All the Things You Never Knew (17 page)

We have your bastard friend in captive. If you want him alive, you must bring his garnet jewel of the Sacred Cave of Treasure in exchange. Limit of three days. If you can’t do as then bid farewell to your dear friend.
requested,

Islington

Rose gasped, and dropped the letter at the thought of Leon dying. He had just been with her last night.
Why are all this rising up so fast?
“No,” she shook her head. “What do we do, m’lord?” she asked

full of concerns. “Who has him captive?”
“No name was mention, but Islington has got to be where Leon’s at since it’s what was signed at the bottom of the letter.”

“Where exactly in Islington? These abductors have got to know how to be more specific,” she said, bending down to pick up the letter from the ground. “And what’s with the garnet jewel of that cave?”

“I was going to ask if Leon mention it to you at all,” Longsword replied, looking at her.
“He never told me about any jewel or cave,” she answered. “How are we to get it for them in exchange for Leon’s life?”
The earl shrugged and turned to look at the scenery in the distance. “I don’t know either,” he sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “But I was thinking,” he turned back to her and said again, “I was thinking perhaps you can get the Marquess of Lansing to tell you where Leon is, not directly, but try to extract some clues out of him. You can do that, can you? I suspect Lord Lansing to be part of this since…”
“Since Leon beat him near death,” Rose finishes when the earl hesitated to say the words.
“So Leon told you?”
“Yes,” Rose nodded. “He did, which I’m totally grateful for. And thank you, my lord, for telling me about Lord Lansing’s presence at that…brothel. I’m most grateful to know of his wicked side and black heart. Saves me from agreeing to an unfaithful marriage of cheats and lies.”
“Your gratitude’s my pleasure,” Lord Lansing bowed formally in front of her.
“So,” she went on. “Back to Leon’s case, I’ll try to go see that despicable Lord Lansing and pull some things out of him. I have to go save my husband.”
“What?” Lord Longsword’s eyes widen in astonishment.
Darn it!
She didn’t mean to be so carried away with the thought of marrying Leon to be calling him her husband already.
Oh well.
“Leon and I are to be wedded,” she explains. “We agree to it yesterday.”
“Really?” The earl was still shocked.
“Yes,” she answered. “You must help me save him, m’lord. If I lose him again this time, I shall die.”
The earl gave out a sigh of resignation and nodded his head in agreement.
“I will,” he said. “Leon’s my friend. And if he’s to marry you, I would do anything I can to get him to the altar.”
Rose smiled at his friendly remark and threw her arms around him.
“Thanks, m’lord,” she said happily, pulling back with a blush. “I…I guess I should hurry on with my part and help you to gain information on where to find Leon.”
“Indeed,” he agreed. “I’ll be at Hargate Inn. If you learn anything useful, please call on me there. It may be improper for a lady like you to do so, but then if you are to fit in with the Heartilys, improper is the way to go.”
Rose laughed, and answered, “Oh, I have given up the life of a lady the day Leon returned. Don’t worry, your lordship. I’ll do my part. In the meantime, please, don’t let yourself get capture too, or else Leon would…who knows what would happen to him.”
“I will be fine. When our other party is back, the crew should be secured,” he told her. “Now
you
have to keep yourself safe in this or Leon would sure skin me alive if he knows what I’m dragging you into.”
Ah, that is so what Leon would do, no doubt. He’s always so protective of her. He had saved her from many terrible events. It’s her turn now to do whatever she can to save him.
“I’m pretty sure he will object to this,” Rose agreed, “but he’s not here so all is good. I will be careful.”
“Well, then it’s settled. I must get going, Lady Rose. Many tasks awaits me.”
The Earl of Longsword bid her another good day with a bow, and strode off back down the road.
Sudden panic and worries swirled and stabbed at Rose’s heart.
“Leon,” she whispered, clasping her hands to her chest. “God, please. Let him be safe.”
She doesn’t know what she will do if anything happens to him. She must hurry off and speak with Lord Lansing. He should have something to say in this. But in the act, as Lord Longsword had said, she must be careful and watch her mouth and choose her words carefully.
She would do precisely
that
to rescue her prince.

