Much Ado about the Shrew by Elizabeth May Page B

admitted. She looked up at him through watery
eyes. "And you?"
                Ben
blinked as he felt his insides shift. And him? Well, right now he was
definitely not thinking about Surrey,
or poor William, although he knew he should be. He should be thinking of either
of those two, but all he could think about was how neatly Bee fit against his
side, and how silky her skin was.   He
pushed away thoughts of Bee in the same position but naked, or merely clad in
those lovely emeralds she was wearing.   No, all he could do was look at Bee's splotchy face and gently brush
away the tears.
                "I
wish I had killed him," Ben admitted to her in a soft voice.
                "So
do I," she whispered back.
                "Oh,
that's a fine thing," Milford admonished. "Then you would be banished
to the Continent and what would Welles and I do for fun?"
                Bee
laughed in spite of herself and pushed herself back into a seating position.
"Here," Ben said, offering his handkerchief, and she wiped the tears
from her face.
                "It
looks like we're here," Ben said as the carriage slowed. "Let me walk
you to your door."
                Bee
did not argue, but allowed him to hand her down out of the carriage.   They walked up the steps and he rapped on the
front door.
                "Thank
you," Bee said, turning towards him on the landing.
                "Put
some ice on that hand," he advised, noticing that she still cradled it in
her left.
                "I
will," Bee said. "How is yours?"   She reached for his hand; both had stripped their gloves and he felt her
silky skin caress him.
                "I'll
be fine," he said as she gently brushed her fingers against his knuckles.
If his skin hadn't been on fire before, it certainly was now.
                "I
think," Ben said slowly, gently pulling his hand back and working to
regain his sanity, "that I should call on you tomorrow."
                He
caught the slight hitch in Bee's breathing.
                "Not
only to see how you are faring," he paused, "but, to get in front of
any talk."
                "I...
see," Bee said.
                "My
mother's at home is tomorrow," Ben said. "May I escort you there, and
then, perhaps take you for a ride around the park?" A show of solidarity
would at least help to prevent Bee from being ostracized; if they cut her, they
would be cutting his family, and all of their connections. He may only be an
Earl, but, well, he was an Earl .
                Bee
smiled, and Ben's heart flip-flopped.   Dear God, he was more overcome by the events of the evening than he had
realized.
                "That
sounds very... practical," she said.
                Ben
was about to remark when a footman answered the door. "Good evening, Lord
Kendal," she smiled again, disappearing into the large house.
                "Good
evening," Ben replied, giving a practical bow, and turned back to his
carriage. He groaned internally at having to deal with Welles and Milford
ribbing him all night.   Perhaps they
could finish the evening off to Whites before he found his membership revoked.
God knew he needed a drink.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Chapter
Sev en

 
                "I
will kill him," Ben promised as the carriage started moving, gripping his
fists and pounding them on his knees. Milford and Welles gave each other wary
looks from the seat across from him.
                "Perhaps
a carriage accident?" Milford suggested.
                Ben
glared at him, and Welles frowned.
                "What?"
Milford protested, rolling his eyes and sitting back in the squabs. "As if
shooting him in the street is any more civilized."
                "He
has a point," Welles