a wager of wives

Chapter 3

A wager of wives

Athos opened the door. His face was lion like and ferocious, very similar to the door knocker. I shuddered.

“Petruchio, my friend! Come in, come in!” Athos opened the door wider. Athos smiled. I dreaded those sharp pointed teeth. I wished he hadn’t.

A fire was crackling in the hearth, and Helena was curled up against the fire. When she saw me, she rose up and lowered her long eyelashes. Helena’s golden hair glowed in the firelight.

“make our guest a drink, Helena.” Growled Athos. “Petruchio and I have important things to talk about.”

Shuffling away, Helena tried to hide the tears. She hated her husband, and did not notice Petruchio staring intently at her. Even though she did love Petruchio, nobody would both never find out.

Athos sat down in front of me, shaking his grizzly mane. I had been thinking about my plan for a while, but the whole plan depended on one moment. This one moment. I had to concentrate on how I should phrase it, and slowly but carefully, I opened my mouth and started to speak…

    “Athos,” I whispered. After telling him of Katherine and how I was going to marry her, I moved to the main, and most important part.

“If I can tame Katherine, if she will confess that she loves me from her own free will, then you must give me your house and everything else you own. But if she does not love me, then you will win this bet. You will win everything I own; my house, my horse, and all of my money… do we have a deal?”

Athos started to laugh raucously.

“You? You could not tame a shrew, nevermind a headstrong witch like Katherine! I accept your bet, for I know I will win, Petruchio you fool!”

Rushing away, I met Helena by the door. Although she had been crying, her face was still white as marble and her features were so fine that it was as if they had been carved by a talented sculptor. I bowed my head and walked away. Away from the house. Away from Athos. Away from Helena.