REVIEW RESPONSES!!!

Visualpurple: I'm glad you like it!

Rock Sunner: Then I guess this chapter is just what the doctor ordered!

Ophelia Russel: Well, thank you, but I found my notebook. If you haven't seen that, then I'd advise you to read the prior chapter again, as I changed it when I found my notebook.

Bellatrix Lestrange9: Cool! I used to play flute a long time ago. My mom is a flute teacher! I hope your concert went well!

Chapter 23 – The Ball, Part 2

She smiled at him and soon they were dancing to the slow beat of the music. As she danced in the warmth and safety of his arms, she felt like there was something she needed to tell him. "Lemony," she said. "You know I love you, right?" Lemony nodded and Beatrice continued. "I don't want to marry Paul." They danced in silence for a minute before Lemony finally spoke.

"You could go with me," he said quietly.

"Where?"

"Anywhere you want," he replied. "I still have a few friends in the organization. The duchess has offered to get me out of the country until it's safe to come back. We could go to America; I know of a friendly operative in Missouri who could help us. Or we could go to Australia. Wherever you want is fine with me. I just don't want to lose you again."

"Nor do I, Lemony," Beatrice whispered. "I just don't know if I can get away. I don't want to be a burden or a risk."

"It's not. I'd risk anything to be with you."

"But I could never risk any harm to you. If I did, I don't know wha-"

Just then the door was slowly pushed open a crack, just wide enough for Esme's masked face to peer inside. Her eyes opened wider in surprise in surprise and delight, she smiled, and, before the two could react, ducked her head back inside.

"Beatrice, she's going to get me caught. I have to go," he said hurriedly. "If you decide to come with me, then meet me at the shed before sunrise. We'll leave as soon as you come. Please come." He opened the door and saw many guards dressed as scorpions pulling apart pairs of dancers, no doubt looking for him. He started to leave the balcony, but then he remembered something he needed to say to her. "If I don't see you again, let me just warn you about something."

Beatrice gave him a shaky smile. "You'll see me again. Don't worry." She gave him a quick kiss and tried to hand him back his cape. "Keep it," he managed to tell her before three men dressed as scorpions burst onto the balcony and began to drag him away.

By now, many people had noticed what was going on and were crowding around Lemony and the guards in curiosity. As the crowd began to hide him from Beatrice's view, Lemony remembered that there was something urgent that he had to tell her.

"Beatrice," he yelled, "Olaf is going to-" but he had to stop as one of the costumed gloves covered his mouth. He saw that Beatrice was becoming increasingly harder to see, so he shook his head free for a second so he could tell her one more thing. "Wait for me!"

For years afterwards, Lemony Snicket would regret that he hadn't used that opportunity to finish warning Beatrice about Olaf, but at the time, it seemed like the perfect thing to say.

That last line certainly served its purpose, however. It reassured Beatrice, who, noticing the stares of the startled guests, only gave a confident smile and pulled the cape closer to her shoulders as she walked proudly from the balcony to the ballroom.

Before you ask, I'll clear something up. Even though the books haven't said anything as to the country where it takes place, I wanted it to be in England. I like England better than the US anyway.