All the Things You Never Knew Read online

  “I can’t believe it,” Leon said incredulously. “Right before our very nose? Wait, but if he’s the Marquess of Lansing, that must mean his father is–”

  “His father had an accident,” Hargate put in. “He was thrown off a horse or something, according to Chatsworth. That’s his son.”

  “Hell!” Leon cursed. “Now what? Am I to be satisfied that he’s already dead?”

  “You got his son to take care of,” Hargate chimed in. “Win back Lady Rose in revenge to what his father did. Shouldn’t be that hard.”

  “But how are we to know who the other four suspects are if the real Lansing is dead?”

  “I’ll investigate in that. Just win your love back.”

  “I can’t just rely on you to do everything. It’s as if this was your problem.”

  “It’s my duty as a friend,” Hargate said. “Don’t worry.”

  “Duty as a friend, my ass!” Leon bellowed throwing his arms out in frustration. “I can’t believe it. I’ve been wasting both yours and Longsword’s time. I should really be searching on my own.”

  “Now see here, Heartily. I don’t mind at all. As a member of the House of Lords, I’m here to make sure that justice is served for all the wrongs.”

  “You should be doing your duty as a duke and find a wife to bear you an heir,” Leon argued. “You’re not supposed to be doing the dirty work of a bastard like me.” He wasn’t sure what’s gotten into him. A twist of rage just seized him so. “I’m sorry,” he said more softly. “I guess I’ve just been overwhelmed by everything.”

  “I understand,” Hargate said. “But trust me, I can find a wife anytime. I’ll help you through your problems first. You don’t have to worry about me not gaining an heir. That’s something for my mother to do.”

  “I’m no lord, but I know you have your important duties to tend. Please don’t put me up as priority.”

  “Friendship is priority,” Hargate replied. “Duties can wait, unless you let Longsword and I court your sisters, then maybe all this would move along faster.”

  Leon gave out a startled laugh and cupped his forehead. “No way in hell,” he said, shaking his head. “Damn, I can’t believe we were just babbling like some old hags on the road.”

  Hargate chuckled and nodded in agreement. “Yes, should we get Longsword and go elsewhere? I doubt he’s going to find a countess anyway.”

  Leon laughed and nodded.

  “Wait here.”

  As Hargate strode back inside to get Longsword, Leon’s thought flooded back to the marquess.

  The Marquess of Lansing.

  Is he really dead?

  Could Rose’s fiancé really be the son of that marquess or was Hargate just mistaken?

  Things are falling quite fast that Leon couldn’t seem to catch and organize them all.

  If Rose’s fiancé was the son of the marquess, what is he to do? He couldn’t actually let her be with the son of a murderer, could he?

  But if she’s happy…

  Hell! Why are things always so complicated when it comes to Rose? She deserves better, yes. The marquess would be a good match, but if he’s Lansing’s son…Well, that just threw off everything.

  What is he to do? Take Hargate’s suggestion?

  No, he shook his head.

  He can’t. There has to be another way.

  But what other way is there?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Dawson House

  “Ah, Susy, wasn’t the ball a delight?” Rose asked, sighing dreamily

  as they returned home and dropped down on her bed. “I had such a wonderful evening dancing with Marcus.”

  “I did, too,” Susannah said, going behind the screen to change out of her gown into something lighter for the night.

  “I saw you dancing with a charming young gentleman. I was quite surprise.”

  “I was, too,” Susannah said, coming around to the other side of Rose and prop down.

  “You two looked like Cinderella and Prince Charming.”

  “Do we?” Susannah smiled. “He was a Prince Charming. I almost couldn’t believe it.”

  “Yes, you in your lovely blue laced gown and him in his navy blue coat and dark breeches. Quite a manly figure. His arse looks rather nice, eh?”

  “Oh, I didn’t know you were looking,” Susannah scoffed. “I thought you had your full attention to that Lord Lansing. Didn’t know you had wandering eyes.”

