All the Things You Never Knew

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Twenty stitches. His Grace should be fine,” the doctor told Leon

and Longsword as they waited outside the door to the guest room of his sister’s cottage. “Lost quite a high amount of blood but he should be all right. Pretty good bandaging skill you have.”

“Thank you, Dr. Wesley,” Leon smiled, adjusting the tightness of the bandage that the doctor had wrapped around his head after treating his wounds. “We are most grateful to have you help.”

“I will escort you out, Dr. Wesley,” Longsword said, taking the old doctor by the arm.

“I highly appreciate it, m’lord.”

Leon slip into the room Hargate was placed in as Longsword took the doctor out, and went to kneel down beside him on the floor.

“Hargate, can you hear me?”

He was still unconscious.

“Hargate?” Leon gave his shoulder a shook but he didn’t make a sound.

“Is he up?” came Longsword as he returns.

“No.”

“Perhaps we should let him rest for a while.”

“Yes,” Leon nodded, standing up.

“We should go back to help Lady Rose. She might think we had abandoned her.”

Blast it!

Leon had forgotten about her.

Rose.

She better be all right.

If that bloody Lansing dares to lay one finger on her, he swear

there would be hell to pay.

“Right,” Leon replied with a nod.

“But then we need someone to look after Hargate,” Longsword

added. “And you might need to change out of those bloody clothes.

It’s a mess.”

“I know what to do,” Leon answered.

He walks over to a drawer and open it up, pulling out a piece of

paper and a quill ink pen.

“What are you writing?” Longsword asked, walking over to peek

behind him.

“A note to my sister.”

“What for?”

“She would be in a fury if I don’t. She would never allow Hargate

or you to be in here without her consent.”

“Oh?” Longsword crossed his arms and lean back against the

wall. “Avangelene’s hideout, you say. Why does she need it?” “Can’t tell you why, but I’m grateful she has it.”

Leon quickly signs his name and folded up the note, placing it

beneath the oil lamp burning on the drawer. He hopes she will come

and see his note.

“All right,” he said, turning to Longsword. “Let’s go finish up

business.”

* * *

Avangelene Heartily couldn’t believe her cottage was a mess of mud and dirt as she visits her secret place, a hidden village she had found behind a waterfall that has been abandoned. It took her five years to bring it back to life and now seeing her house like this, she only hope that danger wasn’t lurking in the air.

“Tom! Tom!” she called out to one of her butler.

He quickly ran in and bows down before her.

“Yes, Mistress?”

“No need to bow,” she told him.

Please! She hates formality and prefers to be treated as the

regular human being that she is.

“Sorry. How may I help you, Mistress?”

“Have you seen anyone come in here? My house is a bit…amiss.” “Oh, yes,” he nodded. “Your brother Leon and two of his

friends.”

“What?” Unbelievable. Leon was captured by the marquess.

Could it be that he had escaped? “What business has he to come?” “I–I’m not sure,” said Tom. “But one of his friends seems injured

so they brought him here.”

Oh great!

“What for?” she asked. “Where did my brother go? Is he still

here?”

Tom shook his head. “He left about an hour ago, but one of his

friends seems to have been left behind.”

“What?” Oh, she’s going to force that man out, whoever he is. “I’m sorry, Mistress, for not–”

“Not your fault,” Avangelene replied briskly. “You may return to

your duties. Thank you for the information.”

Butler Tom nodded, and went back out.

Now it is Avangelene’s turn to seek out that left behind rascal. She checked all the rooms in her cottage, finding them all empty

except for when she opens the door to her room.

“Damn you, Leon,” she cursed as she saw a half-naked man

sprawled out on the floor of her chamber sleeping soundly. The first thing that came to her mind was to punch him awake

and force him out, but then something stopped her.

A pile of dirty red stained cloths were thrown next to the man and

it almost frighten the soul out of her.

Surely the man is still alive. She doesn’t want to have a rotten

dead spirit lingering in her cottage.

She kneeled down beside him and checked his pulse. Still good.

Then his heartbeat.

Normal.

Thank God.

