Juliet & Romeo by David Hewson

Author:David Hewson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 111-1-11-111111-1
Publisher: The Dome Press
Published: 2018-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

Part Three: Such Sweet Sorrow

When he opened his eyes, Juliet was upright next to him in her nightshift, wide awake, hands around her knees. Rose-pink dawn had begun to break, bringing with it the lyrical song of a bird.

‘Don’t stir,’ she said, putting a hand to his chest as if to stop him moving. ‘Listen to the nightingale. She lives in the pomegranate bush. I know her voice.’

He struggled up anyway and leaned against the cushioned bedhead. ‘The light…’

‘It’s not dawn. Just a comet or a meteor or something. Perhaps the day will never come.’

The bird sang again.

‘That’s the lark, love. Morning’s herald. And that’s the rising sun. But call them what you want.’ His right hand found the fabric on her shoulder and gently moved it aside. Romeo’s lips brushed the skin there. ‘The marshal’s men can kill me now. I’d die content. Better a happy corpse than…’ he stared at the windows, ‘than leave Verona. And you.’

She pulled the gown around her and withdrew a little. ‘Don’t say that. This isn’t a game for children.’

‘I know.’ He touched her again. ‘How are you then, sweet Juliet? If it’s not day let’s talk a while. Or if you like… resume our practice…’

She got up, walked across the room, opened the long windows then stepped out on to the balcony. ‘You must be gone from here. Everything’s amiss. Even the lark sings out of tune.’

He came to stand behind her, arms around her shoulders, lips on her neck. She pushed him back.

‘No, no. I’m sorry. I should never…’

‘Never what?’

‘Get dressed. There’ll be soldiers all over the city soon. I’ve no wish to see you hanging from a noose.’

One more brief kiss and he whispered, ‘The greater the light, the darker our woes. Be patient, sweet Juliet. We will see each other soon. As soon as I can make–’

From inside the palazzo came three crashes so loud the racket made them jump. Romeo raced for his clothes. Juliet walked to the bedroom door and opened it a crack. The nurse had her head to one side against the wall.

‘Time to be moving,’ she whispered. ‘Your mother’s up and about and your father will be too once his head’s cleared. If they catch him here–’

‘Tell her I sleep.’

She shook her head. ‘That won’t work. She wants to see you. There’s a funeral coming. And other things on her mind.’

‘Then say I’m ill.’

The woman groaned. ‘You can’t put this off, love. Chuck that boy out of your bed.’

‘That boy’s my husband.’

Nurse laughed. ‘And how many people witnessed that? You two and a priest who’s away with the fairies half the time. One night of pleasure don’t make a marriage. If it did half the world would be wed twice over.’

Juliet closed the door and bolted it. Romeo was pulling on his boots. He checked his money, found his hat. No blue feather. Just a plain black velvet cap, the kind any traveller might wear.

The door rattled. Someone was trying to open it. There

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