All the Things You Never Knew

by Angealica Hewley

  “I do apologize for my action,” he said, giving off his most dazzling smile to soften her. “I will not go anywhere again without your consent, happy?”

  “Annoying duke,” she muttered, walking off to light up a candle as she blew out the oil lamp and took it out.

  Was he really annoying her?

  “Where are you going?” he asked, getting up after her.

  “Stay put, damn it!” she fumed. “I’m just bringing this to the guest room so I can sleep.”

  “You’re not sleeping in your room?”

  “With you already in it, I’ll have to wash the sheets. It’s yours for the night.”

  “What?” He was stunned. “You mean you wouldn’t sleep on your bed just because I was in it earlier?”

  “If the shoe fits.”

  “You’re that disgusted by me?”

  “No,” she shook her head. “Just doesn’t want to.”

  “Meaning you are.”

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “That’s what you intended to say.”

  “Shut up. Just sleep, okay?”

  He sighed. “Boy, you are so complex.” And stubborn, and hardheaded.

  “Well, thank you. Sleep. Good night.”

  She was about to close the door when he ran up and stuck out his foot to hold it.

  “What else do you want?” she asked, annoyed.

  “Sorry, but I can’t sleep now. If I do, then this wound starts hurting whenever it’s press to the mattress. It’s better when I walk around.”

  “I would have thought for it to hurt less if you rest and not move around, but whatever you wish. Just walk in the room,” she said, pulling the door to close.

  “You are trying to shut off my foot, aren’t you?”

  “I’m trying to get to bed and let you rest,” she countered.

  “With my foot holding the door? I think not.”

  “Don’t spark my temper, Duke!”

  “It’s Laguna,” he corrected. He hates being called a Duke. True that he is one, but he doesn’t like it coming from her. There’s always a hint of anger and hatred whenever she says it. It’s as if she holds this grudge against dukes.

  “Fine, Mr. Laguna. Please go to sleep and rest so that you will be energized for the trip back to London with my brother,” she said more nicely.

  For some reason, he knew that Leon isn’t going to be back on the morrow. If he’s to save Rose, it will take longer than just a few hours. But he isn’t going to tell her that, or else she will throw a fit again.

  He just smiled and said, “Exclude the Mister, but I do like the way you say my name, Avangelene.”

  That broke a smile from her. First smile of the night and it warms his heart.

  “Okay, good night.”

  She turned to leave but he reached out and grabbed her arm. “Wait,” he said. He didn’t want to be alone.

  She looked down at his hand and then up at him. “What else do you want, Laguna?”

  “I–” What was he to say? “Can you stay with me for a while…at least until I start to fall asleep, please?”

  She opened her mouth as to argue but then sighed and nodded.

  Relief flood through him and he moved aside to let her back in, dropping the lamp back on the dresser.

  “So, what do we do now?” she asked, giving a yawn.

  “May I give you some words of advice?” he asked, as he went to sit down on the bed.

  She rolled her eyes. “What?”

  “Don’t ask a man ‘what do we do now’ when you two are alone in a room. With a single bed. You don’t know how many things he has running in his head from that question.”

  She gave out a hysteric laugh.

  “What do you have running through your head then, Mr. Duke?”

  Does she really have to ask?

  “Things,” he shrugged. “Discomfort from the way you asked it.”

  She laughed again; it was enchanting.

  “Rest,” she said.

  “I will try.” He has to; otherwise he will want to do more than rest.

  She went over and helped him down on the bed, pulling the cover over him. He feels as if she was his wife and him, her husband. The only thing was that there was no kiss.

  Kiss.

  The idea tempts him, but he wasn’t going to take advantage of his best friend’s sister.

  God, he’s betraying Leon on this. He feels as if he’s, surprisingly as it may seem, falling in love with Avangelene. Leon would totally kill him if he does. That might have seemed like an exaggeration, but Leon would strongly disapprove. He has to stop wishing for the impossible.

  “So, Laguna,” said Avangelene. “May I go to bed now?”

  “No, tell me a story,” he said without thinking. It’s as if his mind is forcing out anything to make her stay.

  She raised an eyebrow at him and sighed as she kneels down in front of him.

  Thank God she didn’t argue. Maybe she was too tired.

  “What kind of story?” she asked, folding her arms to rest on the bed beside him.

  “Any,” he said, closing his eyes and waiting. “Anything.”

  She sighed again and cleared her throat. “You’re acting like a child.”

  “Yes, and I’m enjoying it,” he answered with a chuckle.

  “Arrogant duke.”

  He laughed and reached down to take her hand, feeling her jump at his touch.

  “Sorry. Just for a while,” he said, bringing her hand to his cheek. They were soft and warm against his skin. He doesn’t know if he can ever let go.

  “Duke–”

  He halted her with his free hand and snuggled against the back of her hand. “You may tell me a story now.”

  She blew an exasperated breath and adjusted the cover around him. “Fine. How about an annoying Duke harassing a peasant girl?”

  “No,” he said, sighing against her hand. “A Duke that falls in love with a Goddess…you.”

  Avangelene chuckled and flicked his forehead.

  “Hey stop it. I’m a Duke!”

