All the Things You Never Knew Page 14

  “Could be,” Susannah agreed. Then eyeing Rose suspiciously asked, “Are you feeling well? You’re so much more agreeable now.”

  Rose arched an eyebrow and laughed. “I’m just saying. I’m perfectly fine.”

  “Eh? Are you falling out of love with him now then?” Susannah asked, her voice full of hopes.

  “That’s the reason I asked you to write the apologetic letters after all,” Rose said gleefully.

  ‘Well…” Susannah could hardly speak. “I…That’s wonderful!”

  “I thought so.”

  “Mr. Heartily’s back into your heart?”

  Rose couldn’t suppress the smile and let it slip.

  “Oh, Rosy!” Susannah threw her arms around Rose and kissed her cheeks. “I knew you’ll come to your senses. Did he tell you what happened? Did he?”

  “No,” Rose shook her head disappointingly. “He was going to try but never finish so I’m planning out how to make him.”

  “Oh, Rosy, you can do it!” Susannah exclaimed, jumping up and down. “He loves you very much. Just know that.”

  Rose still couldn’t yet accept those words, but she nodded.

  Things should be well again in time.

  Night time slowly fall as Leon trotted his way to Dawson House. He’s going to do exactly as he had planned whether Rose accepts or not. He’s not going to tell her of his encounter with the marquess from the day before but will warn her. She deserves better. Even if she had given her chastity to that Lansing, he will still tell her to give up on that ass. He doesn’t deserve her. He doesn’t deserve Rose either, so he might as well leave her for another that does.

  The time for him to be in London is running out so fast. Rose’s wedding is hasting up. Tonight is the night he gets everything done and move on. It has got to be. He can’t stay around no more. There is much to avenge for.

  Mother…Father… He’s got a lot to accomplish for them. He had promised to take care of his siblings, see to their needs, rebuild their family estate, and most importantly…

  Leon’s thought vanished as his eyes caught sight of the most enticing angel of his life.

  Rose.

  She was propped up on the window on her elbows in her night shift, her hands cupping her cheeks and eyes closed as if she’s listening to the music of the wind. A faint smile on her lips.

  As Leon crept closer, he realized that she was humming a tune. One so familiar but he couldn’t recall.

  God, she was like a Siren luring him to the pit of death with her sweet melody. Her dark silky hair was swaying with the light breeze. Its aroma surrounded him and drew him closer and closer until he’s right beneath her window.

  “Rose,” he murmured out as he looks up at her.

  Her body seems to tense as if she had heard him and her eyes slowly opens and stared down at him.

  “Leon!” she exclaimed, then cupped her mouth waving happily at him with her other hand.

  Perhaps she did hear him. He doesn’t know why she’s so happy but he’s thrilled to see her so.

  He pulled himself up on a vine that grew along the side of her window and climbed up to meet her gaze.

  “Oh, Leon.” She suddenly threw her arms around him that almost made him lose his grip and tumble down, which was a shock.

  “Shit,” he cursed as he steadied himself by wrapping an arm around her waist.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, helping him inside, then quickly walks over and blew out the candles to darken her room.

  “Gosh, Leon,” she said, coming back to entwined her arms around his neck. “I thought you will never come again.

  It startled him to hear her say such thing after what she had told him the last time, but he likes it. It eased his nerves and raises his hope to succeed in what he had planned to do. Though he must admit, it makes him quite uneasy to have Rose starting to behave like this. It’s like she have something up her sleeves. Whatever it is, he doesn’t know. Besides, he doesn’t want to think about it because that was not part of the business he had set out for.

  Leon embraced Rose tightly and said quietly to her ear, “I never thought I would come to see you again, too.”

  It feels all wrong for him to do this, but blast it. God can condemn him for this sin. He can bear it, for Rose he could.

  “Leon,” Rose murmured, pulling back to look at him. “I have to tell you something. I’m afraid that if I don’t, I will never have the chance again.”

