All the Things You Never Knew Page 9

  He paused for a moment and answered, “Yes.” Then to restrain her from further comments added, “You don’t have to worry. I won’t be there.”

  “I–”

  “There you go,” he said, pinning up the last curl.

  He smooth it down the back and spun her around to take a look, which was a mistake.

  Her eyes were of a shining brown matching her hair. And her lips–her lips were that of a cupid’s bow, full and stunningly red.

  Their faces were surprisingly close that if he was to tilt his head just an inch their lips would have met.

  But he didn’t. He couldn’t.

  “Thank you,” she murmured, turning away. She never seem to be able to hold her gaze with his. Always looking the other way.

  He finally turns away too, and answered, “No need to.”

  He turned on his heel and went to get something out of a bag. His garments and hat.

  It’s time he takes her back; otherwise, who knows what will happen.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, approaching him from behind.

  “Here,” Leon placed the hat on her head and fixes an oversize coat over her.

  “Why–what is this for?” she asked, taking it off.

  “Don’t!” Leon said, holding up a hand to stop her. “I’m taking you back. If you don’t want to be recognized and face ruin, you might as well leave it on.”

  She seemed annoyed by his response but obediently did so.

  “Put this on too.” He threw over a spectacle and she caught it gracefully.

  “You are still one crazy man, Leon.”

  That brought a smile to his face. “Am I?”

  He tossed her now a faux mustache.

  “Am I really to put this on?”

  “Just in case,” he answered, reaching out to aid her.

  “Why do you have this mustache? I must look a fright with it.”

  “Agree,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s my sister’s. You look just like her now.”

  “Really?” She gave Leon the prettiest pout of disappointment and annoyances, making him just want to throw her on the bed and have his way with her.

  “I say this is the most outrageous disguise I have ever had in my life.”

  “We’ll take it off in the carriage,” he said–or everything, and took her hand before he even knew it. “Let’s go. There’s a back staircase that we can take.”

  She nodded and he led them off through a door into another that opens up into a black case of stairs descending down an exit.

  “I saw a curricle earlier. Was it yours?” she asked him, once they got outside.

  “Yes,” he told her. “But we’re not going to ride it. You’ll be exposed. We’ll take my friend’s carriage.”

  He pulled her around a corner and behind the inn stood a carriage with a three horses attached, their ears perching up as they approached.

  “Get in,” Leon said, helping Rose inside the carriage.

  “And you?” she asked.

  Disappointingly, “I’ll be driving,” he said. “Get in quick before anyone sees you.”

  She nodded and Leon helped her in, shutting the door and jumping up to the driver’s seat with the reign in his hands.

  “Go, boy.” He tugged at the horse, getting it to straighten and galloped on down the road.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Idon’t understand why you’re taking me to Phillipa’s House of

  Pleasure, Your Grace,” said Marcus Lewis Dent, as he and the Duke of Hargate step up to the entrance of the whore house. “I have never expected a duke with a high position in the House of Lords like you to–”

  “I do this for every lord that is about to become a newly wedded groom,” the duke answered with a smile. “Once I heard about your upcoming wedding with Lady Caralina Rose–or was it Rose Caralina–I planned this out for you.”

  “It’s Rose Caralina Dawson,” the marquess corrected. “Ah, yes. I remember now,” the duke nodded.

  Laguna knew he’s making a fool out of himself with his ignorant

  replies, but never had he thought to be able to trick such a marquess this easily. Just a few simple words introducing himself and the position he held in society won everything. It took fewer words than he’d expected. It seems to him that this marquess is rather fond of lords in high position, especially dukes, and can’t resist any calls from them.

  “So we are to do what here?” asked Lansing as Laguna opens the door and step in.

  “Get an unlimited amount of pleasure before you set out to be the most honorable husband to your Lady Caralina,” Laguna replied. “Everything’s on me tonight. Just enjoy yourself.”