Islington

Where… am I?
Leon slowly opened his eyes to face the darkness of a room he couldn’t familiarize. His vision was a blur and he had to blink a few times to adjust his eyes to the dark.
He tried to move his arms and legs only to find them chained. His muscles twitched in pain from the crucified position he was hanging in on the wall.
“Damn!” he cursed with a wince, trying to break himself free.
How did he get here? He has no idea. All he remembered was returning to the inn from a wonderful bliss with Rose and then…Everything else was lost.
Why was he here?
A crackling sound cut in and Leon feel himself being pulled up on the wall with his arms and legs spread apart. A nefarious laugh broke out in echoes and on came the lights, blinding Leon for a second.
As he adjusted his sight, Leon saw a figure walking towards him with a cane. He looked a bit familiar like…like the man in the picture that Hargate gave him.
Could it really be the old marquess?
He was dead, wasn’t he?
Or could this be…
“Release me!” was the first thing Leon shouted, lunging forward only to be thrown back by the chains.
The old man came forward face-to-face with Leon, a smirk playing across his face.
“Ah. The bastard of the Duke of Windsor, eh?”
Duke of Windsor?
He took Leon’s face and turned it from side to side as to examine him.
“What do you want?” Leon asked through clenched teeth.
“What do
you
want?” the man countered, letting go of Leon’s face with another laugh.
He has got to be the old marquess that was involve in the murdering of his parents.
Leon could recognize the voice now, even if the memory was still a little dim.
“You’re not the one chained up, are you?” Leon said, kicking his leg to loosen up the knot in his muscle. “Release me
now
!”
“Why ever would I do that?” His old wrinkled face was back to Leon’s with a gleam in his eyes. “I’m no fool, you see. Besides, whatever did my son do to deserve such a deadly thrash from you?”
Son?
That means…
“I know what you’re probably thinking,” the old man answered. “And yes,
I
am the
real
Marquess of Lansing. Not my son. I’m sure you can recognize me.”
Ah, so he wasn’t wrong at all in assuming that this marquess was really one of the murderers. It must have been some kind of a trick he had brought up to deceive Leon as suspected.
“You know well why, then, if you’re the real marquess,” Leon answered with an urge to sling himself forward to knock down the old man
“It’s the little whore, isn’t it?”
The little whore?
Leon’s eyes narrowed at the old man and nearly went mad when he realizes who the he was talking about.
“You can go to hell!”
The marquess merely laugh and poke him with his cane.
“
You
should be glad that
you
are not going to hell for what you did to Marcus. However, your precious little whore
would
, if you dare to make any more threats.”
“Rose is
not
a whore!” Leon bellowed with rage. He would so kill this old man as soon as he has the chance. That was his intention all along. Now that he had told Rose about his quest, it would no longer be delayed.
“Is she not? Do you think I don’t know of you two’s affair? I have my eyes open, you know. I know both your history. I’ve looked into it well.”
“And you mean to use it against me.” It wasn’t a question but a matter of fact.
The marquess smiled devilishly and without warning, threw a blow across Leon’s face with his cane.
“You son of a–” Another blow struck, making Leon flinch and splitting his lips.
This old ass is going to have hell to pay after he’s freed.
“Yes,” said the marquess triumphantly. “All that she’s use for is to trap you. Do you think she will forgive you for choosing a whore over her?”
Damn, he knows about that?
“
She was using you for revenge only,” the old man continued. “She has my son.
You
are nothing now.”
“No,” Leon denied. “Rose would never do that!” Not after what they shared. She even said that she forgave him. Could she really be toying with him?
“Say what you like,” the marquess went on. “However, give me the garnet stone to the Sacred Cave of Treasure and I shall let you go.”
“Over my dead body!” Leon shouted, spitting out at the old man’s face. There’s no way in hell would he ever give such a valuable thing from his father to this devil.
“You bastard!” The marquess struck him harder with anger, and pulled him forward by the collar. “You will die a slow death here. I will find the stone myself and
I
will get your siblings’ as well. Speaking of them, I have already sent my men out to get their stones. It’s either you give me yours first and I retreat from attacking your sweet siblings, or you be stubborn and lose them and everything.”