  “I do too, Rose,” he answered, resting his forehead against hers. “I want to tell you–I have to tell you everything. You might not care–it might not matter to you anymore but I have to.”

  Rose raised her hands to cup his face and pressed a light kiss to his lips. “Tell me. I do care. I would listen.”

  “Rose,” he paused in hesitation. “I don’t know how to start.”

  “Must I go first then, since you’re so complicated?” she asked, sliding her hands to his neck. “I would love to–”

  “No,” he said abruptly. He wasn’t about to let her ruin the moment again. “No more from you–not yet.”

  Rose chuckled lightly and outlined the contour of his lips with her finger. “Okay, my love. Speak to me.”

  My love? But she said that she was in love with–Leon clear off the thought that was about to meddle with his head and continued on.

  “Rose, I’m sorry that I never told you the truth about everything that happened in the past–the reason I left–my intentions besides the fact that I love you and–”

  “Whoa, take it slow, darling,” she said, pinching his nose lightly. “You’re taking it all in one breath. I’m here. I will listen. Don’t rush.”

  Leon cursed his nerves and started again more slowly. “I’m sorry I left you,” he said. “I never mean to. I was left with no choice. What you saw that day I–”

  “You told me that last time,” she reminded him. “And you said you didn’t touch that woman that I caught you with. Why don’t you tell your story from there? I am most tempted to hear.”

  “Are you now?”

  “Most certainly,” she answered gleefully, then slid her hand to his. “Leon,” she said, raising his wounded knuckles from their last encounter to her lips. “Your hand…I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for you to injure yourself. I didn’t mean–I didn’t think–”

  “Shhh…” Leon put a finger over her lips to shut her up. “Now you’re babbling.”

  “Oh Leon…” She stroked her fingers through his hair and pulled him down with her onto the bed.

  “This is most unfitting don’t you think?” Leon asked, resting his head on her chest.

  Her sudden laughter startled him as she holds him more securely.

  “You are unfitting,” she said, drumming her fingers along his back.

  As an honorable lady, Leon never thought Rose would ever turn into something bewitching like this.

  “Rose, you have to stop or else we would never get to the end of my story,” he said, flipping her on top of him.

  She giggled and lean towards his face, her lips just inches from his. “All right, dearling. You have to hurry so I can tell you my part.”

  Her part.

  Damn, there’s still her part that he has to endure. Hells please just don’t let it bring him down again.

  “All right,” he started. “Please get off me or else…”

  “Or else what?” she asked with a seductive curve on her lips when he had trailed off.

  I will take you on like a blood-thirsty beast and make you cry your voice out in pleasure.

  “Nothing,” he said, pulling her head down to rest on his chest and trying hard to ignore his triggering arousal.

  Rose can stir him in an instant and he wouldn’t even know until it’s a little over what he had expected.

  “Speak,” she demanded more seriously this time. “Though I said I can wait I’m growing kind of impatient now.”

  He feels it, too.

  “All right, Rose. I need you
to listen very carefully and be strong, for everything I say would inflict a lot of pain on your part.”

  “I will,” she answered. “Don’t worry.”

  “Okay.” Leon took a deep breath and begins his story–the story that holds the truths to everything that happened between them. “First of all, Rose, I’m a bastard–a by-blow to clarify.”

  She tensed suddenly and looked up at him. “What?”

  “I’m a by-blow,” he went on. “My parents never got married properly by a vicar or obtain any special license.”

  “That’s…quite unbelievable.”

  “I know. I can hardly believe it myself,” he answered. “But there are a lot behind that.” That he never did asked, actually.

  “Well, you’re a prince to me,” she said, sighing against his chest.

  That certainly warms him rapturously. “Anyway,” he continued. “My parents were murdered as you’re probably aware of. That’s why I had to flee.”

  “I understand,” she nodded.

