All the Things You Never Knew (6 page)

Grantham

“I’m really sorry about our quarrel last evening,” Rose said to Lady Susannah as they rode out on the carriage to Grantham where Susannah’s family resides. “I must have gotten carried away.” Susannah didn’t say anything and just stared out the window. “Please say you’ve forgiven me. You’re my best friend. I can’t

bear to have you hate me because of that little argument.” “I don’t,” Susannah muttered. “I know you’re hopeless. I
shouldn’t even have bothered.”
“What do you mean I’m ‘hopeless’? I’m just doing what’s right.” Susannah gave out an exasperated sigh. “I’m not even going to
bother.”
“Oh, Susy, please cheer up,” Rose said, patting her friend on the
shoulder. “I know you disapprove of my decision, but please know it’s
for the best. Here,” She took a small bundle out of her reticule and
handed them to Susannah. “This is for you.”
Susannah reluctantly took the bundle and opened it.
“These are…?”
“Invitation cards,” Rose said merrily. “I’ve decided that you will
be my personal secretary and send out invitations for everyone to
attend Lord Lansing and my wedding. There’s a list in there, too, of
the people that his lordship wanted to invite.”
Susannah almost went into a fit when Rose finished. “You–” She threw her hands up in frustration and cup her head.
“Oh, God. I think I’ve taken ill. If you don’t mind, I’ll like to throw
these out the window.”
“No!” Rose cried, snatching them back before Susannah toss
them out. “This is serious, Susy. No more pretense.”
“I’m not pretending. I’m sick and tire of you and your talk of that
marquess. Do you think I’ll want to write out all those invitation when
I disapprove of the marriage so?”
“Please, Susy. I need you to help me. I’ll do anything. Please do
it. Just this once.”
Susannah sighed and snatched the invitations back. “Fine,” she
said. “I’ll do it.”
“Oh, I love you, Susy,” Rose said, throwing her arms joyfully
around her. “You are the best.”
Susannah merely groaned and pushed Rose back to look at the
list of guests she had provided.
“Lord,” she gasped as she read the first few names. “You’re
inviting Lady Jubilee and Lord Creighton? They are such naggers. And Churchill? He’s such a lecherous lord. My, oh my, even the Stanfords? Mr. Stanford’s daughter is such a cocky wench that wants the attention of everyone. I doubt your wedding’s going to be any fun with her, although I could tolerate it since it’s just with that marquess. Oh, and even Lady Withering? Boy, you’ll be in for a surprise. Is this really a list of guests to make your wedding merry or is it to make it
miserable?”
“Susy, you’re just exaggerating. They’re not that bad. Marcus
wouldn’t have added them into the list if they’re going to be a
problem,” Rose replied.
“Your marquess must have been in his cups then,” Susannah
answered. “I’ll just make my own list of people to invite.” Rose’s eyes brightened up. “Oh, that will be so much better then.
At least you’ll enjoy the job.”
“Yes,” Susannah smiled slyly. “It would make the job less
miserable.”
“All right,” Rose answered. “Anything to make you happy. Just
add in a few of those that Marcus wrote down. I don’t want him to
think I’m against his pick.”
“We’ll see,” Susannah answered, clutching the bundle of cards to
her chest. “When’s the wedding anyway?”
“Oh, in three months,” Rose answered gleefully. “I’m so
excited.”
“Why so long?”
“Love is not to rush,” Rose replied. “He can take his time. I don’t
want to force him.”
Susannah just rolled her eyes and muttered, “Sure, after you’ve
been engaged for five years that’s not long at all.”
“You better invite good folks then, since you’re so opposed to all
the ones on the list,” Rose added in sternly.
“Oh, I will,” Susannah grinned. “Don’t worry. I will.” “Good.”
Susannah cradled the little bundle on her lap and turned away
with a secret smile on her face. She knows exactly who to invite.

Heartily Manor
Bridlington

“You found that ass of a marquess?” Jack exclaimed at the news his older brother had just revealed. “No wonder you’re back so early from your trip to London.”

