Much Ado about the Shrew Read Online Free Page A

Welles, who just shrugged.
                "I've
known Bee since we were young children. She would put frogs in my bed."
                Milford
laughed and took another sip of champagne, then made a face. "Oh, Lord,
that is... just terrible."
                "Waking
up to slimy beasts? Without a doubt."
                "I
meant what passes as alcohol here," Milford smiled. "But frogs?
Certainly that was just a childhood prank."
                "Definitely,"
Welles interjected. "Some of the pranks my cousins and I would play on
each other were quite... inventive."
                "It's...
different with Bee. It's as if she has it out for me or something. If it
weren't for that stupid promise to her brother, I would avoid her like the
plague."
                Milford
looked over at Lady Beatrice, then back at Ben, who had not taken his eyes off
of the object of the conversation since she came into sight. "Truly?"
he said.
                Ben
nodded, still staring at Beatrice.
                "Why
is she named after an apis ?" Milford asked.
                Ben
furrowed his eyes. "What?"
                "Latin
for bee," Welles supplied.
                Ben
rolled his eyes. "It's short for Beatrice," he said, and muttered,
"Idiot."
                A
few moments passed, until Milford roared with laughter, drawing attention from
those couples around him. They began twittering amongst themselves and Ben
frowned, realizing they were quickly becoming the center of attention.
                "Will
you cease?" he asked. "What is wrong with you, anyway?"
                "Oh,
I just put it together, Kendal.   It makes
so much sense, though!" he wiped a tear from his eye and placed his elbow
on Welles' shoulder.   "Isn't it
obvious?" he asked.
                "I
have no idea what you're on about," Welles said, confused.
                "Neither
do I," Ben growled. "Now hush!"
                "Beatrice
and Benedick ,"
Milford explained as if to a child.
                Ben
frowned and rolled his eyes.   Welles just
stared. "I don't understand," he said.
                " Much Ado about Nothing ," Milford
said slowly.
                Welles'
head cocked to the side. "Shakespeare?" he asked.
                "Indeed,"
Milford said.
                "Our
parents thought the names would be appropriate. That's all," Ben scowled.
                "Oh!"
Welles said. "I remember now. Oh! This is such fun! I want to play. Can I
be Claudio? He gets Hero in the end."
                "How
does Claudio get to be the hero?" Milford asked.
                "Not
a hero, Hero. That was her name," Welles reminded him.
                "Ah,
yes, now I remember," Milford nodded.
                "You
cannot be Claudio," Ben growled. "This," he made a sweeping
motion with his hands, "is not a play. I just happen to be named Benedick ."
                "If
you're Claudio, then I'll be Don John," Milford said.
                Welles
pursed his lips. "Wasn't he the antagonist?"
                "And
what's wrong with that?" asked Milford, pulling his arm back down and
taking a sip of champagne before making a gagging motion.
                "Stop
drinking the stuff if you hate it so much," Ben told him sharply.
                "If
memory serves, I believe Benedick was considering
torturing him at the end of the play," Welles added.
                "Excellent
idea," Ben interjected, wishing he had come to the ball alone.
                "Can't
have that. Then... I'll be the prince," Milford said, ignoring Ben.
                "You
can't be the prince," Welles reminded him. "Kendal outranks
you."
                "Bullocks!   Who's left?"
                "Um..."
Welles