  “Do you?” He hasn’t gotten to the reason yet. “But I fled not because of my parents’ death but from their murderers and your safety.”

  “My safety?” She raised her head up and stared into his eyes. “Was I in danger?”

  “No–Well, not yet, anyway,” he replied. “But soon you will if I stay around any longer. That is why I had to leave you and did the most intolerable thing to hurt you.”

  “That woman,” she murmured out in despair. “I hated that sight.”

  “I know. I’m sorry,” he said, stroking her hair. “I promise never to do it again.”

  “You better because I will gut you this time for sure.”

  He smiled at her threat and rests his chin among her head. Somewhat he’s beginning to think that she had…forgiven him.

  “But didn’t you say you love Lansing?” He didn’t want to ask but can’t hold the question back.

  “Well,” she sighed, and rolled off to lie beside him. “I figured that I…didn’t.”

  “Really?” How that fills him with gladness, but then it led him to another remark, “You said you consummated–”

  “Ah, Leon,” she said in exasperation. “I will tell you everything after you’re done with your part.”

  “I want to know now,” he said, not able to wait any longer.

  She didn’t trick him into being a drunken fool for the past three days, did she? He needs to know. He’d rather that Lansing deceive her than she deceiving him.

  “Finish up yours and then I shall tell my part,” was all she said.

  “Fine.” He would make it fast and jump right in to what he wanted to say the most. “Please, Rose. Don’t marry that Lansing.”

  “And why not?” she asked.

  The perfect question.

  “Because I am about to kill him,” Leon finished.

  “What?” She sat up and looked at him with widen eyes. “You’re going to kill his lordship?”

  “Yes,” he answered. “And avenge for my parents’ death. His father killed my parents.”

  There. He has ridden out the most difficult part of his story.

  Rose opened her mouth to say something then closed it. Leon looked so sad with each word he spoke that it pains her. He had told her to be strong for his story might inflict pain on her, but it’s actually his expression that hurts. She can see the anger in his eyes when he spoke of his lordship and his father.

  “Leon.” She drew him slowly into her arms and held him. “I’m so sorry,” she said, cupping his face. Her lies must have tormented him, too. “Was this why you have been opposed to me marrying Lansing?” she asked him out of curiosity, though she was hoping for something more. The last time he told her not to marry his lordship she thought he was mad or miraculously by any chance, jealous. Now she knows the reason why.

  “Part of it,” he answered, wrapping his arms around her.

  That made her smiled and snuggled into his shirt. He attracts her so much that every negative nerves in her turned positive. She can’t deny her feelings anymore. She will never again.

  “What about the rest of it if that’s only a part of it?” Rose asked, gazing into his eyes.

  She wanted to know–she needs to know it as much as he wants to know about her and Lansing. She will share that part with him but only after he shares his part.

  “Just because…” he trailed off and shook his head. “No. I can’t say it again. I feel like I’ve said it too much and you’re still thinking it a lie.”

  “What?” Rose was lost. What is it that he had said? “Are you sure? So far you’ve only told me about how you’re a by-blow with Lord Lansing’s father killing your parents, and–”

  “It was way before those things,” he interjected, and then sighed. “It was…a couple days pass.”

  “Was it?” Why couldn’t she recall? It’s probably because he never really talked openly with her. Everything he says always drifted off to something else. It annoys her to have to wait on his slowness. She just wants him to throw out all those dreadful things from the past and not burden himself with it anymore.

  “Are you serious or are you playing dumb with me?” he asked, staring up at her.

  Rose chuckled at his question and lean to whisper in his ears, “You can always remind me.”

  His quiet laughter brightens her heart and she beamed at him with her most alluring smile.

  “I love you,” he said, lowering his head to kiss her along the neck, sending heats through her body.

  “Y-you’re lying,” she replied incredulously as he kisses her along the jaw. “You don’t–”

  “I do,” he said, kissing to her shoulder. “That…that is why I haven’t yet killed Lansing. I was afraid I will hurt you even more than I did before.”