“Not exactly,” Leon answered. “It’s his son. He had inherited the title.”
“Meaning the marquess is already dead then? Such a disappointment that we didn’t get to do the job of finishing him off.”
“A bit, yes,” Leon agreed. “But I’m having doubts. I don’t know if this is accurate.”
Jack rubbed his chin thoughtfully, flipping through his barrister law book and answered, “You don’t think he’s faking his role, do you? Or are you afraid that he might be the wrong man?”
“I don’t know what to think,” Leon answered. “I haven’t enough proof.”
“Well, you could always investigate on the situation, or better yet befriend him and see if you’ll learn anything. If he’s the son of that marquess, then just kill him. It does no right for his family to stand after what his father did to our parents.”
“That’s nice coming from an experienced barrister,” Leon laughed, then sternly added, “However, that marquess’s son is getting married.” He thought of Rose for a moment. It occurred to him that she hadn’t crossed his mind ever since his return until now. He shook his head slowly and murmured, “I don’t want his wife to become a widow.”
“Eh?” Jack gave out a quick laugh and set down his book. “When did you become so caring of another man’s wife? The wife of your enemy?”
“I–”
Damn him and his quick tongue.
He’s always saying things that he wasn’t supposed to, especially in front of Jack; he bothers the heck out of Leon through every simple little thing he say.
Jack was twenty-seven and has a great interest in laws and politics and had become one of the best known barristers of Bridlington despite his title of a bastard, which is totally a long story for all of them. Still, he’d been called on by many lords to handle a majority of cases that Leon think are totally of nonsense, such as a countess disappearing without a trace for twenty years, then was found married to some blacksmith on the outskirt of town.
Seriously, that is just a waste of his brother’s time. Leon never really understood why Jack has such interest, but he respects all of his brother’s decision. Each and every one of them has different interest. That is what makes them all who they are.
“Jack, Leon, dinner’s ready,” said Avangelene, as she came into the room where they were sitting. “What have you guys been discussing? Care to tell?”
“I thought to wait till dinner to tell everyone,” Leon replied. “It’s really important.”
“Important, huh?” Avangelene just raised an eyebrow, and headed back out of the room shouting for his other siblings to come down for dinner.
Avangelene was the oldest out of his four sisters–three and twenty, bright and talented. She was the sixth oldest in the family and also the best cook that prepares almost every meal in the house, though she’s always busy out doing whatever–Leon has no idea. The fact that she’s always dressing like a young chap with a cropped wig all the time, as Hargate had pointed out, never really bothered him. He knows Avangelene has reasons of her own and that she knows what she’s doing. Though he has to admit, she can be careless sometimes and totally rage out on the path of murder. He hasn’t really seen it but the look she gives sometimes says it all.
“Man! Leon, Jack, hurry!” Edward called to them, sticking his head quickly into the room. “We’ve got to share one great meal together before I set out to the theater.”
“Don’t go. Not today,” Leon said, though he knows it might disappoint his brother. “I have important matters to discuss with all of you.”
“What?” Edward looked bewilder, but nodded.
That is one thing Leon liked about all his brothers. They obey him and know to treat him, the eldest, with respect and not argue back. When it gets to his sisters–it’s a different story, except for Avangelene. She lets it go easily.
Edward’s the third oldest and was a year younger than Jack. In fact, all of them were only a year apart from one another. Not too old, nor too young. He has a talent in acting. He’d been hired as a performer at one of the local theater in town. It has made him vainly proud and highly sensitive and aware of his appearance. Everything on him has to be perfect.
Perfect.
One little mark or rip on his garments would throw him totally off track. All of them always made sure Edward is presentable, otherwise they will never hear the end of his complaints.
“Have you guys seen Blake?” came Aidan, the fourth oldest after Edward. “He took my compass the other day and I need it back for my trip tomorrow.”
“I gave it back already,” Blake answered, walking past the room. “It’s in your study. I only need it to find the new site for my construction project.”
Now Blake is the fifth oldest and rather like to take things from Aidan mostly just for the fun of it. He has the skills of an artisan and rather like construction.
Unlike Blake, however, Aidan likes navigating and is really connected with his compass. It’s the most treasured item of his life and there’s a well good reason for it. Aidan’s rather stingy too, and hates when Blake or any of them take his belongings without permission. Blake does it anyway just to get on Aidan’s bad side. Even with that, they’re all a pretty bunch. However did his parents manage to handle all twelve of them was still a surprise to Leon.
“Gabriel! Give me back my sword!” Leon heard his younger little sister Phoenix shouted down the stairs.