She rose up to leave but a strip of white paper caught her eyes

from beneath her oil lamp on the drawer.

She walked up to pull it out and opened it up to see a hasty

handwriting scribbled down the page.

Avange, it reads.

I know you would probably be mad for my intrusion with my friends. Please forgive me, but I have a favor to ask of you. I don’t even know if you’re going to be here or not but my friend, the Duke of Hargate, has been injured whiling rescuing me. I took him to your hideout because it’s the last safe place. Please watch after him for a while as I go out to handle some unfinished business. I’ll be back on the morrow.

Your Brother, Leon

P.S. I threw him on the floor of your guest room because I know you wouldn’t like him on the bed. I hope it is okay. Thank you. Take care.

Avangelene laughed at the post script.

“Stupid Leon. Guest room is two rooms down. This is my room.” She was happy that her brother was freed. Now she just hopes

Jack and them hadn’t left yet to go save him because it will be a total waste of time.

Oh well. So much for not letting her go with them.

She turned her head and glance down at the man on the floor and cocked her head.

“The Duke of Hargate, eh?” She went over and kneeled down again to examine his face.

It was clean shaved and smooth with no facial hair at all. It could have been a perfection, except there was a light scar along his jaw line, which really has no effect.

His hair was of a rich dark auburn color and fell rather nicely to his neck, lightening the complexion of his face. He looks rather familiar to her after a few minute of examination but she couldn’t recall where she had seen him.

Well, she is going to leave him be.

Slowly, she pulls the cover up from his waist and tucks it under his chin.

“There you go.”

She was about to stand up and leave when a hand suddenly grab her arm.

His hand.

“What the–” She turn back to look down and realize the man was beginning to stir awake.

Damn it! She isn’t in the mood for this.

“Are you–”

The man, or rather the duke, started coughing and slowly open his eyes looking blank.

“W-where…am I?” he asked, shifting his gaze to Avangelene.

She sighed and sat down crossing her legs. Thank God she had decided to wear her breeches and not her evening gown as she should whenever she comes to her hideout.

“You are in my house, Duke,” she said. “And now if you’re awake, you might as well unhand me before I kick you out of here.”

“What?” He looked at her confused, and tried to sit up wincing in pain.

Avangelene wanted to give him a hand but it’s rather awkward since she barely knows him. And still, he was holding her arm.

“Who are you?” she asked, though she knows he’s a duke and the companion of her brother.

“Me?” For a moment he looks as if he had forgotten his name. “Laguna,” he managed out.

“Oh.” Somewhat it sounded familiar. Perhaps she had heard Leon mention a thing or two about him.

“Are you feeling okay?” she asked him.

“Not in the least.”

“Well, good thing my brother brought you here then. But now that you’re awake, you should leave.”

“Nice of you to say,” that Laguna grunted.

“Thank you. Now let go of my arm.”

He glanced down at his hand and hers, and then jerked away. “Sorry,” he murmured.

“Don’t care in the least,” she answered rather coldly. “Your brother brought me here?” he asked.

“Yes,” she nodded. “Leon.”

“Of course.” There was a moment of silence and then he look at her. “So you are?”

“Avangelene,” she put in slowly.

A shocking expression crossed his face. “Really?”

She ignored him and turned away.

“Since you seem a little better, please put on a top and cover yourself.

“My apology, but–”

He suddenly moan in pain and she finally turn back to see that he had a long stitch along the side of his abdomen.

“Oh, lord.”

She scooted up to him and helped lay him back down. “You’re badly hurt. Rest for a while and don’t stretch your wound. It seems to be newly stitched.”

“D-didn’t you w-want me to l-leave?”

“Yes, but not in this condition.”

She would be heartless to do so.

He gave her a smile and closed his eyes as she pulls the cover over him once more.

“Thank you.”

She merely looks at him and said nothing.

“Thank you,” he said again. “Avangelene.”

Still, she said nothing in return and just sat there.

“Are you declining my gratitude or are you going to accept it?” he asked when she didn’t care.

“You’re welcome,” she finally said. She has got to admit that he had struck her dumb with his oh-so-natural arrogant remark.