  “I have been quite a celibate for a while too,” Lansing answered. “I give you my most grateful remark, Your Grace. Thank you for this night.”

  “No gratitude needed,” Laguna answered. “And for your information, I hate formality. Just call me Hargate, or better Laguna. Your Grace is totally out of the question.”

  Lansing looked a bit dumbstruck but nodded. “I see.”

  “Oh, look who are here tonight, girls,” came Phillipa, the owner of the House of Pleasure, as she waves her handkerchief seductively in front of Laguna and Lansing’s face. “It’s been quite a while since you visited, Your Grace. Tell me who of my girls do you want tonight and I shall have her send up to your room.”

  “Sorry, Phillipa. The pleasure is not my today but my handsome fellow here,” Laguna said, throwing an arm to pull Lansing in closer. “He’s the Marquess of Lansing, and would like to have a bit of fun before he gets married.”

  Phillipa looked disappointed, but flashed a sugary smile at Lansing and scan him down with her eyes. “Handsome indeed. Might break my girls’ heart to know you’re about to get wedded off, but they would love to have you back here at any time. You may take a few as your mistresses, too, if you would like.”

  “That pleasure is most honorably mine, Lady Phillipa,” Lansing said, raising her hands to his lips.

  Phillipa fan herself nervously and replied swiftly, “Ah, charming. I’m no lady. Just Phillipa. Should we get to the drafting to see which of my girls would suit you?”

  “I totally can’t wait,” Lansing exclaimed. “Show me the ladies!”

  Hargate smiled delightfully as he watches a group of Phillipa’s girls came crowding around Lansing and brought him upstairs.

  His plan was sure to work, and that Gareth Longsword better get here quickly with Lady Rose.

  “Lady Rose is not home?” Gareth was rather disappointed when the maid told him so. “Where did she go? It’s late in the night.”

  “You shouldn’t be calling upon her this late then,” the maid said rudely. “A proper lord wouldn’t.”

  “What are you trying to say? It has matters to do with his lordship, the Marquess of Lansing,” Gareth replied infuriated.

  What kind of maids does Viscount Herring hire to watch his daughter?

  “His lordship? Did something happen to him?” the maid asked, worried.

  “It’s private. I need to talk to Lady Rose,” Gareth said. “I might as well leave if she’s not home.”

  “She’s not. If it’s that important you would’ve told me.” “Forget it.”

  With that, he turned and swung up onto his horse.

  He was not going to bother with that ill-mannered maid. He was an earl for Lord’s sake.

  If he was the employer of that maid, he would have sent her packing. She’s not behaving properly in that role. He doesn’t know how Lady Rose can stand to have all those maids, his valet was certainly enough to annoy him sometimes.

  And where the heck did she go? Hargate and his plan would be ruined if he can’t find her.

  Did she go to a friend’s house, or was the maid just lying?

  Did she run out in the middle of the night? That maid should have watched her.

  Blast it! What is he to do?

  The sound of horses started him into a halt and he watches as
a carriage approached him.

  “What the–” He cursed silently to himself as he realized who was driving it. “Halt! Halt! Halt!” he called out.

  “Who in the world–” Leon pulled hard against the reign of the horses and tried to stop the carriage before it hits the madman in front of them. “What are you…” he stopped as he recognized it was Longsword with his hand up in the air.

  Hell! He didn’t want this. Not with Rose in the carriage. “L-Leon, what’s wrong?” came Rose from inside the carriage. He looked down to see her sticking her head out the window and

  told her to get back in as he jumps off to confront Longsword. “Heartily? You’re back already? What are you doing out here so

  late?” Longsword asked. “Where’s Hargate?”

  “I was going to ask you of the same.”

  “Why are you driving that carriage out?”

  “I have business to do,” he said flatly, hoping Longsword would

  stop and let him on his way.

  “Who was that in the carriage? Is it Lady Rose? Did you abduct

  her?”