  Rose smiled and elbowed Susannah in the shoulder. “When it’s for you, I’ll wander my eyes off anywhere to find you a respectable, handsome groom.”

  “Well, you’ll be surprise to know who this gentleman was,” Susannah said, and raising a flirty eyebrow added, “You’ll want to take back that comment of him having a nice arse, too.”

  Rose merely laughed. “He does,” she said merrily. “No joke at all.”

  “If you say so,” Susannah shrugged. “Monsieur Leon does have a nice arse.”

  “Monsieur…” Rose trailed off and looked at Susannah in shock. “Did you just say ‘Monsieur Leon does have a nice arse?’”

  “I was merely agreeing with you,” Susannah replied.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You had so much fun that you didn’t even recognize him.”

  “Recognize him? Who? What do you mean?” Rose inquired, narrowing her eyes at Susannah. “Tell me who, Susy.”

  “That charming gentleman I was dancing with.”

  “Who was he? Tell me,” Rose demanded, anxious to know.

  “I told you. He was Mr. Leon Heartily, your old amour.”

  “Leon?” A hysteric laugh rise out of her. “That was a good one, Susy. For a minute, I almost believed you.”

  “It’s not a joke, Rosy,” Susannah said sternly. “He’s really back.”

  Noting the seriousness in her voice, Rose turned and looked at Susannah, a part of her heart twisting heavily as she listens to her speak.

  “The Heartilys are back, Rosy,” Susannah repeated. “They’re really back.”

  The anchor in her heart deepens as Rose heard the words slip out again.

  “No,” she murmured, shaking her head in disbelief. “No. You’re lying. It can’t be.”

  “Come on, Rosy,” Susannah said, sitting up next to Rose. “We’ve been friends for so long. I would never lie to you. In fact, I wouldn’t even tell you if I’m not positively sure about it. I spoke to him myself, and as you saw earlier, I danced with him.”

  “But how could it be?” Rose asked, embracing herself as she stood up to pace around the room. “They had disappeared over a decade now without a trace left behind.”

  “I don’t know, but they’re back, all right,” Susannah said. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Rose asked.

  “I didn’t think you would care after telling me so many times that Lord Lansing is the only one.”

  “Well, I–” Rose stop short and asked instead, “What did you two talked about? Did he say anything?”

  “Just things, you know,” Susannah replied. “Like your upcoming wedding.”

  “My–” Rose sat up and shook her head. “No! How could you?”

  She was suddenly filled with indignation.

  “It hardly matters, right?” Susannah said, and mockingly added, “You’re marrying Marcus after all.”

  “Please, don’t throw my words back at me like that,” Rose said. “This is serious.”

  “I see nothing wrong with it,” Susannah said, lying down on the pillow. “He was nothing to you.”

  Rose flinched and closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears from flooding out.

  True, she had said Leon was nothing to her, but does Susannah have to ail her with it?

  “Rosy,” Susannah whispered, gently squeezing her shoulders. “Don’t worry. You’ll get to marry your marquess. Mr. Heartily showed no interest in gaining you back,” she said. “Don’t worry yourself with it.”

  Rose didn’t know if that was a lie or not, but her heart faltered.
r />   Should she really be having these feelings when she had already decided that she will not care about him anymore?

  “Although,” Susannah went on. “I wish he’ll change his mind and sweep you away from that Lord Lansing.”

  Rose merely groan in reply.

  “I can help if you change your mind to be with your Mr. Heartily. He is still in town,” she heard Susannah say, but didn’t stir. “He’ll be at the Duke of Hargate’s Inn if you ever want to–”

  “I don’t want him to be in any part of my life anymore!” Rose snapped angrily. “Haven’t I told you? I just can’t believe you told him about my wedding. I don’t want him to know anything about me!”

  “Oh, he won’t know any more things about you after you’re wedded to that Lord Lansing!” Susannah stormed, matching her tone. “He was merely a nobody and can’t compare to your noble marquess. I know that. Rest assures. I won’t ever speak of you to him or him to you again!”