“Avangelene, may I call you by your name?”

“What else would you call me then?” she replied. “Yes, you may. I don’t care.”

He smiled again.

“May I ask where your brother went?”

“Somewhere,” was all she can say since Leon didn’t really specify where in the note.

“I’m sorry for being of an inconvenient to you. I–”

“Don’t mention it,” she said, getting up to leave. “Leon told me what happened already.”

He opens his steel gray eyes that gleamed with a golden delight and smiles at her again.

He was quite a smiley one.

“Did he tell you that I also like to eat?” he asked, grinning now.

She looked at him and shook her head.

What a friend he is.

“Well.” He propped up on one elbow and gazed up at her. “I would like something to eat if you don’t mind.”

“I…”

She looks at him for a moment and then nodded.

“Thank you, Avangelene.”

Avangelene just nods her head again and left the room. There’s something about that Duke that causes quite a stir in her chest. And she hates the great emphasize in his voice when he spoke her name. So annoying and arrogant. Not to mention bossy, too. He seems to have no manners at all.

Leon just better be back soon and take him off of her supervision.

* * *

“That shirt looks a bit tight on you,” Longsword commented as he watches Leon tug at it uncomfortably as they rode back to London.

“This is all that shop owner have since he’s basically Avange’s personal tailor. He only makes clothing big enough for her to wear.”

“Whoa. Your sister is something.”

“I guess.”

“How did she come about that village and rule over everyone?”

“I have no idea,” Leon answered, and then to change the subject, “Do you think Lansing would be at his villa?”

“I doubt it, but we can force one of the servants to tell us where he might be heading to.”

“You think we could do that?”

“Most definitely,” he nodded.

Leon winced and touch his forehead. He still feels a little dazed from having to be held captive for so long in that dungeon of that ass Lansing and knocked out senseless.

“Look,” Longsword pointed as they drew closer to Lansing Villa. “One of the footmen of Lansing. We best get off here and creep over to get him without causing a racket.”

Leon squinted to see in the dark and nodded.

They dismounted their horse and dash off to get inside the fences of the villa and hid behind the bushes.

“Where is he now?” Leon asked, peeking out to find the footman.

“Heading back this way. Quick. Let’s get to the corner to snatch him up. And here.” Longsword pulled out something from the inside of his coat and threw it at him.

“What is…How did you get this?” he asked when he realized it was his dagger.

“Lady Rose gave it to me. She said she found it in her room when you guys were ‘romping’ about.”

Leon laughed. “She did not really tell you that we were romping about, did she?”

“‘Course not, but Hargate and I figured that you did. How else would it end up with her?”

“Many ways it could but you’re correct so I won’t argue.”

Longsword merely chuckled and slid farther out to the side of the house.

“Besides,” he said. “Hargate and I both knew that you and Lady Rose are to marry after this so you better invite us to be your best men or else you’ll regret for having to leave that dungeon of Lansing.”

Leon laughed again and slid up to him. “If we get my bride back, that is.”

“Shhh, here comes the footman.”

Longsword quickly grab a hold of the footman as he walked by and covered his mouth to stop him from alerting others.

“Stop struggling before I slit your throat,” Leon threatened, bringing his dagger to the footman’s neck.

He stopped struggling and relaxed.

“We’re going to ask you a couple of questions,” said Leon. “If you don’t want to die then you better speak. And if you alert anyone, then your life is at its end. Do you understand?”

The terrified footman nodded and Longsword released his mouth.

“Where’s his lordship?” Leon asked, not wanting to lose anytime.

“Out to Islington, sir,” the footman answered shakily.

“Where in Islington?” Longsword asked. “Tell us or else you will never get to speak again.”

“At the lord’s torturing chamber.”

“We just came back from there,” Leon snapped. “Tell us where else he might be.”

“I don’t–”

“Don’t say you don’t know or your bloody throat would be slit,” said Leon impatiently.

“At the lord’s regiment!” answered the footman. “Please don’t kill me.”

“He has a regiment?”

“Yes,” nodded the footman.

“Where?” Longsword asked.