  “Whatever,” she said, and began the story. “Once upon a time…”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Rose couldn’t stop crying as she sat hugging the post that she had been imprisoned to. She had been betrayed…by her own father!

  The marquess had convinced him of her sin, which she can’t really deny herself, and was raged with anger. Her father allowed them to tie her up and keep her prisoner until the wedding date to ensure that she won’t escape. She tried to tell him that they were only using him to get what they wanted. Leon and the jewel. He only struck her and order that she be move outdoor to stop the talk of wrath.

  “You should be grateful that his lordship still wants you for a bride,” he had said. “You are such a disgrace! You shame us all!”

  No! She’s not shaming anyone. Not even herself. It’s all for the love of Leon. If she’s ashamed to love him, then she shouldn’t love at all. She had been young and foolish to let him leave her once. She’s not going to let this talk of disgrace stop her again.

  “Rose.”

  Sometimes, she feels like she can hear his voice calling her name. It soothes her soul when everything fails her.

  “Rose.”

  Like now, she can hear it. She probably missed him too much.

  “Rose.”

  She shook her head as she hears her name again. It couldn’t be possible that he’s here.

  She wiped her tears away and closed her eyes, trying to see if she could hear it again.

  “Rose.” This time the voice was closer and smoother.

  She opened her eyes and looked around.

  “Leon?”

  She can see a figure sneaking towards her and she smiled in joy when she saw that it was him.

  Oh, heaven! She thought he would never come.

  “Rose,” he whispered as he got to her and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

  “Leon.” She wanted to hold him
and cry her heart out, but her hands were bind.

  “Don’t worry, Rose.” He kissed her cheeks. “I’ll get you out of here.”

  “I’m so happy you came,” she said through tears.

  “Don’t cry now. Longsword is coming to help, too. We will get you out of here.”

  “There’s a lot of guards,” she warned him.

  “But not enough to keep watch on you.”

  “His lordship isn’t so bright, I guess,” she answered.

  “Makes this all easier. Where is that Lansing?”

  “Probably inside plotting against you,” she said. “I overheard them talking about luring you here to get the jewel. What is so important about it?”

  “Now is not the right time to explain,” he answered. “I must get you out of here first.”

  She nodded and leaned up to kiss him. “I love you.”

  He smiled, freeing her hands. “And I, you.”

  Joy enraptured her and she flung into his arms.

  “Let’s go,” he said, taking her hands. “We’re going to get married.”

  “I know that.”

  “We’re going to get married as soon as we’re back in London,” he added when her answer was not enough.

  “Really?”

  “Yes,” he nodded. “Sorry if it’s in such a haste.”

  “Don’t be. I’d rather it be now with you then with Lord Lansing,” she told him. “He was going to imprison me until the wedding.”

  “And your father didn’t do anything about it?”

  “Did you see him? No. I was too much of a disgrace, he’d said. He doesn’t care as long as his lordship still wants me.”

  “Too bad. You’re mine. Only mine.”

  Rose laughed and embraced him once more. “I love you so much, Leon. Please forgive me for everything that I have done. I won’t do it again, ever. I promise to be a good wife and live the rest of my life with you until angels close my eyes.”

  Leon chuckled, and strokes her hair. “Tell it to the priest,” he said, leading her away.

  “What about my father?”

  “He shall be fine. He had teamed up with Lansing, right? They should do him no harm.”

  He was probably right so Rose nodded, and followed him into the forest to a horse.

  “Get on,” he said, helping her up. “We have to go to make sure Longsword didn’t miss us.”

  “Right.” She had forgotten. “We don’t want him to face the wrath of Lord Lansing and his father.”

  “Yes.” He kissed her briskly on the lips and turned the horse out down the path.

  * * *

  “The lady’s gone!” one of the guards came in yelling. “What!” Marcus ran out, followed by his father and Viscount

  Herring, to the post where Rose was tied.

  “Impossible!” cried the viscount. “How could she escape?” “I told you to keep her inside,” said his father.

  “It was Lord Herring who–” his eyes flared in a fury and he went

  over to grab the viscount by the collar. “You did this to trick us, didn’t you? You tried to help her escape.”

  “Get your hands off me, young lord,” said the old viscount. “If I have any idea that she’s going to escape, I would have horse-whipped her for the sin she had committed and skin her alive.”

  “You damn well know you wouldn’t do that to your daughter.

  You lie!” Marcus roared.

  “May be possible that the Windsor bastard came and took her,”

  said his father.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. He doesn’t even know where this place is.” “Ah, but he’s smart,” his father replied. “He will find a way

  anyhow to get to little Lady Rose.”

  “Yes, tell your son, Luther. And let go of me! I’m not in the

  condition of romping with young fools anymore.”

  “Well, Viscount Herring,” said Marcus. “I think we have a better

  use for you, wouldn’t you say so, Father?”

  A smile curved on his father’s lip and he walked back inside, not

  saying a word.

  “Luther!” the viscount called after him when he didn’t do

  anything about it. “What are you guys trying to do?”

  “Shut up!” Marcus threw a punch at the old man and he fell onto

  the ground. “Guards, come and take this old fool away!”

