All the Things You Never Knew Read online

  All the Things You Never Knew

  Angealica Hewley

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyrighted © 2013 by Angela Her

  All rights reserved.

  To my wonderful Bus Buddies: Andrew Chhem, Cheng Xiong, and Tha Dah Loo. Thanks for having the faith in me to succeed in my dream of sharing my stories with the world. This is for you all! -A.H.

  All the Things You Never Knew

  PROLOGUE

  Bridlington

  Leon Heartily cursed under his breath as he and his siblings stood, staring at their broken down estate.

  “Well, this is a beautiful sight,” said Jack, the second oldest to Leon, as he tip back his hat and look at the house.

  The Heartily Estate is now nothing more than a wasteland. The roof had collapsed; the walls were cracked and glasses shattered in glistening piles on the deadly brownish grass. Mud puddles and mole holes filled the place, leaving no space for any other form of life to inhabit. No leaves formed on the trees. No neighbors surrounded the place. All was dead and quiet without a sound or movement.

  “Beautiful, indeed,” Edward said with a sigh, as he drops his suitcase and sat down on top of it.

  “I’m so glad to be back,” Aidan responded with feign enthusiasm.

  “There’s surely nothing like home. Sweet, sweet home,” Blake chimed, scraping mud off his shoes with a dead branch he found lying on the ground.

  “Stop being sarcastic,” said their sister, Avangelene, as she secures her hair up with a ribbon. “Our estate may not be in the condition we wanted but with a little maintenance, I believe we will be able to have it restored in no time.”

  “Easy for you to say. This is no little maintenance,” Gabriel said,

  Angealica Hewley

  picking up a shard of glass and testing its point on his finger. “I don’t want to get prick all over by these things.”

  “And I don’t want to twist my ankle by falling into these holes,”

  Chance said, testing his foot in one of them.

  “Perfect size for your foot,” Lavender said, coming around to stand

  by her twin brother.

  “Don’t you dare push me,” Chance said, taking his foot out and

  moving away. “You’re the evilest twin anyone could ever have.” “I am not!”

  “Hey, we better find shelter soon,” said Namine, pointing to the sky.

  “The weather doesn’t look so good.”

  Leon looked up to see the black clouds darkening the sky. “This

  isn’t good,” he murmured, looking back at their manor.

  There’s barely a roof over their head. If it pours, they will sure be

  facing a long night of misery.

  “I can’t believe we left Swale for this,” Sheik said, kicking away at

  the dirt. “We could have lived at the Harrington Family’s barn with the

  hogs.”

  “It’s kind of scary,” said Phoenix, the baby of the family, as she

  peers at the house. “Perhaps it’s haunted from the many years that we

  have neglected it.”

  “Don’t be absurd,” Leon answered, picking up his suitcase. “We

  must hurry in and organize our belongings, for we have a long night

  ahead of us.”

  “How long has it been since we left Bridlington?” Blake asked,

  following behind Leon as he led the way to the front of the manor. How long had they been gone from managing their estate? Leon

  doesn’t know. Close to half a decade. It surprises him to see what time

  could do to an abandon estate. How many storms had it fought? How

  many raids from the enemies?

  The enemies.

  It was the enemies that took away everything from their life: their

  love, their parents, and their home.

  Now he has returned to take revenge on their loss and start anew. Leon stopped in front of the door and turned to his siblings. “Ready?”

  They nodded and replied in unison, “Ready.”

  Leon grabbed the door handle and–

  “Oh, hell!” he cursed, as it detaches and fell from his hold. “What do we do now?” Phoenix asked. “I don’t want to get rained

  on. I heard you can get bald.”

  “Like you’ve never been rained on before,” Sheik scoffed, and step

  up towards the door. “I’ll handle this.”

  With one mighty thrust, Sheik kicked the door open and it fell–or

  rather broke down heavily onto the ground.

  More curses erupted from the Heartilys in dismay as the other half of

  the roof tumbles down right after it.

  “Shit.” Leon slowly stepped in around the door and kicked aside the

  pile of concrete. “Come in,” he said to his siblings. “Be careful, too. Who

  knows how many more damages would occur.”

  With that, they entered to begin a new life with many businesses to

  handle and repairs to tend.

  CHAPTER ONE

  London, England

  1817

  Lady Rose Dawson sighed, as she threw down the one hundredth

  wedding dress she had tried on for the afternoon.

  “Enough,” she said, slipping her gown back over her head. “Susy,

  can you get these buttons for me.”

  “Of course,” Lady Susannah replied, rushing over to help her.

  “I’m guessing you didn’t find a dress to your interest.”

  “There are too many,” Rose said, fixing the pins in her hair. “If

  only Lord Lansing was here to help me pick.”

  “Oh, please,” Susannah derided, finishing the last of her buttons.

  “Like he knows anything. Always in his cups and dallying away with

  lightskirts.”