Leon’s eyes widened at the mention of his siblings. This devil didn’t really just threaten his siblings, did he? It’s all because of him and the damn jewel stones.
“Like they would ever give it to you!”
“Oh, they would,” the old man grinned, rubbing his hands cunningly together. “I will get them to. As soon as the news spread that you’re held in my captive, they will hand it off nicely, no doubt.”
Leon hated to admit that the old marquess was correct with his assumption. His siblings would do whatever it takes to save his life. They
would
hand off the jewels just like that. God, he just hopes this devil man hasn’t yet send out his crew. He will never forgive himself if any of his siblings were sacrificed for him.
He
will
never
forgive this old man either and would not rest until he sees him dead!
“And,” the marquess started again, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Your little whore would be dispose of after my son has his way with her, that is. You better think twice. Hand over the stone, or lose your siblings and your beloved whore.”
Leon have to make a choice. He would never allow such a thing to happen to Rose, nor his siblings. His garnet stone, whoever thought that some idiot old man would go this far for it? There’s twelve totaled. If he sacrificed his, he could still protect his siblings’. Losing one is better than a whole set. Unless it’s already too late and this arse has sent his men to invade their manor. He will risk it and take the chance.
“Fine,” Leon said through clenched fists and teeth. “I will give you the stone!”
The marquess faced him and smiled. “Would you now?”
“Sure,” Leon answered. “I will give you the stone.”
“All right.” The old man stepped forward and held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
“For your information,
m’lord
, I am chained up.”
“Well, that’s too bad, is it?” He stepped back and gave out a loud whistle sending in four giant men.
“Hell,” Leon cursed to himself.
What now?
“Yes, m’lord?” The men saluted, standing in a straight line in front of the marquess.
“Search this bloody bastard for the garnet stone of the Sacred Cave,” he ordered. “Strip him off his clothes if needed.”
“Yes, m’lord!”
“You are quite a coward,” Leon replied, as the men came forward, holding his arms and legs still while one of them search him. “This is absurd. Let me go and I shall give it to you.”
“And you are quite stupid to think I would fall for such a trick.”
“I’m serious!” Leon said. This was his only choice if he’s not being fooled, which he knows for sure he is.
“Just search him,” the marquess said to his men without paying him any attention. “Shred up his clothes.”
“Yes, m’lord!”
The unison answer from the men was starting to annoy Leon.
One of them stripped off his shirt while the other three worked on his boots and breeches.
“Enough!” Leon shook them off as hard as he could and glared down at the marquess. “I’m sorry,
m’lord
,” he said, mimicking the service men of the marquess. “Stripping me naked wouldn’t do you any good. I don’t even have the stone with me.”
That was the truth. It had just dawned on him when the marquess’s men were taking off his boots. He had tossed them off at Rose’s place. His dagger was in there and the stone was on it. It must have flown out somewhere and he had forgotten. For sure it’s not with him.
“You are not jesting, are you?” the marquess asked, eyeing him closely. “You do know that you’re at my advantage now. Lying won’t do you any good.”
“Of course, I know,” Leon replied, blowing an exasperated breath. “You are wasting your time. Let me go and I shall go get the stone for you.”
“No,” the old man answered. “I was afraid this would happen so I told my men to leave your wonderful friend a note at the inn. An earl, was it? It requested for the stone in exchange of your life. If they don’t bring it in three days, then you shall see your parents in hell.”
Great!
Now Longsword’s in this mess.
“You actually think he will bring it?” asked Leon. “He doesn’t even know that it existed. And
you
are going to be the one going to
hell
while my parents laugh up in heaven. I would make sure of it.”
The old man burst into laughter. “You are just as foolish as your father. Stubborn till his death.”
“At least my father was brave enough to take a stand against you coward who needs five men to go against one.”
“Which was not a wise decision for him,” said the marquess. “But if you want to follow those footsteps, go ahead. My men here would take care of you. Have fun with this bastard, boys.” With that, the marquess left and his men stepped forward.
“Well,” said one of the them as they look at Leon. “This is going to be fun.”

