All the Things You Never Knew

CHAPTER THREE

As he had agreed, Leon stayed in London for the next couple of days to attend Lady Chatsworth’s ball with Hargate and Longsword.

His brother Sheik had decided to return to Bridlington alone instead of staying with him until after the ball.

“Balls and soirées are only for old farts,” he said, that next morning at Hargate Inn when Leon had asked him to stay. “I’m going back home. Mr. Penchant would need me to help him run his brewery.”

And so Leon wrote out a set of instructions for him to bring to his secretary and lectured him to be on his best behavior.

“I’m not Nix,” Sheik always say over and over again. “Nor am I a child any longer. I know what to do. Don’t worry. Just have your fun at the old fart event.”

True that he’s not a child anymore, but Leon just can’t see him as an adult with all the troubles he had caused. The same goes to his little sister.

“Fine. You tell Jack and them to watch Phoenix, too, you hear?”

“Don’t worry. Nothing would happen to that Nix.”

His brother rode off with not much to say afterward and promised to tend to the pupils at the school for at least once a day, though Leon highly doubted that he would.

He hopes that they will behave when he’s away now and not trouble him with more problems again. There’s so much occupying his mind that he doesn’t want to have to worry about them.

“Heartily, try this on,” Hargate said, throwing a navy blue coat with brass buttons at him. “I got it for you as a gift. Oh, and these breeches. I made sure they weren’t so tight fitting.”

“You didn’t have to, Hargate,” Leon said as he caught the garments. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” answered Hargate. “Just put it on. We have a ball to attend.”

“What about Longsword? He hadn’t arrive yet.”

“Our earl friend would be meeting us at Lady Chatsworth,” Hargate replied, tying on his cravat. “No need to worry about him.”

“We’re still on undercover duties, are we not? We will need him in this.”

“Right. I forgot this wasn’t a ball for fun.”

Hargate strode over and handed Leon a leather portfolio.

“This is?”

“Open it,” said Hargate with a smile.

Leon did so and was astonished by what he saw.

Staring at him were six men. One of them was his father all dressed up with a stern expression. The other five were unidentified, although they did have something about them that raises a sense of familiarity in Leon.

“Was this the page from the book you were talking about?” Leon asked Hargate, surprised that he actually got it.

Hargate grinned and pull on his coat. “There’s nothing I can’t get.”

“You certainly are skilled at this. Are you sure you’re not a secret government operative?”

Hargate merely laughed and put on his boots.

Leon examined the picture again and tried to remember if he’d seen his father with any of those men, yet nothing came to mind.

Could he really be that old to forget? He probably just hadn’t seen them before. For sure he would remember if he sees them again.

Leon traced the names worn on the page and read it. “Marquess… Marquess of Lansing.”

“What?” Hargate came over and stood by him.

“It says Marquess of Lansing,” Leon repeated the name. “One of these men is the Marquess of Lansing. Hell, if only the other names aren’t worn away.”

“I knew it was the Marquess of Lan–something,” Hargate snapped. “We’ll try to find him. Perhaps that’ll lead us to the other four.”

“I owe you, Hargate,” Leon said, closing the portfolio and sticking it inside his bag. “You don’t know how grateful I am for everything you and Longsword had done.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Hargate smiled. “Just hurry up and get dress. We have business to finish.”

Chatsworth Square London

“Oh, this is so beautiful, Susannah!” Rose exclaimed, linking arms with her best friend as they walked in through the gate of Chatsworth Square. “Look at all the roses. Lady Chatsworth must have spent a lot on them.”

“Probably,” Susannah answered dully.

“Don’t be so tedious. You look so beautiful in your gown. Many gentlemen would want to take you around their arms.”

Susannah merely laughed without farther ado.

“Hey, look,” Rose pointed. “It’s his lordship. Oh, I knew Marcus will be waiting to meet me by the door.”

“You’re not supposed to say his given name in public.”

“He’s my fiancé. It doesn’t matter,” Rose answered, annoyed.

Susannah just rolled her eyes and unlinked their arms.

“I need to go to the lady’s room,” she said as Rose beamed at his lordship. “Meet you later.”

“Come back soon, then,” Rose said, her eyes still on the marquess.

“Will be.”

As Susannah trotted off, Rose smiled and walked up to the marquess with a light curtsy.

“Well, you’re certainly striking this evening,” the marquess greeted, bending down to kiss her hand. “That gown suits you. You always look splendid in violet.”