  “I know you don’t like him, but his lordship isn’t that bad,” Rose

  said, smiling as she turns to pinch her friend on the cheeks. “Besides,

  he’s an honorable man. He would never do such a thing. It’s only your

  imagination, True that he drinks sometimes, but he’s a man. What can

  you say?”

  “I say he’s unfaithful,” Susannah answered, moving to look at the

  rack of dresses beside her. “And would not bring you much

  happiness.”

  “He makes me quite happy, actually,” Rose said picking up one

  of the white dresses she had left on the floor and hanging it back up on

  the rack.

  “Oh, please tell me you’ve found a dress to your taste, m’lady,”

  said Madame Marionette de Florette, shop owner of Florette’s Dress

  Emporium.

  “I’m afraid there are too many to adore that I cannot decide on

  which one to pick,” Rose answered. “I think I’ll wait for a day when

  my fiancé is not too busy so he can come and help me decide.” “Oh, that will be splendid,” Madame Marionette exclaimed. Then

  to Susannah, “You’ve got to find your true amour soon and return to

  get your wedding dress. I’ll be waiting here to be call at your service.” “I’m afraid I’ll just find an unfaithful drunken arse like somebody

  here and have to shoot him dead,” Susannah replied, looking back at

  Rose.

  “That’s most improper of you to say, Susannah!” Rose said,

  alarme
d. “My apologies, Madame Marionette. I’m afraid it’s time for

  Susy and I to get back home to not miss our uh…afternoon tea.” “Oh, that’s all right, ma cherie,” Madame Marionette said

  cheerfully. “I’ll be waiting for your return. Au revoir.”

  Rose took Susannah by the arm and dragged her out of the door

  into the carriage.

  “I truly appreciated that comment in there,” Rose said crossly,

  tapping on the wall for the footman to drive away. “You didn’t have to

  say that to Madame Marionette.”

  “You know what I said was true,” Susannah argued. “Why can’t

  you see that he’s no good?”

  “Because he is good,” Rose countered. “He’s nice and gentle. Ah

  and charmingly sweet.”

  “I think I’m going to spew up pebbles,” Susannah said, making a

  sick face and fanning herself with her hand. “Ugh, I need some air in

  here.”

  “Stop it, Susy,” Rose laughed, swatting at Susannah’s hand.

  “Lord Lansing is the most charming man in the world.”

  “I’ve heard that before,” said Susannah. “It was to a different

  beau though. What’s his name again? Hm…it was–”

  “Don’t you dare say it,” Rose snapped menacingly. “Don’t you

  dare!”

  “Why not?” asked Susannah. “He is who qualifies to be called

  charming. He is who’s nice and gentle. He is who you can trust to be

  faith–”

  “Stop! Stop!” Rose cried, covering her ears. “Please, just stop.

  There’s no one that can compare to Lord Lansing.”

  “That is where you’re wrong,” Susannah said. “You know well

  that–”

  “Leon is nothing to me!” Rose fumed. “He is nothing!”

  “Ah, yes,” Susannah clapped. “Leon. Monsieur Leon Heartily,

  that’s his name. Thanks for reminding me.”

  “You’re not welcome,” Rose answered irately.

  “Surprising that you still remember his name after all these

  years,” said Susannah. “You don’t actually think I will believe you

  when you say he’s nothing to you, do you?”

  “Susannah, I don’t want to talk about this.”

  “But I do.”

  “Please stop torturing me,” said Rose, flinging her arm over her

  eyes. “I’ve worked hard enough to forget him.”

  “But you never did forget, did you?

  Rose pales and turned away to look out the window without a

  response

  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  “You don’t understand, Susy,” Rose murmured with a sigh. “I understand one thing for sure,” Susannah replied. “You still

  love him.”

  “I don’t!” Rose protested. “I don’t love him–not anymore. Not

  even an inch!”

  “Or so you say,” Susannah countered. “Tell me, do you love Lord

  Lansing then?”

  “Of course I do!” Rose blurted. “Why would I want to marry

  Marcus if I don’t love him?”

  “Oh, so now he’s Marcus?” Susannah smirked and went on. “I

  don’t see it,” she said. “I just don’t see it. It was different. Different

  from the way you were with–”

  “You have no idea, Susy. Please, let’s not talk of it anymore.” “Very well, but still, I know you don’t love Lord Lansing.” There were no more comments made for the remainder of the ride.

  Rose felt like crying as she reflects back to the past. She didn’t want to.

  She had spent ten years of her life forgetting, yet something always brings

  it back.

  Leon.

  She had loved him very much.

  He was like the world to her.

  And yes, Susannah was right. He is who qualifies to be called

  charming. He is who’s nice and gentle.

  But he is not one you can trust to be faithful.

  That was where Susannah went wrong.

  He had broken her heart by–

  Rose couldn’t even bear to think of what happened between them. It was Leon’s fault. It angers her every time when she thinks back to

  that day. She just…she just wanted to strangle him! Yet she knew she’ll

  never have the heart.

  Their love was one of a fairytale.

  She still couldn’t understand why it ended the way it did. Why did Leon do that to her?