  And with that, Susannah stood up to gather her things and march to the door. “I’ll sleep elsewhere so that you can have your peace. Night, Rosy.”

  Rose threw aside her blanket as Susannah stepped out and jumped into bed.

  Tears were strolling one by one out of her eyes. She didn’t mean to be so harsh on Susannah.

  It’s just that she’s rather, well, shock.

  She thought she would be immune to all the talks of Leon, but this one threw her off, especially because he had returned and she did not recognize him.

  He didn’t even bother to confront her either.

  Why really should she care? She shouldn’t anymore.

  Ten years. Lord, ten years had passed.

  She thought he’ll never come back, yet now out of the blue he appears.

  Rose wondered what his intention in returning to London was.

  Could it be to win her back or possibly to stop her wedding?

  The thought seems absurd.

  Leon doesn’t care about her. He didn’t even listen to her, nor stay when she begged him to. He always goes his own way.

  If he wants to do something, he does it. No one can stop him.

  If he wants to go somewhere, he goes.

  If he wants to stay, he stays.

  If he wants to leave, he leaves.

  He doesn’t give a damn.

  If he wants to ruin her wedding, then of course he would, though Rose highly doubted that would happen.

  Leon doesn’t care for her anymore. If he did, he wouldn’t have done what he did years ago. It pains her like a drilling knife to think back about it. It’s better to just let it go. What’s done has been done. There’s nothing else to say or change.

  But then two little words lingered at the back of her mind.

  What and if.

  What if Leon does care enough to return for her? What then? And what if–No!

  No, this isn’t happening to her. She had made up her mind

  already.

  Whatever Leon’s intention was to be in London, she doesn’t care.

  She’s about to get marry to one of the best catch of London. Marcus Lewis Dent, the Marquess of Lansing.

  Yes. She was going to marry him.

  He had promised her love and happiness. Everything Leon had

  lacked to do.

  If she was to marry, it would be to a man that loves and care for

  her. Not one that she cares and shares a one-sided love with. That

  made Lord Lansing the most perfect candidate. He will be there to

  watch out for her and provide her with all the necessities she needs.

  That should truly be enough to make her feel...content.

  Content?

  Oh, pish-posh! She loves Marcus. He makes her happy. She’ll be

  happy with him.

  Oh. Oh. Oh.

  Why did Susannah have to tell her? Doesn’t she know what it

  does to her when she speaks of Leon?

  Rose closed her eyes and pulled the blanket over her head,

  praying that sleep would devour her soon and that everything would

  be forgotten in the morning.

  Hargate Inn

  The next morning was quite a pain for Leon and his friends. After leaving Lady Chatsworth’s ball and discussing the news Hargate had discovered, they went gaming at Old George’s Tavern and got themselves foxed to the max.

  Hargate almost turned over the rig as they were driving back and Longsword vomited all over the horses as he tries to ride it back into the stable. Leon was dazed out of his mind that he didn’t even know what was happening. He didn’t even know when he had gone to bed.

  As he woke up, he saw that he was sprawled out on the bed with Longsword by the post and Hargate sitting in a chair rubbing his head.

  “I feel like somebody dropped a stone on my head,” groaned the duke as he turned to Leon. “Good morning.”

  Leon rubbed the side of his head and muttered the same.

  “Hell, what time is it?” came the earl as he rolled down from the bed to sprawl across the floor. “I need to piss.”

  Hargate chuckled and sighed. “This has got to be the worst hangover I’ve ever gotten.”

  “I don’t remember a time I’ve drank this much,” Leon said, sitting up on the bed.

  “How many pounds did we lose at Old George’s place?” asked Longsword. “I don’t remember a thing.”

  “More than we could remember,” Hargate joked.

  “I know I won that last game,” Longsword said, getting up from the floor to stretch.