Rose smoothed down the front of her gown and smile sweetly. “Thank you, m’lord.”

His lordship straightened up and offered his arm to her. “Shall we, m’lady?”

Rose took it gladly and stood beside him. “A pleasure, m’lord.”

“It’s Marcus,” he corrected.

“Marcus, it is,” she beamed.

Susannah stood by the high column of the ballroom and mumbled her disapprovals out at Rose and his lordship as she watches them dance.

“I knew I should have stayed home,” she said, rolling her eyes when Rose spotted her and waved.

She wasn’t in the mood to dance nor do anything. The real reason she came was to serve as a chaperone for Rose. Who knows what that marquess would do to her if she hadn’t come along? She’ll bear the boredom just for Rose’s sake. Now that she had looked around, there are many delightful refreshments that she can help herself to, including many charming gentlemen to dance with. Perhaps she’ll have her fun after all. Rose isn’t going to let go of that marquess no matter what she say. She’ll forget about it for the evening and just let it be.

It’s so hard to make things right when everything has gone wrong.

Susannah leaned back against the stone column with her arms cross and grunted in disgust as Rose tipped up to peck the marquess briskly on the cheek.

“Would you care to dance, m’lady?” came a soft male voice that startled her from behind.

She whirled around quite fast that she almost fell forward.

“Easy,” the man said, reaching out to balance her.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

It almost stopped the beat of her heart when she looks up to see who the gentleman was.

“You!” she exclaimed in a shrill of joy. “Lord, it’s really you!”

The gentlemen looked confused at first but then his features soften as he soon realized who she was.

“Susy?” A smile broke across his face too. “What a pleasure to meet you here!”

“Monsieur Leon! Oh, lord. Please tell me this isn’t a dream.”

Leon laughed and ruffled her hair. “I assure you it’s not, m’lady,” he said, taking her hand and pressing a soft kiss to her palm.

Thank goodness! She thought he’ll never show up again to save that Rose.

“Oh, we have a lot to catch up on,” Susannah said joyfully. She could hardly hold it in. “Where have you been all these years? You look so dashing. Did you miss us back here in London? Where did you go? Did you find the kill–”

“Sh.” Leon shut her up with a finger to her lips and whispered, “We’re not supposed to discuss it out in public, remember?”

“Oh, fine,” Susannah said, stepping back to look at him. “You’re so much manlier than the last time we met.”

That brought a chuckle out of him. “I’m eight and twenty already, what do you expect?”

“Well, I’m only five and twenty,” Susannah replied with a soft laughter. “What is there to expect?”

“You’re on the brink of marriage, then.”

“Ugh! Don’t even mention it. I’ll throw myself to the rats before I even put myself through that misery,” Susannah said, turning towards Rose and his lordship.

“Who are you looking at?” asked Leon, as he followed her gaze.

“Nothing,” she said, snapping back her head. “Just checking out– ”

“Rose.”

“Yes, Rose–” Susannah caught herself and looked up at Leon again.

He was staring straight at Rose and his lordship, watching them dance and flirt around with one another.

“I’m sorry,” Susannah murmured, patting him on the shoulder.

“For what?” he asked, getting back to her. “You did nothing.”

“I couldn’t stop Rose from…you know…doing that.”\

Leon glanced back at the marquess and Rose and shrugs.

“It’s not your responsibility. She has the right to do as she wishes.”

“I guess you’re right,” Susannah murmured sadly, turning back to look at Rose, too. “But I really wish…” She turned back to Leon. “I really wish it was you and her instead of him and her.”

“Far too late,” Leon answered, smiling grimly.

“It’s not.”

“She’s married already, is she not?”

“God, no!” Susannah cried. “She’s…well…”

“Don’t say it,” Leon said, taking her arm. “Let’s go dance, for I think we had become the center of attention here.”

Susannah nodded and let Leon lead her onto the dance floor.

He smiled and set her arms around him, moving along to meet her steps.

“You’re a marvelous dancer, Mr. Heartily. I haven’t danced with you like this before.”

“Same goes to you, too.”

“So, tell me how you’ve been. I want to hear everything.”

Leon couldn’t help feeling conscious of his surroundings, especially after he spotted Rose and whoever that man was that she’s dancing with.

He hardly was paying any attention to Lady Susannah, even though he was pleased to meet her again.

He asked her for a dance so that he can look at people’s faces more clearly and see if they’re the ones he’s looking for. He didn’t actually expect it to be Susannah, but she seems to be the perfect choice at the moment. All could have been well if he hadn’t caught sight of the vixen behind them.

