All the Things You Never Knew

by Angealica Hewley

  “Sure,” was all she said as she pours herself a cup of tea. What was she to say anyway?

  The duke finished doing the dishes and came over to sit back down across from her, pouring himself a cup of tea as well.

  “It had been nice staying here even though you didn’t appreciate my presence,” he said as he took a sip of his tea. “But I’ll never forget you, and your kindness.”

  Ha! She almost laughed at his sarcasm.

  “Sure,” she answered again, and looked into her cup of tea. “So…you’re leaving, right?”

  “Yes. Leon’s not going to come so I will go on my own.”

  “What?” Leon wasn’t coming? “Are you sure? You’re hurt. He wouldn’t want you to wander off alone.”

  Unfortunately, she doesn’t want him to either. She does have an inch of care for him in her heart after all.

  “I will be fine. Less trouble for you so you should be happy,” he winked.

  He looks so dazzling when he does that that Avangelene was struck dumb with her tongue tied.

  “I guess,” she shrugged.

  “Anyhow,” he started. “Would you mind leading me out of this place? I’m not quite sure where the exit is. Is there even a way out? I’m not familiar with this place. What is it called anyway?”

  “Haven of Light,” Avangelene answered. That was the name that she had come up with the villagers’ approval.

  “Haven of Light? Seriously, tell me what it’s called.”

  “Do you not believe me?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

  “Haven of Light sounds too fantastical.”

  “Well, what do you know? This was a mere wasteland when I first found it.”

  “You found this place?”

  Great. She wasn’t going to waste her time explaining.

  “Shall we go?” she asked, standing up and pushing in her chair. “If you’re ready, that is.”

  “On second thought, would you take me on a tour around your Haven of Light first?” he asked. “It sounds rather intriguing.”

  Seriously? She was hoping he will forget about it.

  “I’m busy. Maybe next time,” she answered, though she well knew there’s not going to be a next.

  “I doubt it,” he replied. He probably knew that there won’t be a next, too. “But I would love to take a tour if you ever change your mind.”

  Avangelene just nodded and headed towards the door. “Are you coming?”

  He looked at her for a moment and then followed after her as she steps out.

  “Haven of Light. It’s quite sunny this morning,” the duke commented. “The name suits it well.”

  “Obviously.”

  She walks him over to the switch that releases the door to the exit and turned to face him.

  “First things first, Duke,” she said. “You have to be blindfolded.”

  “What?” He looked at her in astonishment. “That’s a jest, right?”

  * * *

  “Where in the name of God are you guys taking me?” asks a startle footman as he was abducted and thrown inside a carriage.

  “Damn, this is a fine ride,” said Edward as he holds down the footman.

  “These aristocrats do have some good stuff,” said Jack as he lay back on the seat. “Aide, you better drive nicely,” he called out to Aidan.

  “Don’t worry. Just ask for direction,” Aidan called from outside.

  Luckily, they found the Marquess of Lansing’s manor in less than an hour since he was well known. Not to mention that he was about to wed their brother’s old flame and has sent out invitation to almost everyone in London and beyond informing them so. They had decided to take his carriage and reined their horses onto it.

  “What do you guys want?” asked the footman of Lansing that they had abducted.

  “We’re cut-throats,” Edward said, just to intimidate the man. “We just want a few words with you. If you tell us what we wish to hear, then your life would be spare. If not, then you will get your throat slit and be gone to the other realm.”

  That seem to have done the trick, for the footman’s eyes widened in fear and he started begging for his life.

  Jack feels a tint of guilt for threatening an innocent old man like this but it’s the only option they have to get to their brother.

  “Where’s Lord Lansing?” he asked the old man.

  “Why is everyone looking for him?” the footman asked, struggling to get free from Edward’s grip. “Just the other day these two men threaten me to take them to him. Now it’s you guys?”

  “What did you say?” Edward pulled him up to sit and pointed a pistol at him to stop the struggling.

