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“Signor Benedick!” Don Pedro called across the garden towards his friend, just emerging from the house. As Benedick came closer, he continued with a smile, “How are you this morning, Benedick, the married man?”
“All my past protests against marriage were justified,” Pedro’s brows began to draw down in concern, but Benedick continued, “for any wife other than my lady Beatrice never could have satisfied me.”
“And how fares your new cousin?”
“She does well, now that she has the faith of her husband. With your brother in custody, perhaps this time he will not take it back so readily.”
“And risk the wrath of the fearsome Signor Bendick? He would not dare.”
Pedro smiled, inviting Benedick to share in the joke, but Benedick was not so easily dissuaded. “You maligned an innocent lady.”
“We had not thought her innocent at the time,” Pedro protested, then sighed. “But that is no excuse. I would not excuse one of my subjects for not knowing a law he had broken, so how can I excuse myself? We wronged Hero terribly, and only you were wise enough to see it.”
“Not only I,” Benedick corrected. “Beatrice was not only wise enough to see it, but also had conviction enough to act. Shame be on my head for it, but without her, I never would have confronted Claudio.”
“So with her courage and her beauty, what do you bring to your new marriage?” Pedro teased.
“My wit, of course,” Benedick replied quickly, and they both laughed.
Their laughter died down, and Pedro gave a wistful sigh. “You certainly have captured a beautiful prize, Benedick. One well worthy of the challenges it took to get her.”
“Not a prize, prince, but a falcon, one who hunted me as I did her. We have now caught each other, and so I need no cage to keep her, and she can turn her talons to other prey.”
“A bird of her feathers is a rare bird indeed, and her talons have kept away much worthier hunters.”
“Like yourself?” Benedick raised an eyebrow, not unkindly but knowingly. “Even the worthiest hunter may cage a bird, whatever their intention. As my wife told you, you are too fine for every day, my prince. But for special occasions,” his voice warmed, “you would be perfect.”
Pedro laughed the remark away. “What, and Beatrice have two husbands?”
“Is there any woman who deserves two husbands more than she?” Benedick quickly retorted. “As cunning and quick as my wit is, my lady sometimes prefers a slower pace.”
“And you think I would provide her one?”
“I have seen my lord riding into battle; you know how to keep your pace steady.”
“And what would Beatrice say? Would she share her husband as you share your wife?”
“Are you so greedy, prince, that you want not only a wife, but a husband as well?” Benedick’s words were harsh, but a jesting smile was playing across his face. “If my lord commands, so it be done. My wit and I will be at your service, and none but my lady shall receive them otherwise.”
“Surely your lady will not agree to this. Just a week hence she was railing against even the possibility of a husband.”
“I assure you, prince, her railing is much more in favour now.” He winked lasciviously. “Look, here she comes.”
Pedro turned to see Beatrice striding across the garden towards them. Marriage suited her well. She looked even lovelier than usual, her eyes bright with wit and fire.
As Beatrice approached, Benedick called out to her, “My lady, what think you of having two husbands?”
Beatrice sat herself in Benedick’s lap, stealing from the plate of grapes in front of him. “A day ago I had none at all, and thought myself happy. Now I have one, and am happier still. A second, and surely I will reach heights of happiness as yet unknown!”
Benedick, wearing a self-satisfied smile, threw a grape across the table at the prince. “See, my lord? My lady Beatrice sees no problem in having two husbands, now that one husband has proved himself not displeasing.”
“Aye, not displeasing, but not pleasing either, for you,” she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, “have not yet kissed me this morning.”
“An error I will repair, so I may once again be in my lady’s pleasure.” He turned so he could face her, leaning in and kissing her deeply, irregardless of Pedro’s eyes on them.
Beatrice finally leaned back, smiling blissfully. “Error amended, my dear husband.” She turned to Pedro. “Good morning, prince.”
“Good morning, lady Beatrice.”
“Doth my husband displease you, that you stare at him so?”
“Only in that he has such a beautiful wife.” Pedro leaned over and took her hand, placing a kiss against the back of it.
“And so he wishes to make amends by sharing his wife with you. And what of me, having two husbands to manage? Shall you also share with each other, and ease my burden?”
“A burden, am I?” Benedick jostled his knee, bouncing Beatrice off balance, the grape in her hand falling to the ground.
“A burden indeed, and I the beast who carries you.” She kissed him again, then stole a grape from his fingers. “The prince is neither beast nor burden, but perhaps even a fine horse such as he could be persuaded to keep a burdened beast company.”
Pedro gazed at her, the grapes forgotten. “For you, I would have kept company as far as you would have me.”
“I would not have been a good companion for every day, my lord,” Beatrice said softly, returning Pedro’s gaze. “I was made for summer days, light and breezy. You need a companion for all weathers.”
“Soon the seasons will roll on, and take you with them,” Benedick smoothly took up her lead. “But for now, it is summer, and as long as you want us, you will have us, and we shall all roll in the hay together.”
Pedro held up a hand towards them, letting the two of them pull him out of his seat. “Then lead on, my friends, and let us find the haystack.”