All the Things You Never Knew (14 page)

This was what Phillipa’s House of Pleasure was like?
Leon couldn’t quite recall it being so…dull. The last time he came was the week he had played his act and left Rose. That was it. All these
demimondaines
stirs nothing in him. Drunk or not, he feels and see nothing in them. Longsword was much the same too. He’s really quite a gentleman. Leon doesn’t know why he chose to bring him to Phillipa’s of all the places in the world when he’s not even interested.
“You two are boring my girls,” Phillipa told them when they just kind of sat around and drink.
“Your girls are not…seductive enough,” Leon answered plainly, lifting a cup of whiskey to his lips.
Longsword kicked him under the table and smiled at Phillipa. “We’re just about to get into the mood,” he said, feigning interest by pulling one of the cocotte onto his lap. “Sweet thing.”
Leon’s jaw dropped and then he heard a voice that drew all the attentions out of him.
“Ah, my wonderful Lord Lansing!” Phillipa squealed, scurrying off towards it.
Leon turned to that deafening voice and nearly jumped out of his seat to maul down the person.
Lansing!
“Heartily.” Longsword shook his head at him and pushed the harlot off.
“My, your girls here are wonderful,” said that bastard as he fixes his cravat and tuck in his shirt. “Never feel this good in my whole entire life.”
Blast that Lansing to hell!
Leon cursed, clenching his fists. Why the devil is he here? Didn’t Rose say they had consummated their relationship and pledge faith and loyalty to one another? What reason does he have to be–Oh, hell no!
Rage rushed over Leon, and before he knew it, he was on his feet and heading straight off towards Lansing.
“You son of a bitch!” Leon burst, spinning Lansing around and splitting open the marquess’s lips and breaking his nose before he’s even aware of Leon’s approach.
“Heartily!” Longsword rushed over to stop him but Leon was so furious that he couldn’t stop. He was beating Lansing down like a mad man. And yes, he
was
mad–totally!
“Stop! Oh stop!” Phillipa wailed, along with her service girl. “Stop before I get the magistrate.”
The cries and screeches of the harlots filled the room as they panic and scattered at the scene. All the men in the brothel rushed out from their rooms to watch the racket and cheered with applauses at the sight.
“Stop, Leon!” Longsword shouted, trying to pull him back.
“Let go,” Leon said, pushing him off. “I have to kill this son of a bitch!”
“Stop!” Phillipa hollered over the noise and rushed out of the place.
Lansing’s face was a bloody mess, and he seems about to fall unconscious.
“Why the hell did you do this to Rose?” Leon spat out, grabbing Lansing by the collar to face him. “You think you can just toss her aside after you’re through with her? That’s not how it works!”
He gave Lansing a final blow, then stood up swaying slightly off his feet and collapse to the ground.
“Heartily!” Longsword rushed over and shook Leon up. “Heartily!”
Leon winced in pain and blinked several times to focus his vision before slowly moving up.
“We have to go, Heartily,” Longsword said, helping him up. “The magistrates are coming. Phillipa’s off to get them. Hurry, let’s leave.”
Leon shrugged off Longsword’s helping hand and manage to his feet.
“I can face it,” he said. “Rose–I need to–”
“Let’s go to her,” Longsword suggested. “Let’s go to Rose.”
“To Rose?” Leon cupped his forehead and shook his head. “We can’t. Not in my fury temper.”
“Well then let’s get our ass out of here.”
Leon turn to look down at the marquess lying in a pool of blood and kicked him in the side before gesturing for Longsword and them to head out.
What had he done? He has no idea. It makes him feel so much better. He thinks he will never need to drink again.
“You are quite a beast back there,” Longsword said to him as they stop to rest at a nearby bench on the walk.
Was he
? He did feel out of control.
“You didn’t kill that Lansing did you? There would be hell to pay.”
Leon wasn’t certain if he did or not. “Doesn’t matter to me whether he lives or die,” was all he replied.
“He looks near dead to me,” said Longsword. “I was in a fret at your action. I didn’t know what to do for a moment.”
“I spared him enough,” Leon said, rubbing his aching head again. “He will live to see another day or two. I didn’t give him all I have.”
“That’s good then. I don’t want to see you locked up or even executed for killing–”
“Don’t talk about it anymore,” Leon said, giving out a deep sigh. “I can’t believe he’s doing this to Rose.”
“You know, I’m beginning to think that he doesn’t even want your Rose,” Longsword said to him. “Why do you have to be so upset?”
“He had taken away her chastity all right,” Leon told him. “She had trusted him with her life and vow to be loyal and faithful to him even when I admitted my wrongs and love to her. Just look at him betraying her now. I won’t tolerate that. Rose needs justice.”
“You actually think she did that?” Longsword inquired with an arch of his brow.
“She
merrily
admit it so to me,” Leon answered. “They
consummated
everything, didn’t I tell you that the other day?”
Longsword seems unable to recall and just shrug. “If you did, I’ve forgotten.”
Leon took a deep breath and laid his head back on the bench.
“What must I do now?” he asked, closing his eyes to rest.
“Lansing’s sure going to get back on your heels.”
“I know,” Leon nodded. “I won’t back away if he dares.”
“Maybe this is the opportunity for you to go back and clarify everything with Rose.”
“I always fail at that,” Leon said. “I’m not going to.”
“Well, you don’t want her to marry in lies and cheats, do you?”
Leon slowly opened up his eyes and shook his head. “No. I would never.”
“Then take my advice and go to her,” Longsword answered. “Go and tell her the truth.”
Leon thought about it for a moment and decided that it probably won’t hurt so much to do so now after seeing Lansing at Phillipa’s.
“Sure,” Leon said. “But I can’t go like this.”
“No,” Longsword agreed. “You can’t. You have to be sane with a clear head.”
“Maybe on the morrow then,” Leon decided.
“Early on the morrow,” Longsword added with a nod.
“Damn, Hargate needs to be here,” Leon went on, changing the subject.
“Totally,” Longsword laughed. “He probably missed the best action of his life.”
“Well, we must send words to him wherever he is,” said Leon. “I plan to move on after dealing with Rose. It doesn’t matter to me of what she thinks or what she would say. I’ve been wasting too much time.”
“I would go out to the House of Lords on the morrow while you deal with your affair and seek out where he is.”
“Good.”
Leon turned his thoughts back to Rose and wondered again about the things she had told him. She must have either been deceived by that marquess or worse of all; she had tricked Leon into being a dumbwitted fool.

Dawson House

“What happened to his lordship?” Rose asked, when her friend Susannah visited to tell her of the distressful news that sounds much too merry.

“He got beaten almost to his grave,” Susannah replied, flapping her fan happily. “I heard he was swirl in a pool of blood.”
“Really?” Rose suspect she was to feel all worried and woeful but somewhat, she was indifferent to the situation.
“Yes, really,” Susannah answered.
“And why was he beaten do you know?” Rose inquired, turning to look at her friend. “And where?”
“At a brothel,” she said. “The reason is unclear. But see, I told you he’s unfaithful.”
“Oh.” He probably deserves it then, Rose thought to herself. Susannah was pleased.
“You’re not mad, are you?” Susannah asked wearily. “I don’t mean to–”
“I’m totally fine,” Rose answered, lying back on the couch where they sat. “Now tell me, do you know who beat him up?”
“Not certain,” she said, setting her fan down on the table between them. “Some say it was an earl, other says a common bastard of a chap.”
“They’re probably fighting over a whore, I suppose,” Rose said bluntly. “Foolish men.”
“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.