  “You said two men threaten you to take them to him? Whom, may I ask?” said Jack.

  “Tell your companion to drop his gun first,” the footman replied. “You young lads never know how fragile an old man like me is. A pistol could scare the heartbeat out of me.”

  “Ed, rest your aim,” Jack said, moving towards the old man. “Now speak.”

  “I’m not quite sure who,” the footman replied. “But one seems to be a fine lord, though he’s a bit untidy, I don’t know why. The other is less of a lord, more of a commoner. Had on tight fitting clothes. Not much of a fashionable guy, I suppose.”

  Hm…Jack wondered who those men might be. He was suspecting one of them to be Leon, but then Leon’s captured. It can’t be him. And the fine lord, who is he? Gareth Coleridge, the Earl of Longsword, or Laguna Black, the Duke of Hargate? It can’t be Laguna. He’s a duke and well known among people. It could be Longsword, but there’s no proof.

  “Well,” Edward said. “Just take us to him and your life would be spare. You’ve got to be grateful for that. Cut-throats never let their victims survive.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Leon couldn’t quite seem what to make out of his friends as they rode north to Bridlington. It bothers him again to think that Laguna and

  Gareth both might have interest in his sisters. He doesn’t know why but it’s something he didn’t like. They are nice men and all, but he couldn’t accept them as part of the family. Their name would be blackened and their reputation would falter. He doesn’t want them to lose their role in society. If one day they ever decide to get close to his sisters and upgrade their relationship from friends to family, then he is sorry to say that he will do whatever it takes to prevent it, even if it will break their hearts. It’s for the better. They should understand.

  “Leon,” Rose said, touching his arm and interrupting his thoughts.

  He looks down at her and smiled as she rubbed his arm.

  “Are you okay? You’re rather quiet,” she said.

  “I’m fine,” he answered, kissing her on the forehead. “Are you tired? I’ll hold you to sleep.”

  She smiled and nodded her head, turning sideways to sit on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck. “I want to savor every moment here with you,” she said, burying her face into his chest.

  “We have all the time in the world,” he replied, bringing his arms around her waist. “There may be ups and downs and everything in between, but we will get through them and have our peace.”

  “I…wish things were different and not so hard on us,” she answered quietly.

  “If only my parents were alive,” said Leon. “If only the enemies hadn’t found us. If only I could stand up to face them at that time and save my parents. Maybe all this wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t have left you. Hell, I’m such a useless fool.”

  “No,” she said, bringing a hand to his cheek. “You can’t control the things that happened. Don’t blame yourself. You are the best son anyone could ever have. Always working hard, going through hell and tortures to bring justice to the dead. I couldn’t have been more proud if I were your parents.”

  “You are truly the light of my world, Rose,” Leon answered, holding her closer. “I’m glad that you’re still here waiting for me and haven’t yet gotten married. I don’t know what
I’ll do without you.”

  “I had thought about getting married and erasing you from my memories, but it seems no matter what, you’re there. Always here.” She took his hand and placed it on her heart, then to her head. “And everywhere up here. I can’t simply wed a man when you’re all that fills my mind.”

  Leon laughed and stroked her hair, soothing her to sleep. He was glad she waited, though she was to wed in less than a week with the Marquess of Lansing. But hell with that. He’s the one wedding Rose and it is to take place as soon as he gets to Bridlington. After that, he will come back to settle everything. As long as his enemy is located, nothing should forestall his return.

  * * *

  “Seriously, I can’t believe I had to be blindfolded to exit out of your Haven of Light,” said Laguna as he pulls off the cloth that covered his eyes and threw it on the ground.

  “It was for your safety,” laughed Avangelene as she fell on the grass.

  Laguna strip off his shirt and shook the water out of his pants.

  “Safety, my arse. Look at me. I’m all soaked. My stitches could have gotten infected. Was it really necessary for us to cross through a river?”