  Damn, he didn’t think Longsword would see Rose and recognize

  her. “Hell no!” Leon bellowed. “Just taking her–”

  “He’s taking me home,” Rose interjected, cutting him off as she

  got out of the carriage.

  She was no longer in her disguise.

  “Wow. It was just a guess,” Longsword said with a grin. Leon had the urge to jump up and tackle Longsword down for

  having to make him admit it.

  “What are you two doing out here anyway?” Longsword asked,

  raising an eyebrow at Leon.

  What am I doing? Rose had asked herself once the carriage started moving.

  This wasn’t her intention.

  She was only supposed to get a glimpse of Leon and get back the invitation then return home–not spend half an hour in his presence having him dress her hair, nor riding home in a carriage driven by him.

  Oh lord!

  What would Lord Lansing think if he finds out? He would certainly jilt her. She would be ruined and stay a spinster for the rest of her life. She would be a disgrace to her family.

  She should have thought twice before she trotted off to Hargate Inn and got into this mess.

  But then…did she really care?

  No matter how much she despises him for the past, she’s quite happy to have him still worry about her. He’s still the same man she had known. Never had he change. Still calm and protective as ever.

  In fact, that was the reason she’d fallen in love with him in the first place. He had saved and protected her from facing a fate similar to the one she had encounter with that Bruno and Kentle.

  That day…

  Her thought trailed off. She can’t simply think back. Otherwise…

  “What the hell!” She heard Leon curse outside.

  Leon muttered some words over the horses’ cry and feel the carriage come to a stop.

  Did something go wrong?

  She stuck her head out to ask Leon only to get dismiss back inside.

  She heard him jump off and walk away shouting out to someone.

  Someone? A man.

  Oh God, she’s going to get caught!

  The thought panic her and she look around wondering what to do.

  She’ll be ruined!

  There’s nothing she can do.

  As Rose listens, she realized that the man Leon was speaking to was one of his companions and the panic in her chest eased a little.

  He was asking Leon about where he was going and then to her surprise, asked if it was her that’s inside the carriage!

  Oh this ridiculous disguise doesn’t work!

  She strips it off and threw it in the carriage.

  Knowing she’d been found out, there’s not much she can do except get out and try to save herself.

  “Get back in the carriage,” Leon ordered her, but Rose paid no heed.

  She has to save her reputation.

  “Mr. Heartily is just taking me home,” Rose said nervously out to the companion of Leon’s. “I was out looking for my fiancé and just happen to stumble across him.”

  “Is that so?” the friend of Leon seems to doubt her, but then added, “I know where his lordship is. In fact, I was coming out to find you myself and take you to him.”

  She heard Leon cursed and her eyes widened in shock.

  “What?” He was looking for her? She barely knew him.

  “I’m Gareth, the Earl of Longsword,” the man introduced, bowing to her. “I saw your fiancé and thought to fetch you.”

  “Fetch me?” Rose went completely blank for a moment. “For what?”

  “He’s drunk at the brothel of Phillipa’s,” the earl finished.

  The word slapped at her and raged filled her suddenly.

  Sure she had said it’s all right since he was a man, but with a lord telling her that he’s at a brothel and it happening at the very moment, she lost it.

  “Show me to him!” she blurted before anything else.

  “My pleasure,” the earl replied, reaching out his hand. “Get up here.”

  Rose took hold of his hand and he swung her up behind him on the horse murmuring something to Leon and rode them away.

  “Longsword!” Leon shouted angrily as Longsword swung Rose up and rode off into the darkness.

  Did he just say he was taking Rose to Phillipa’s brothel to get her fiancé? What was Longsword thinking? He was the proper earl and knew this was wrong.

  Without much thought, he jumped back on the carriage and drove out after them.

  What is this all about? Why was Longsword bothering with bringing Rose?

  “You’re really sure his lordship is over here?” Rose asked, still unable to believe what this Earl of Longsword had told her.