“Tell me how you’ve been,” Lady Susannah said again when he didn’t respond.

“Me?” His gaze snapped back to her and he cracked a smile. “I’ve been doing great. Really glad to be back in London.”

“We’re glad to have you back,” Susannah said happily. “So, where are you staying? Where are your siblings now?”

“I’ll be staying at the Duke of Hargate’s Family Inn for the time being. We’ve returned to Bridlington,” he answered.

Lady Susannah’s eyes widens in shock. “Really? You really came back to your old estate in Bridlington?”

“Yes,” Leon nodded, leaning down to her. “Don’t tell anyone,” he whispered.

“I won’t tell a soul,” she promised.

“Good. I know I can trust you.”

Leon twirled Susannah around just so he can catch another glimpse at Rose.

She looked just as breathtaking as when he left, and more womanly as Susannah had put it with him.

She was laughing and twirling in the arms of the anonymous man. She had her hair pinned up in curls about her head with a violet rose glistening to the side. Her gown was of the same matching violet velvet with a yellow silk ribbon tied in a bow around her waist. Her skin shone radiantly in the chandelier’s light and she smiled at him. It turned the inside of his heart that he had to force Susannah into another spin to get it off.

Did she recognize him, or was she smiling towards someone else?

“What’s wrong?” Susannah asked, looking him over.

“Nothing,” he answered briskly.

“It’s Rose, isn’t it?” She sighed and reached a hand to pat his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know if I should tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

“That man,” she said a hint of disgust in her voice. “He’s Rose’s fiancé.”

“Is he?” Leon wasn’t the least surprise.

“I despise him though,” Susannah answered. “He’s…not one who will be faithful to Rose.”

“As long as she loves him, it should be enough,” Leon said, trying to sound nonchalant when a part of him was twisted with a feeling he couldn’t describe.

“You’re jesting, right? I would want my husband to love me, too. It can’t just be one sided,” replied Susannah. “Are you just saying that because she’s–”

“I just want her to be happy,” Leon interjected. “Nothing else matters.”

“She won’t be happy, at least not with that man.”

“She looks happy though.”

“Ha! You were staring at them!” Susannah exclaimed. Well, Lady Susy was smart. He can’t believe he just got tricked. “I–”

“It’s all right. I know you still love her and she you,” Susannah said, cutting him off. “You guys won’t ever admit it, I know.”

“Seriously, Susy. Look at her. She would be a fool to still love me.”

“I know she does,” Susannah argued. “I’m her best friend. I know her. She’s no fool. She only thinks she loves that…that thing because you left her and she’s trying to find you in another man.”

“Doesn’t ‘that thing’ have a name?” Leon asked, curious.

“His name is Marcus Lewis Dent, a drunken arse of a marquess. He plays a handsome knight to Rose when all he really does is drink and dally with lightskirts, seeking pleasure wherever his cock leads him.”

Leon was quite alarmed at Susannah’s word usage but only laughs and twirls her another round.

“Aren’t you jealous at all?” Susannah asked, irritated by how he just left everything as if it doesn’t matter.

“‘That thing’ is a marquess. Why should I be? I can never offer Rose the things that he could,” Leon said, though his heart spoke otherwise.

“Trust me. You can give Rose more than he could,” Susannah assured.

“When’s their wedding?” He didn’t know why he asked. It just seems right at the moment.

“Why? Are you going to stop it? Please say yes,” she said, hopefully.

Leon chuckled and shook his head. “No, just curious. I expected her to be married already by the time I return.”

“Well, that’s cruel of you,” Susannah said, punching him lightly on the shoulder. “You know how hard I tried to convince her to reject all the suitors? I wanted her to be with you. I knew you’ll come back. Why did you take so long?”

“It’s complicated,” Leon answered. “Too many things were going on.”

“At least you’re back now, that’s good enough.”

Leon nodded and brought Lady Susannah to a complete stop as the music ended.

“It was a pleasure dancing with you,” he said bowing down to give her hand a kiss.

“The pleasure is mine,” she said, curtsying down to him.

“Heartily,” Leon heard Hargate called from behind them.

“I’m afraid I must go now,” Leon said, helping Lady Susannah straighten up.

“Already?”

Leon nodded. “I believe so.”

“Will we meet again?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

“Where can I find you, then?”

“Call upon me anytime at Hargate Inn. I’ll be there, though I am leaving in a couple of days to manage things back home. Better yet, visit me in Bridlington.”

