“I cannot,” the Lady Montague replied, her eyes sad. “You know as well as I that this feud between the houses keeps me from coming here most days, even disguised and veiled.”

“Yes.” Lady Capulet kissed her, swallowing hard, feeling tears stinging her eyes.

“It is you and I, my love…we are the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.”

“I will not be parted from you.” The blonde woman’s eyes blazed with love and lust, like a blue fire.

“We will long love this way, if we can.” Lady Capulet closed her eyes, thinking of her daughter’s new life with Paris. She hoped for great happiness, great love between them. She wanted more for Juliet than stolen moments like these.

Lady Montague touched her lover’s cheek. “Love will not be denied, no matter from whence it came.”

“Never where it is bidden, it seems.” Lady Capulet sighed, pulling the other woman close.

They closed their eyes and slept together for a while, a Capulet and a Montague, with a plague creeping toward both their houses.