Fair Sun

Author's note: The images in this chapter are not necessarily literal illustrations of the text.

"A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee." 

October 1st

Verona had extinguished the last embers of summer. Each day, sun and warmth grew more scarce. Frost would soon blanket the northernmost regions. It would not take long for the cold air and cool light to sweep south and stake winter's claim. Paulina and Mercutio, however, were still living in the warmth of summer. A skeptic could have pointed to the cozy chamber and overlarge fireplace with which they were spending this night, just as they had for most of their short marriage. The poet would have looked to the couple. And, as it so happened, they were very fond of poetry.

What is Your Will?

"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt."

July 1st

July had dawned warm and sunny in Verona. Even Montague Court was brighter and lighter in the glow of summer, when the scent of flowers wafted through every wood-latticed window. Still, Beatrice had been glad to wake up to a day when she had somewhere else to be. Her joy had only increased to hear that her father was 'indisposed' and would be staying at home with her grandmother and her grandmother's ladies-in-waiting. Paulina and Mercutio's party would be so much more pleasant without the chill between the Montague men spoiling the summer warmth.

But, once she arrived with her aunt and brother, Beatrice felt a touch overwhelmed by the crowd on the terrace. She wandered out onto the grass and advantageously positioned herself beside a lush, green fruit tree. From here, she could watch everyone and, she hoped, notice when the person she most wanted to see arrived.

By This Dear Encounter

"He is the half part of a blessed man, left to be finished by such as she."

December 20th

"M'lady," the servant pleaded, "Lord Mercutio doesn't like to be disturbed here."

"Then it's very good that I am a visitor and not a disruption, isn't it?"

"If m'lady would agree to wait while I see-"

"She will not," the lady snapped.

"But this is the family wing, part of Lord Mercutio and Lord Romeo's private quarters!"

"So I gathered from your previous hysterics!" No indignant serving man would stop her. Mercutio Montague was reputed as a clever young man. She wanted to know how much of that was owed to preparation. Ignoring every instruction on manners she had ever heard, she slammed the door shut between herself and the servant.

Swear Not by the Moon: Part Two

August 19th

"Such is my love, to thee I so belong, that for thy right myself will bear all wrong."

"What in the world?"

Flowers. Everywhere, flowers. Surely, some poor garden somewhere had been denuded for this as the flowers were fresh. It was absolutely lovely, but she couldn't understand it. Paulina noticed a touch of soil in the heavy floral scent. Lady Montague and Lady Bianca kept a very tidy house. If either of them knew their furnishings had been covered with uprooted flowers, they would be very angry. And who would ever think of such a silly thing? Beatrice was meant to be the only one at home, and while she was prone to an odd display on occasion, this...

This was not Beatrice at all.

Swear Not by the Moon: Part One

August 12th
   

"O God, that man should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains!"

"Merc," Romeo said, "you're coming out with us. Get up."

No Without-Book Prologue

"They have their exits and their entrances."

March 29th

Albion Manor was rarely a dull place. Lord Albion himself was always running to and fro to satisfy his responsibilities to the purse of the realm. His lady wife was never without a project, whether it was illustrating a book of poetry or rearranging the furniture in search of perfect chromatic harmony. Adrian's idle hours had been eaten up by his baby son, Frederick, who was the darling of the family. Adrian's wife, Ann, made it seem like she had thirty-six hours in day - she doted on Frederick, competed in archery, and was part of the three-headed monster that was the Theatrical Society of Verona, alongside the Albion daughters, Cherry and Morgaine.

Now is the Mad Blood Stirring

"Delays have dangerous ends."

June 27th

On another day, watching Romeo spar with Benedick might have been amusing. Romeo was slim and fast, with an almost supernatural ability to lean and thrust at odd angles. He was a challenging opponent for his brother when Romeo could be bothered to practice. Benedick's form was also heavily reliant on leaning - as a means of survival. At sixteen, he fought like a novice, swinging his sword like a baby with a toy. Once or twice, by pure luck, he had beat Romeo back. He had spent the rest of the exercise avoiding a friendly flaying.