  Was she not good enough?

  Or was it because she’s too–

  A loud crash outside the carriage took away her thoughts, and she

  looked out the window to see what was going on.

  “Did we hit something?” Susannah asked, looking out of the

  other window.

  “Just a little rough turn, m’lady,” the footman answered from

  above. “Somebody was heading fast towards us and I was trying to

  make way.”

  “Who was it?” Rose looked about to see a galloping horse

  charging forward, and tried to make out the feature of the man on top

  of it.

  “Lord Lansing!” Rose exclaimed, waving her gloves at him. “Lady Rose!” He came to a rough halt beside her window with

  his horse and reach out his hand. “I’ve come to sweep you away, my

  love.”

  Rose smiled and took his hand, feeling a sense of déjà vu. “Great, you’re going to climb out of the window and leave me,”

  Susannah pouted. “What a great friend you are.”

  Rose laughed and turned back to her. “I told you he’s charming.” Susannah rolled her eyes and gave Rose a dismissive wave.

  “Whatever, then. Just leave me be.”

  “I love you, Susy.” Rose gave her a brief kiss on the cheek and let

  his lordship pull her out onto his horse.

  “Did you miss me today?” Lord Lansing asked, giving her a kiss

  on the cheek as they turned and rode back down the path.

  “More than you’ll ever know,” she answered, sliding her hands to

  hold his on the reign.

  Everything felt so familiar.

  “Well, I hope you’ve found the perfect dress for our wedding.” “Uh…about that…it was rather difficult,” Rose answered. “I was

  thinking that we’ll go together on a day you’re free to Florette’s and

  pick the dress out together.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Lord Lansing agreed.

  “How was your day today?”

  “Quite gloomy without you,” he answered, pressing a kiss to her

  neck.

  “You’re such a joke,” Rose laughed, and then caught herself. Everything they’re doing now seems to have happened before.

  She had experienced it.

  Not with Lord Lansing, no. It was with someone else.

  Oh, thanks Susannah so much for ruining everything!

  Susannah rise up to peek out the window at Rose and his lordship and stuck her tongue out at them, shaking her head as she sat back down.

  “Stupid drunken arse of a marquess,” she cursed as she twiddles her thumbs. “I can’t believe my friend would fall for such an unfaithful man like you. She has no idea what she’s getting into.”

  She thought back to Leon.

  Mr. Leon Heartily.

  He was the best catch of London.

  Rose was so lucky to have caught his eyes out of the rest of the

  ladies.

  If only he had explained himself and not do such a foolish thing and left. He was a really nice gentleman. Better than his lordship even if he lacks a title.

  He would still have made Rose a fine husband.

  An ideal husband that every lady will want, actually. Oh, sh
e was so looking forward to attend their wedding, but…but

  Leon just had to ruin that opportunity.

  Susannah was angry with him at first until he sought her out and told her the truth before he left. He had made her vow to keep it a secret from Rose. She had agreed and concealed it for ten years. At times, she just wanted to burst out everything. At least then Rose would think twice before agreeing to wed that marquess and let him–

  Susannah shook her head to wipe off the thought and closed her eyes, hoping one day that Rose would see what she’s about to lose.

  Stanford Hall

  Trafalgar Square

  “Bless you, again,” said the young Miss Delilah Stanford as she sat and stares dreamily at the charming Mr. Leon Heartily. “Your tenth sneeze, if I’m correct.”

  “I haven’t been counting, but thank you,” Leon answered, taking out his pocket watch to check the time. “When is your father going to be available?”

  “Yes, I’m growing rather hungry,” his younger brother, Sheik, groaned from the small stool he had sat on to warm up by the fireplace. “When is he going to be available?”

  “In half an hour or so,” Delilah answered, her eyes fixed on Leon the whole time.

  Leon turned away and run his fingers through his wet hair. They had been caught up in a storm as they were making their way to London from Bridlington. It was rather bright when they had set out on their trip, but as they drew closer to their destination the weather had taken a turn and before they knew it, they were drenched to the bone.

  “You owe me for this,” Sheik said, glaring at him.

  He had forced his younger brother to come along just because he knows Sheik will help him get away from the place, especially from Miss Stanford who’s always finding ways to keep him in her presence for as long as she can whenever he visits. She’s just like the young lady pupils at the school.

  The Heartily Academy of Management, the school established by his parents before their death. He has to get back to manage a schedule with his secretary on how to run the school while he’s gone. He has a quest awaiting him for the next few weeks and won’t be able to handle things. His siblings won’t be of much help since they are all occupied with their own things.

  There were eleven of them, twelve including him. They all were very talented and can teach in almost every subject at the school, but they were more into their work that Leon’s taking the whole responsibility to fulfill their parents’ dream. He had hired a few teachers with the budget he had to prepare lectures for the pupils while he’s gone. He just hope his pupils would go easy on them, for the last time hadn’t been so good when he took leave on a trip to meet a friend for an important investigation.