  His stitches, she had totally forgotten. Oh well.

  “It was part of the exit,” Avangelene answered.

  “Then why aren’t you wet?”

  Avangelene shrugged and lay down on the grass, savoring the warmth of the sun. “I took the stepping stones, of course. It was easier to guide you through.”

  “I could have used the stepping stones.”

  “No, you might fall off and drown while being blindfolded,” Avangelene teased, though she knows he could probably swim to his safety.

  “Why did I have to be blindfolded?” Laguna asked her again.

  “Because you’re a duke,” she answered gleefully.

  “Or is it because you don’t want me to know where to enter into your Haven of Light?”

  Well, Avangelene was surprise. She has got to admit that this duke has much more of a brain than most duke of her association.

  “Maybe,” Avangelene answered with a smile. But really there are two separate tunnels to enter and exit out of the place so it was not really a concern to her. The exit is different from the entrance.

  “And why is that?” asked the duke.

  “The answer is obvious,” she answered, spreading her arms out on the grass. “You should know already.”

  “You don’t want me to return.”

  Really intelligent of him to say.

  “You have no reasons to,” she said, sighing as she sat back up. “I think you better get going, I mean, you do have a place to go to, right?

  “Perhaps,” the duke nodded. “Since your brother is not coming.”

  “What do you mean by he’s not coming?” Could Leon possibly be in danger? She has to know.

  “He probably went back to save Lady Rose. The marquess captured her,” he told her.

  “Lady Rose, his…”

  “His bride-to-be.”

  Avangelene almost couldn’t believe it.

  “Leon’s getting married?”

  “Apparently so, after everything’s over.”

  Everything. With the marquess she presumed.

  Avangelene was filled with sudden excitements and joy. Her brother’s going to get married. The first wedding in the family. It sounded incredulous.

  “You are not jesting, are you?” she asked, just to make sure.

  “Were you jesting when you said I had to be blindfolded? No, I am not jesting.”

  “Good. Where do you think Leon is at the moment?” She will go help her brother if it meant he was going to wed after this marquess deal.

  “Islington, I would think,” he said. “It’s possible that Lansing still has Lady Rose captive somewhere down there.”

  “We should go there, then,” Avangelene suggested. “If he’s not coming back for you, then he might be in danger.”

  “I don’t think Leon would want you to go there.”

  He was right on that. Jack and them hadn’t wanted her to go either. She wonders how they’re doing on their quest to finding Leon. She had wanted to go with them, but good thing she didn’t, otherwise she will be wasting her time. Although she does want to know if they have crossed path with Leon.

  “Well, Leon’s not here to disapprove, Duke. We could go.”

  The duke merely stared at her speechless. She was going to make him take her no matter what.

  “Are you that afraid of Leon?” she asked, just to pinch his pride a little. “You are a Duke.”

  “Me being a duke has nothing to do with it,” he countered. “It’s mainly...”

  “It’s all right, Duke,” Avangelene interjected. She must be getting on his nerve at the moment. “Leon won’t bite your head off or anything.”

  “I know he…Never mind. We could go,” the Duke said, giving in. “But first, you’ve got to stop calling me Duke. I dislike it.”

  “You don’t like it?” Avangelene chuckled and stood up on her feet. “Whatever you wish.” And just to annoy him one last time, she added, “Duke.”

  “I’m serious,” he said, his eyes darkening at her.

  She just laughed and smiled at him.

  Minx, Laguna thought as he watches Avangelene pull back her hair and secured it with a yellow ribbon. She was not wearing one of the ridiculous wigs he had seen in the past. In fact, she hadn’t been wearing any in his presence. He hadn’t seen any of them anywhere in the house. She looked more feminine without it, though her clothing isn’t that of a lady’s fashion. She wore a casual green waistcoat over a simple white blouse and dark male pantaloons with hessian boots.