“About an hour north of Islington.”

“Show us,” Leon said, pulling the footman to him. “Take us to him. Now!”

“As you wish. As you wish,” the footman replied, frightened to the very end of his soul. “I will take you.”

Leon put his dagger back and securely held onto the footman as he pushes him toward the coach parked out on the driveway.

“You can sit inside the coach, Heartily,” Longsword said, walking over to push the footman up to the driver’s seat. “I’ll make sure this bloody bastard takes us to the right place. You had just got back from that dungeon. You must rest a bit to regain some strength.”

“Sure.” Leon figured that’s probably best since he does feel a headache coming on.

* * *

“I’ve prepared your…”

Damn it!

Avangelene just couldn’t seem to hold her temper with this duke. That Duke of Hargate has fallen asleep…on her bed!

When did he get up? No one–no man is allowed to ever sleep on her bed.

Well, maybe they can as long as she’s not in there with them. And as long as they have her permission, which that duke did not. He’s really got to go.

That…that Laguna!

Avangelene was about to go up and pull the cover off, but then stopped.

He was sleeping so soundly with the cover tightly wrapped around him. He looked so…so exhausted. She doesn’t know what he’s been through, but since he had saved her brother’s life it must be something major.

His Grace.

She sat down at the foot of the bed and sighed. Might as well go out for a stroll while the duke sleeps. After all, it’s not really her job to watch a grown ass man sleep. He will wake up eventually and live another fifty years or so. She needn’t worry.

With that, Avangelene left the room, leaving the charming duke to sleep.

She’s infuriatingly…

Mad…

Have eyes of hazel green…

Hairs of silky brown…

Exquisitely…

Dull…

With a harsh and cold voice that rung enchantingly through

him…

Rather hot temper…

And by lord…

She’s Avangelene!

Laguna woke up with a more lighted head and a smile across his

face.

He can’t believe he’s being cared for by Avangelene, the infamous sister of his best friend!

He had heard that she can make all young ladies drop dead at her feet. She was known to be a rakehell with women always following her due to her disguises. Quite ridiculous, although he’d only caught a glimpse of her from time to time. Today was the closest he’d ever gotten to her.

He had always thought her dull and plain with her ridiculous disguises and cropped wigs.

However, today, just today, as much as she was dull, what is it about her that made him see her so infuriatingly exquisite?

But dull.

Perhaps, that isn’t the right word to describe her anymore.

Today she wore her garments of a lad but she had her features of a breath-taking celestial being sent down to earth.

Celestial being?

He must be out of his mind.

But still, he rather likes her. A lot. Though he barely knew her.

It seems his view has changed.

Under all her disguises for whatever reason, she’s a beauty. The ideal woman of all men’s dream. Well, maybe not all men. He used to think that the younger Heartily Sisters were more beautiful, but today…

Hell and blazes, what the heck is with him?

Laguna cupped his forehead and shook his head, feeling a sting of guilt. How could he be thinking of his best friend’s sister like that?

Staying here any longer would definitely make him go mad.

How nice of her to let him stay even when she wanted to kick him out.

God, he wished he had gone out when she first ordered it.

Laguna got up from the bed and sniff the air as a scent of something delightful flown by.

What is that smell? he wondered as his stomach growled.

He followed the scent out with his nose and was surprise when he noticed that it had led him into the kitchen.

Set in the center of the wooden round table of the room was a tray of raspberry scones and shortbreads with sweet honey tea steaming, and two small bowls covered up to keep the gourmet warm.

Laguna walked over and removed the covers from the bowls only to be swirled by the scrumptious smell of what seems to be beef stew and chicken broth.

Had Avangelene really cook this for him?

Where is she now?

Why didn’t she wake him up to eat?

And by lord, he had gotten up to sleep in her bed, too. That probably ticked her off. He can’t help it. The floor was killing him. He will apologize to her when she gets back.

Avangelene.

He went out searching around the house, calling for her.

When it appears that she had gone out somewhere and probably won’t be back, he settled himself back in the kitchen, pick up a spoon that was next to the bowl of stew, and begin sipping his way through.