Lansing Villa

Rose stood in front of the gates to Lansing Villa and took in a deep breath. She’s going to do this all right. She’s going to put on a big show

to help Leon.

Rose slowly pushed the gates open and step inside, the wind urging her onto the first few steps.
“Well,” she said to herself as she reached the entrance. “Here goes nothing.”
She raised her hand up and knocked on the door. When there was no answer she tried again, harder this time and finally a maid open up.
That’s when her charade started rather rudely.
“Ugh! Why are you so slow?” Rose started as she pushed pass the maid inside. “Where’s his lordship?” Her voice was getting screechy with her feigning of worries and sorrow. “I heard he was badly hurt. My beloved Lord, where is he?” she demanded with a stomp of her foot.
The maid looked startled to the bottom of her soul, making Rose feel guilty. But the show must go on.
“
Where is he
?” she demanded again with another loud stomp.
“R-right…Right over in the s-sitting room,” the maid stuttered saying. “I-I w-will show you t-to him, m-m’lady.”
Poor maid.
She quickly led Rose down the hall and stop in front of a large French door.
“His lordship is–”
Rose cut the maid off with a push aside and threw open the door to find Lord Lansing resting on the couch. His head was bandaged all around; his face was swollen with bruises and one of his eyes was half shut.
Boy
, Leon did a good job.
“Oh, Marcus!” Rose feigned the cry, running off to wrap her arms around him. “Who in the world did this to you?”
He looked bewildered at first and then moaned in pain as he move his arms around her.
“Lansing. Oh, Lord Lansing. Who the devil did this to you?” she asked, faking tears as she pulls him up in a loose embrace. “Tell me. Tell me and I shall see him sent to the devil.”
“Seriously?” he wheezed out that made Rose had to stifle back an urge to laugh. This was all too amusing.
“Yes,” she said, dropping kisses on his face full of bumps.
Sorry, Leon.
“I would sure emasculate him for doing such a ruthless thing to you. Tell me. Whoever, wherever he is, I shall go and blind him with his own manhood.”
“You…are talking rather…improper, m’lady,” Lansing said, his voice merely a whisper.
“Shut up!” Rose said, literally throwing his head back down on the couch.
“Ouch!”
“I’m serious about it,” she said. “Take me to that bastard and I will teach him a lesson.”
“You do…know that it’s that b-bastard Leon of yours…right?”
Bastard Leon of mine?
How did he know? Rose wondered, but soon wiped it off to play along.
“Is it?” Anger was feigned on her brows. “That bastard. Leaving me and now destroying you, the love of my life. We should have gotten married. Where is he? I want to go and give him a piece of my mind.”
There was a gleam in the marquess’s eyes as she said that. “Do you really?”
She sighed and kneeled down in front of him. “Yes,” she said, reluctantly pressing her lips to his. “I will. Anything for you, my love.”
He smiled and clutched her head down to his. “I would like to see that.”
Rose quickly pulled away before he can kiss her again and stood up. “Oh, you will. Whenever you’re well, we should go. He must pay for this. His action is intolerable.”
“How about now?” he inquired, wincing as he got up to sit. “He is in one of our torturing chamber in Islington. Short ride. I can get one of the footmen to–”
“Oh, but you are not well!” Rose interjected, pushing the marquess back down. “You must rest.”
“Must rest? Don’t kid me now. I want to see you torture that bastard, too,” he said, getting up again. “Pull that rope for me, will you? I think I’m excited enough to gain the strength.”
Rose wasn’t having much of a good feeling at Lord Lansing’s remark, for she felt her act would be going over what she had wanted. But she nodded, and went to pull the rope anyway for Lord Lansing’s valet and left him to do his business. Whatever happens, she only hoped that she would make it back to tell the Earl of Longsword and save Leon’s life.