  “Y-you d-devil!”

  Marcus sent a kick to the side of the viscount and silenced him up

  with a punch. “I am the devil and nobody can surpass that.”

  * * *

  “That old footman was a pain!” Longsword complained when he had rejoined forces with Leon and Rose. “It’s as if he’s trying to delay our mission. Thank God you were able to free Lady Rose. I didn’t expect it to be this easy.”

  “Me neither, but we’re coming back to obliterate Lansing after I marry Rose and take her to Bridlington for her safety.”

  “Remember I’m your best man.”

  Leon laughed. “Right, you are.”

  “Boy, it’s nearly dawn.”

  “Yes. We have to go get Hargate.”

  “I’m tired,” Longsword yawned. “We should get some sleep first. I bet you will like to get cozy up with that little thing.”

  Leon laughed and looked down at Rose.

  She was quiet and sound asleep like a babe with her arms tightly wrapped around his neck. She was exhausted and knocked out shortly after they met up with Longsword and made their way back. Ladies can never take this much action, though he will have to admit that his sisters can go through hell and fires and never feel a thing. Perhaps they should rest after all.

  “Where’s the closest place we can stay at for the night?” he asked Longsword.

  “I think we passed an inn around here earlier when we came,” Longsword replied scanning the place. “Ah, over there,” he pointed.

  “Great. We can finally have a moment of sleep.”

  They rode towards the inn and got off to check if there were any extra rooms left. Luckily, there were two and the inn keeper led them in to settle down.

  “I hope you have a good sleep,” Longsword said to him as he open up the door to his room. “Be gentle with the lady.”

  Leon laughed. “Shut up. Rest well. We would set out once we’re well rested.”

  Longsword nodded and closed the door, leaving Leon and Rose now to their privacy. He kicked open the door to their room and quietly shut it with his foot.

  Well, they’re alone once again.

  “Rose.” He whispered her name and gently set her down on the bed.

  She sighed quietly and turned on her side.

  “I love you,” she murmured.

  For a moment he thought she had awaken but then she move and her back was turned to him.

  He sighed and moved down to lie beside her.

  This was going to be a long night. He doesn’t want to disturb her with his burning desire. They need plenty of rest for the morning.

  “I love you, Rose.” He wrapped one arm around her waist and buried his face into the sweet aroma of her hair. “Only you. Always you.”

  Rose woke up to the radiant stream of sunlight through the crack of the window curtain to find herself pin to a bed with a heavy arm over her.

  She turned and smiled at the charming face lying upon her shoulder. When did they get here? She has no idea, but it feels so safe and secure to have Leon with her.

  She raised her finger carefully and touched his cheek. It was still bruised and slightly swollen but still, he was dashing to her. The bandage on his head was stained through with blood, but it had seem to dry out. He’d been through a lot for her, and his parents.

  She wonder if they can see how good of a son they have, how brave and courageous he is, going through hell and tortures to avenge their death.

  No men would ever go through this much. He even took care of his eleven siblings. Rose had only met them once, but yet s
he knew that they were a bunch of troublemakers. If Leon was, then most definitely his siblings would be. They were Heartilys after all.

  She remembered the first day they all met. It was two weeks after Leon and her had started courting. His siblings had decided to play a trick on them and set them through a complicated obstacle course before they can meet at the family’s barn. It involve plucking out a bunch of lotus flower from the pond, shearing a dozen of sheep, raking the pig pen, cleaning the stable, collecting eggs from the evil pecking hens’ nest, which wasn’t a really good experience, milking the cows and churning butter. It was all very complicated, since Rose had never done it before but well worth a try. It was some very exciting experience and she learned a lot, although it did turned out at the end that Leon’s siblings were only doing it to get their chores done. It got Leon angry and he chased them all around with a garden hoe. It was amusing, but after that, she never saw them again.

  Now ten years had passed, and she’s going to meet them once more. If Leon marries her, then she will be their sister. It excites her to know that she will have a real family soon. Real brothers and sisters. She had always wanted siblings. Being the only spoiled child was a bore. No fun or excitements. Always lessons on etiquettes and how to please the ton. She could use some adventure in her life. She bet Leon can give her that. She will never get tired of him.

  “What are you doing?” Leon asked sleepily, pushing her finger away.

  Rose chuckled and cradled her arms around his neck. “I’m admiring your handsome face. Is that not allow?”

  “This thing, handsome?” He pointed to his face and shook his head. “Honey, you need an eye physician. You seriously have problems if you think this is handsome.”

  Rose laughed and cupped his face. “It might take a few weeks, maybe months for your bruises to heal, but I love you just the way you are. It doesn’t matter. You can look like the hunch back of Notre Dame and I will still love you.”

  “Or the Beast of Beauty? I think not.”

  “If Beauty could love a Beast, then I could, too, especially if the beast is you.”

  Leon smiled and her heart melted.

  “He doesn’t deserve you,” he said, nuzzling her along the jaw line. “He never did deserve you.”

  “Oh, but he’s all I ever wanted,” she said, closing her eyes and embracing him tightly as he move down to kiss her neck. “Everything I ever wanted.”