“Boy, we can’t really all be together at the same time in one household,” said Jack. “Too much going on.”
“I like it,” Leon answered. He really did.
There had been a time when they all were separated for a month that made Leon feel as if he would die of loneliness and tedium. He’d rather they all stick together than ever part again.
“Hey Leon, take this!” Gabriel came in quickly through the door, throwing Leon a sword.
Gabriel was the seventh oldest after Avangelene and loves to bother little Phoenix and cut her off of her plans. They would always be screaming and yelling around the house, which is loving and warming, but at the same time very irritating.
Leon caught the sword with one hand, and set it down on the table. “What the hell is going on?”
“Gabe!” Phoenix came in pushing Gabriel to the side and off to get the sword.
“Don’t let her!’ Gabriel told Leon. “She’s up to no good.”
“Shut up! I need to go gut the hell out of that tavern owner who had cheated the pockets out of Lord Crawford and I,” she bellowed.
“Gut the hell out of that tavern...Did that Lord Crawford take you to–” Leon couldn’t even say it. It’s unbelievable that his little sister, who’s only eighteen, has already begun to turn into a gambling lassie. “We’ll talk about it later,” he said, picking up the sword. “You are not going to gut down anyone.”
“But I–“
“No one,” he answered.
“Then would you let me borrow your pistol–“
“No!” Leon roared. “You are not taking any weapons out.”
“Argh! Fine!” Phoenix gave a little stomp of her foot and left the room.
“There goes our little sister,” Jack said with a light whistle. “Has it ever crossed your mind that our sisters are more dangerous than us? Avangelene can get all the young women in town lined up love struck at our door; Phoenix has a temper to kill, Namine causes trouble all around helping runaway brides, and Lavender nearly sent a stampede of wild animals across the country when her collection in the barn escaped.”
“True,” Aidan and the others agreed.
Leon just shook his head, not wanting to think of all the bad habits that his sisters has shockingly developed and slid the sword he held out of its sheath.
“I think we have been a bad influence on them,” he said, swinging the sword around. “We taught them too much on selfprotection.”
“More like father did before he...” Gabriel trailed off, and shook his head.
He can’t say the words.
None of them can.
The words were too much to bear, especially when it’s something that happened right before their very eyes. All they can do is hope for that haunting memory to vanish one day and leave them in peace.
“Lads, Avange said for you all to hurry and come eat before dinner gets cold,” Namine said, coming into the room with her gown all stained with mud.
“You are such a mess. What the hell did you do, Nam?” Blake asked her before she turns back out.
“Chased by wild hogs,” she answered briskly. “I need to go wash up.” And she left the room.
Leon knew that was a lie. His sister must have ruined another wedding and was probably on the brink of getting herself killed by a bloody mad groom.
Namine has ruined over a hundred marriages in her twenty years of life. Being the tenth youngest of his eleven siblings, Leon didn’t have time to really get on her case. He’d never been able to get on any of his sibling’s case. He was too busy with his own. He fears greatly for Namine’s safety though, for who knows what would happen if one day one of the jilted bridegroom comes after her? He knows he can’t stop her from her passion, but he would surely have to warn and watch out for her closely as well in case that was to happen.
“Hey, what are you all doing in here? Don’t you know that Ed and them are about to eat without you?” Sheik said, stepping in. “Pretty good meal today. It’s Sunday Roast, y’know.”
“Sunday Roast? Why didn’t Avange tell us? I’m going,” Aidan exclaimed, walking out of the room.
“I’m going, too,” Jack said, and quickly follows.
“You get my potatoes,” Blake added, running out after them.
“You did bring in some good ale from Mr. Penchant’s brewery, right?” Gabriel turned to ask Sheik as they both step out, leaving Leon behind.
Sheik came in as the eleventh child, a year before Phoenix the baby of them all. He works for the Old Mr. Penchant down the lane at his brewery, always bringing home fine quality ale. He keeps the cover full of wonderful cognac, too. It seems to Leon that no matter how low their statuses are, they always find a way to stay fit in with society and maintain a stable life.
“When did you get home, Leon? Had fun at the old fart event?” Sheik turned back to ask. “I’m so glad I came back before you did. Mr. Penchant had a whole surplus of ale that I was able to bring home another box.”
“That’s good then.”
“Yes,” Sheik cheered. “Now hurry. Let’s go eat.”
“You go ahead. I’ll be there.”
“Don’t be too long then.”
Leon walks over to the window as his brother left and sighed.
He has so much to do in very little time. He hopes that Hargate and Longsword would be able to keep watch on the Marquess of Lansing while he’s back home for a day or two. He has much to straighten out with his siblings before he returns to deal with his case in London. He had written for Hargate to take charge in the investigation and hope all would go well as planned.