  He had never seen any woman in men’s garment besides her. She actually matched them. Her clothing fits her well and rather illustrated her features nicely.

  “What are you looking at?” she asked, fretting him out of his observation.

  “Nothing,” he answered, stroking his hair back. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Of course,” she answered, walking over to him. “Don’t tell me you’re changing your mind on this, Duke.”

  There she goes again.

  He wished he hadn’t spoken a word about it.

  “I might if you keep on calling me Duke.”

  “I apologize then, Your Grace.”

  Great. She’s going to use all the aristocratic terms of address on him.

  “Just Laguna,” he said. “If we’re to go on a mission together to help your brother, we’ll have to throw away the formality.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  Laguna feel a hot part of his temper rise. It seems as if she’s taking everything he say as a joke. It’s really pointless to argue with her. She’s just going to ruin the mood. He just hopes that their trip would be one at peace.

  * * *

  “You lied, old man!” Edward nearly strangled the life out of the old footman of the marquess when they arrived at the so-called regiment of Lansing down north of Islington to find it empty.

  “Ed, stop! You’re killing him,” said Aidan, as he pulls the footman away.

  “That bastard lied to us! Lansing is not here, nor Leon.” “Calm it,” said Jack to Edward as he walk over to the footman

  and took him from Aidan. “You said Lansing’s here, but he’s not. Do you know any other places he might have gone to?”

  “No,” the footman said, still gasping for breath. “It’s only here and the villa.”

  Jack raised an eyebrow at him. “And no other places?”

  “Not that I know of,” the old man answered.

  “We totally wasted our time,” said Edward. “We might as well go back home. If Leon’s not here, then perhaps he had escaped and driven Lansing’s regiment out after him.”

  “Possible,” Jack agreed.

  “What do we do, then? Just return to Bridlington?” Aidan asked.

  “There’s no use wasting our time if we don’t know where they are,” said
Jack. “Besides, there are things to handle at home. I’m hungry. I hope Avange cook something good up.”

  “Am I spare, young men?” the footman asked quietly with hope.

  Jack looked at him and smiled. “You are free.”

  The old man gave a sigh of relief and broke down into a sob.

  “Blast it! You’re going to cry now?” Edward grabbed the man up and shook him. “You are to stop this blubbering if you want to return home! Understood?”

  The old man nodded in fear and stopped instantly.

  “Cool it, Ed. Leave the poor man alone. He’s been frightened enough,” Jack said, walking back into the carriage. “Aidan, you take the man in. Ed, you drive.”

  Edward let go of the man and pushed him towards Aidan.

  “Don’t ever lie to us again or next time you will get your throat slit.”

  The old man nodded wearily at Edward and move along into the carriage with Aidan.

  Bridlington

  “That’s the last of them,” Chance said as he collapsed on the ground to catch his breath.

  Blake came down next to him and they lay on the battlefield, breathing heavily.

  “So many bodies. How are we to bury them all before class starts at the Academy?”

  “Cremation,” said Blake. “We will cremate them. I am not going to dig up a bloody trench to bury them all. I have no strength to spare for it.”

  “Nor I.” Chance slowly got up and looked at the corpses that sprawled on the ground. “Cremation for sure. We’re not going to turn the estate into a cemetery.”

  “No, we won’t.” Blake stood and slowly made his way to the house. “Let’s go check up on Gabriel,” he said to Chance. “We’ll handle the bodies later. I’ll get Sheik to help us.”

  Chance nodded and followed after Blake to meet their siblings in the sitting room. Gabriel was resting on the couch with his arms over his eyes while Sheik sat on the windowsill cleaning his pistol. Phoenix was napping on the couch across from Gabriel, and Namine and Lavender were setting out the tea cups and saucers on the small table placed in the center of the room between the two couches.

  “You guys are the heroes today,” Namine said to Blake and Chance with a clap.

  “You bet,” Chance exclaimed. “We kicked asses!”