through the masses as quickly as they could, Ben and Welles
pushing and hitting those who stood in their way. "Where the hell is
Milford?" Ben asked, shoving aside a young man who had the discourtesy of
falling in his direction.   Ben pulled Bee
closer to him.
                "Taking
care of Surrey's men," Milford said, appearing before them. He was
standing just outside of the door, dusting off his hands. Behind him were three
officers in a heap. "I took the initiative of ordering your
carriage," he said. "I hope that wasn't too forward of me."
                "Excellent,
Milford," Ben said. "Well done."   With that, all four of them quickly dove into the awaiting
carriage.   Ben yelled Bee's address to
his driver, and they set off at a smart pace.
                Ben
sat back and sighed, tugging at his cravat.   He opened his eyes to find three pairs of eyes staring at him.   "What?" he asked. "Am I
bleeding or something?"
                "That
was...." Welles said.
                "Going
to have to sell my commission...." Milford interrupted.
                "So
wonderful..." Bee said.
                And
all of a sudden, the four began laughing hysterically.   It was several minutes before they quieted
into soft chuckles.
                "Poor
Lady Putney," Bee giggled.   "I
saw her crying in the corner when I left."
                "Shouldn't
have invited Surrey," Welles argued.
                "Why
the hell is he back?" Ben asked. "He knows that setting foot in
England means hanging."
                "Before
we go destroying anyone else's parties, we should probably find out,"
Milford mused.
                Bee
sighed. "I'm sorry," she said, sitting back against the leather seat
with a frown. "This is all my fault. I just... I saw him and... oh, I was
so angry!   He just... he killed
William!" she cried sadly, tears beginning to rush down her face.
                Welles
and Milford sat back, equal masks of fear of womanly tears streaking across
their visages. Ben frowned at them and turned towards Bee, pulling her close to
him, settling her into the crook of his arm. "Now, now," he said.
"I knocked him unconscious.   Certainly that had to make you feel better."
                Bee
sniffed. "Some," she