  “I made sure I wasn’t seeing doubles before coming to get you,” the Earl replied.

  “I don’t see any reasons why he would be at a whore house when he’s marrying me,” she said. She thought he was better than this.

  “Lady Rose, we’re men. And men don’t always act as honorable as they appear before a lady,” he said. “You don’t really have to go with me if it makes you uncomfortable then.”

  “No,” Rose shook her head. “I want to confirm your observation.”

  “You don’t believe me?”

  “I can’t until I have seen it with my own eyes,” she replied, and took the lead in the walk as they arrive at the brothel.

  Yes. Exactly as Gareth had wanted.

  Lady Rose is in a raging fury and is most determined to seek the marquess out. He will have to say that this lady of Leon has a quick temper. He’d better be careful with his actions because this Lady Rose now seems to be in the mood of shooting off his manhood from announcing her fiancé’s dallying with light-skirted madams at the brothel.

  Longsword wonders if Hargate has taken the case to its climax yet. He’d better hurry up with the pace because this Lady Rose is coming up fast. Gareth doesn’t want them to arrive at the wrong timing but just at the perfect scene.

  Plus, Leon was out there on his way too. They have to act fast. Leon didn’t look too happy when he had dragged away Lady Rose.

  There would surely be hell to pay.

  He’s totally sorry for having to do this but it’s the only good choice to bring Leon and her back together.

  She’s to lose that marquess after all so let it be this that parts them.

  God, he just hopes Lady Rose’s not on the verge of killing here. It would be quite an unpleasant sight.

  Gareth hurried after her and they both stop in front of the House of Pleasure glowing in the dark with shadows lingering around the window.

  “So this is it?” she asked, cocking her head to one side.

  “Yes,” Longsword answered. “Phillipa’s House of Pleasure as it’s called.”

  “It won’t be so pleasurable once I find that Lord Lan
sing.”

  “You won’t do anything violent, would you?”

  “Depends on what you mean by violent,” she answered, and ran up the steps to start pounding on the door.

  She was mad. Totally mad.

  Gareth has to do something about this. He has to find Hargate.

  He saw the door opened and fortunately, it was Hargate.

  Lady Rose didn’t seem to care but pushed right in.

  Hargate waved down at Gareth and whistled for him to come up.

  “You came just in time,” Hargate told him. “Lansing’s just about to come down.”

  “I thought I was too early.”

  “Almost a little too late, but you made it.”

  “Lady Rose is really in a fury temper,” he said.

  Hargate nodded. “I can see she is.”

  “You suspect this would work?”

  “Most certainly,” Hargate said. “Though I might have to pay extra for any damages she might make.”

  “You did have your share of women, did you?”

  “Not this time,” he shook his head. “And not for the many years to come.”

  “Heartily’s on his way here too,” Longsword said. “I encountered him with Lady Rose and just kind of stole her.”

  “He’s back already?” Hargate looked a bit worried. “Very well. I’ll explain everything.”

  There was a sudden crashed in the house with several screeching women and a few shouting voices before Lady Rose dashed out angrily, and ran her way out into the darkness of the night.

  “I suppose a riot is caused in there,” Hargate said with a light whistle.

  Gareth shook his head. “This is so not good.”

  “Rose!” came the marquess as he dashes out after her.

  “Hold on, Lansing,” Hargate said, halting him. “What’s the matter?”

  “I don’t know,” Lansing said breathlessly. “How did Rose know I’m–”–he cupped his forehead and shook his head– “No. Now she’s going to be mad at me.”

  “Perhaps we weren’t careful enough when we came here,” Hargate said.

  Gareth has to admit that this fool of a duke is pretty good at playing his game.

  “Maybe,” said Lansing, “but I have to go after her.”

  “Don’t waste the time,” Hargate replied. “She’s angry now. She won’t listen. Wait till tomorrow.”