All the Things You Never Knew

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 she 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.”

He stopped and gazed up at her. “Even when he left you without a reasonable explanation and was found in a whore’s bed?”

Rose shrugged. She hated to have him remind her of that dreadful scene, but what can she say? He’d stolen her heart.

“Matters not. You said you didn’t have any association with that woman so I’m trusting you on that.”

He smiled and kissed her cheek. “You have my words.”

“Yes.”

A light knock interrupted them, followed by Lord Longsword’s voice.

“Heartily, are you up? Breakfast is ready downstairs.”

“We’ll be down in a minute,” Leon called back, beaming down at her. “Do you want breakfast?” he asked as he shifted to reach for his shirt on the floor.

“I am a bit hungry, yes,” she answered, sitting up to adjust her gown.

“Rose,” he said, scanning her down with an intimate stare.

“What?” she asked, turning away to hide the deep flush forming on her cheeks.

“I think I have a better menu for breakfast than what Longsword’s having downstairs.”

“Oh?” She smiled and turned back to him. “And what is it, may I ask?”

“Me…and You.”

He threw down his shirt and without warning, came down and pin her to the bed, ravishing and savoring every inch of her lips against his.

“Leon,” she gasped, pushing him back. “Are you sure this is…”

He put a finger to her lips and nipped at her earlobe.

“Quiet, my love,” he said. “Just let me feed you.”

Rose chuckled to his reply and did exactly that.

“That took longer than a mere minute,” said the Earl of Longsword when Leon and Rose finally came down to join him for breakfast.

Leon grinned as Rose blushed, and went to sit across from Longsword.

“We had some catching up to do, right, Rose?” He smiled at her and winked.

She blushed so prettily that he just wanted to devour her up again.

Longsword merely laughed and pushed the plate of food towards them. “Simple eggs and sausages,” he said. “I’ll get more tea.”

“Thanks.”

They quickly finished up the last of the remaining gourmet and were prepared to leave when something caught Leon’s eyes out the window.

“Quick!” he cried to Longsword, pulling Rose by the arm and leading her up the stairs. “We have to hide.”

“What?” Longsword asked, following after them. “What’s the matter?”

“Lansing’s guards. They’re coming in.”

“What are we to do now?” Rose asked worriedly.

“Escape through the window,” said Leon. “It’s the only way.”

He led them into the room that Rose and him had slept in and open up the window.

“Longsword, you go down first so you can catch Rose,” he ordered. “I’ll follow behind.”

Longsword nodded, and slowly climbed out onto the ledge outside the window.

“There’s a vine,” he told them. “I can slide down easily.”

“Good.”

Leon helped Rose out next as Longsword reached the ground. She was trembling in fear and wouldn’t let go of him.

“Leon, what if they capture us again?” she asked wearily.

“We just have to do whatever we can to escape,” he answered. “Don’t worry. I am here with you. Everything will be okay. Trust me.”

She gave him a faint smile and nodded, finally letting go to take hold of the vine that Longsword had used.

“Don’t fret, Lady Rose,” Longsword called up. “I’ll catch you if you fall.”

Leon snorted at Longsword’s words. That should have been his line, but now isn’t the time to fuss about it. He watches as Longsword helped Rose down and descended just in time when the door clicked open, and in rushed Lansing’s guards.

“They’re escaping!” one of them cried.

“Quick! We have to get them!”

“Run,” was all Leon could say as he grabs Rose’s hand and dash away. There’s no time to mount their horses. They have to run as fast as they can until they reach a place far enough to guaranteed their safety.

“Where should we go?” Longsword asked as they ran into the forest.

“They’re following close behind. We just have to go as far as we can until they lose track of us.”

“Ah!” Rose shrieked as a bullet flew past them.

“Shit, now they’re shooting at us,” said Longsword as he dodges another flying bullet. “Can’t we go back to your sister’s hideout?”

“Not at a time like this,” he answered.

Avangelene had warned him not to get any enemy close to her hideout or they’re doomed. He’s not going to do that, even if it could spare their life. She’s probably already mad at him for not going back as he’d said to get Hargate. But it should be all right. She will understand. He needn’t worry.

What he should do is think of a plan to help them escape the wretched army of Lansing.

He knows exactly what to do.