  “I don’t remember a thing,” Leon groaned, getting up and walking over to the wash basin to dump some water over his face.

  “I’m hungry,” Hargate said. “I’ll ring in some breakfast for us.”

  “I’m famished,” Longsword replied, patting his stomach. “I think I vomited everything out of me yesterday.”

  “Tim would be so angry to have to clean your waste off the horses that you threw up on last night,” Hargate said.

  “You almost killed us, Hargate,” Leon said, as he recall a little of the event last night. “The rig would have fallen over if the wheel hadn’t been caught on that stone.”

  “Did I really?” Hargate couldn’t quite remember that part. “My apology then. Good thing we made it home.”

  “Wait a minute,” Longsword said, striding towards the window. “Where did we park the rig?”

  All three of them went to look out the window for it.

  “Well, look here,” said Hargate in amusement as he looks down. “The wheels flew off.”

  “How did we even get home, then?” Longsword inquired in awe.

  “Who even brought us to bed? I swear I was so out of my head that I didn’t even know what was happening,” Leon said, scratching his head.

  There came a knock at the door that took away their attention, and in came one of Hargate’s servants with a stroller.

  He cleared his throat and bowed down. “Your breakfast is ready, Your Grace.”

  “Thanks, Sam,” Hargate replied with a smile. “Mighty fine day, is it not?”

  “Yes–”

  The old man looked up at them and his jaw dropped.

  “Lord, what happened to the three of you, Your Grace?” he asked. “You all look like you just got back from a romp in the fields.”

  All three of them turned to look at one another and laugh at how mussed their hair were and the disarrangement of their garments.

  “I assure you, Sam, we were not romping in the fields but partying in the barn,” Hargate winked. “Please leave the foods there. It would be nice if you can ask the maids to drawn up three warm baths for us.”

  “A pleasure, Your Grace,” the man answered with a light chuckle, and slip out of the room.

  The three of them smiled and raced to the stroller.

  “I smell bacon,” said Leon, his stomach growling with needs.

  “Pence on the jelly biscuits!” Longsword exclaimed.

  “W
e are some hell of a grown man!” Hargate laughed, setting out the plates and silverwares on the table and running to get the wine and cups from the shelf.

  “Allow me,” Longsword bowed, as he took the cups and wine bottle from Hargate and poured them each a glass.

  “Breakfast is served!” Leon beamed, as he finished distributing them their share of bacon and biscuits.

  Hargate held up his glass of wine in a cheer and shout out, “Let the party continue!”

  Leon and they all took a nap again after eating and sobering in their warm baths.

  There had not been any talk of the marquess or any worries about anything. They totally had a night going yesterday.

  Leon decided that today would just be a day of rest in preparation for what’s to come in the near future. Hargate and Longsword had done so much for his sake. It’s only fair if he let them rest. After all, they’re noblemen and he is nothing more than a commoner, or bastard for all it matters. It’s quite a long story.

  How ironic it was that Hargate and Longsword should be the one serving him instead of the other way around. Every bit of him twists with guilt. This wasn’t how he wanted it but it appears that his stubborn friends would go on with it to help him. They were the best companions he has ever had and is truly grateful. He had never thought in his entire life to become friends with a duke or an earl, or any man of title.

  He remembered when he first met Hargate. They were close neighbors and met as mere children. His parents used to have a house in London until problem arises that made them move to Bridlington. Before that, Hargate, who was just a young master back then, would always sneak away to the woods with Leon and play pretend shooting animals and fighting wars. It was most improper of him to play with a duke’s son. His parents always warn him about it, but no discrimination can stop the true friendship that had developed between the two young boys. It brought Hargate and his family close together and soon all rules of society were dropped.

  Hargate’s family invited his over for dinners, events, balls, anything of the high social class. Yet to save the reputation of the Hargates, his family limited the attendance of the events and only went when it’s of high importance. Other families of high classes resented them, but with the Hargates’ relationship, no one dares to harm them in any way or speak to them with ill manners.