  “You will,” she has to admit that, though now she won’t really care much. Whatever happens to Lord Lansing doesn’t matter. All she cares about is him.

  “Rose, I have to tell you something else, too,” he murmured, stopping his burning kisses and looking up at her again.

  “Yes?” she asked, holding his gaze. “What is it?”

  “I am going to finish up with Lansing and move on to find more of the killers that were with his father on that day of my parents’ death,” he told her. “I will be leaving London really soon.”

  “You’re…leaving?” No, she cried in her head. No. Not more good-byes. No. Please, no.

  His expression turned austere and he answered, “Yes. After this week if I succeed, I will be gone forever.”

  “For…ever?” Her lips trembled as she spoke the words and tears trickled out of her eyes.

  “Damn it, Rose. No,” he flustered suddenly, wiping at her cheeks with the back of his hand. “Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry. Your tears are not worth my leaving.”

  How dare he say such thing? His leaving means everything.

  “I–Why?” she asked, her voice shaky with sobs. She didn’t think she would cry but it’s all over the limit that she can bear. He’s always leaving her again and again with not much of a good reason. It’s like history playing again. God, she fears its role but it’s kicking in.

  “Because I have to,” he answered quietly. “I must.”

  “What about me?” She can’t let him leave her again. Good-bye, Rose! The words from the past echoed in her head. There’s no way she will tolerate it again. “Don’t you want me? How am I to live–”

  “I want you!” he cut in, holding her close. “I want you. I just can’t have you.”

  “And why ever not?” He has to give her a clear reason. She needs to know his thoughts–everything that runs in his mad head. God, he’s driving her insane.

  “Because I’m not safe for you–not until everything’s settled.”

  Well, that would take years. She’s not going to wait.

  “I don’t give a mind!” she snapped angrily. “I want to be with you. I don’t want to be with anyone else but you.”

  It made her fee
l really foolish to reveal her feelings but it’s either now or never.

  “I could spare Lansing for you but he’s such an ass that I can’t tolerate it,” he said coolly that it drove Rose to fury.

  “Why would I need you to spare him for me? I said I don’t love him. Plus his father killed your parents. I won’t accept that.”

  “But you two…” he paused in hesitation and then went on, “Well, I don’t want you to bear a child who’s going to live without a real sire to support him.”

  “W-what?” Oh, darn it! Did he think she’s…No, that’s totally outrageous.

  “Lansing and you…did it, right? I have to at least be honorable and let him see his child before–”

  “You are totally crazy, Leon!” she replied madly, turning away from him. “How can you even think of such a thing?”

  “Well, you–”

  “I didn’t ‘do it’ with Lansing!” she blurted to not have him continue on about it. She knows that she had caused him to think so, but she’s mending away that thought.

  “You didn’t?” He sounded unconvinced by her words, but she shook her head.

  “I didn’t,” Rose said with a sigh. “I-I only said that to…to get you to open up on how you feel.”

  Somewhat that got a curse out of him, “The hell you did!” He releases her from his arm and sat up, pounding his forehead.

  “Leon.” She sat up along with him and touched his shoulder. “Leon, what’s–”

  “I’m a complete idiot!” he said. “Damn! Blast it all!”

  “I’m–I’m sorry,” she whispered, pressing her cheek against his back. “I didn’t mean to get you mad.”

  “I’m not mad,” he answered. “I’m just feeling like an ass right now for having to–never mind it.”

  Rose smiled against his back and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Don’t lie to me. You sound angry. I know you are. I guess I went a little overboard that day. I will take everything back if that’s what it takes to make you happy.”

  He slid his hands over hers and said, “No. It won’t satisfy me. You have to tell me the real reason why you did it?”

  “To get you to open up,” she said again. “I know you will shut me out forever if I don’t give you a little something to consider and fight back.”