“Will do, then,” she smiled sadly.

“Good night, Lady Susy,” Leon kissed her hand again with a wink and turned on his heel away to Hargate.

“I see you found yourself a pretty belle,” Hargate said, as they walk outside to the front gate.

“Not what you think,” Leon replied. “Where’s Longsword?”

“Didn’t you see him flirting with Lady Sarah? He was having a good time. I just wanted to talk to you.”

“What is it?” Leon inquired, running his fingers through his hair.

“Did you see Lady Rose?”

“Yes,” he answered nonchalantly. “What of it?”

“You know that was her fiancé she was dancing with?”

“Susy told me,” he said plainly.

“That was Lady Susannah you were dancing with?”

“Yes, what’s your point in this?”

“Nothing, just wanted to make sure you know,” Hargate said.

“I know.”

“Aren’t you going to do anything about it?’”

“I’ve told you, there’s no use. We’re here to investigate, not fall in love.”

“But you are in love, my friend. I was watching you eye her the whole time while dancing with Lady Susannah.”

Great! Not only did Susy realize it but his nosy friend did too.

“I assure you, I wasn’t. She has moved on like I said. I have no reason to ruin things.”

“Well, I’ll give you a bloody good one.”

“I’m not in the mood for violence if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“No,” Hargate shook his head. “Did you know what I found out about that fiancé of Lady Rose?”

“I wouldn’t care less.”

“Oh, you will, my foolish friend. He’s but the Marquess of Lansing!”

That took Leon completely off guard and he looked at Hargate. “Now see here, it‘s no time to joke.”

“This is no joke. While you and Longsword were dancing with pretty madams I was asking around. Chatsworth happened to come by so I questioned him about some of the guests. That fiancé of Lady Rose was one of the guests I asked about.”

“I can’t believe it,” Leon said incredulously. “Right before our very nose? Wait, but if he’s the Marquess of Lansing, that must mean his father is–”

“His father had an accident,” Hargate put in. “He was thrown off a horse or something, according to Chatsworth. That’s his son.”

“Hell!” Leon cursed. “Now what? Am I to be satisfied that he’s already dead?”

“You got his son to take care of,” Hargate chimed in. “Win back Lady Rose in revenge to what his father did. Shouldn’t be that hard.”

“But how are we to know who the other four suspects are if the real Lansing is dead?”

“I’ll investigate in that. Just win your love back.”

“I can’t just rely on you to do everything. It’s as if this was your problem.”

“It’s my duty as a friend,” Hargate said. “Don’t worry.”

“Duty as a friend, my ass!” Leon bellowed throwing his arms out in frustration. “I can’t believe it. I’ve been wasting both yours and Longsword’s time. I should really be searching on my own.”

“Now see here, Heartily. I don’t mind at all. As a member of the House of Lords, I’m here to make sure that justice is served for all the wrongs.”

“You should be doing your duty as a duke and find a wife to bear you an heir,” Leon argued. “You’re not supposed to be doing the dirty work of a bastard like me.” He wasn’t sure what’s gotten into him. A twist of rage just seized him so. “I’m sorry,” he said more softly. “I guess I’ve just been overwhelmed by everything.”

“I understand,” Hargate said. “But trust me, I can find a wife anytime. I’ll help you through your problems first. You don’t have to worry about me not gaining an heir. That’s something for my mother to do.”

“I’m no lord, but I know you have your important duties to tend. Please don’t put me up as priority.”

“Friendship is priority,” Hargate replied. “Duties can wait, unless you let Longsword and I court your sisters, then maybe all this would move along faster.”

Leon gave out a startled laugh and cupped his forehead. “No way in hell,” he said, shaking his head. “Damn, I can’t believe we were just babbling like some old hags on the road.”

Hargate chuckled and nodded in agreement. “Yes, should we get Longsword and go elsewhere? I doubt he’s going to find a countess anyway.”

Leon laughed and nodded.

“Wait here.”

As Hargate strode back inside to get Longsword, Leon’s thought flooded back to the marquess.

The Marquess of Lansing.

Is he really dead?

Could Rose’s fiancé really be the son of that marquess or was Hargate just mistaken?

Things are falling quite fast that Leon couldn’t seem to catch and organize them all.

If Rose’s fiancé was the son of the marquess, what is he to do? He couldn’t actually let her be with the son of a murderer, could he?

But if she’s happy…

Hell! Why are things always so complicated when it comes to Rose? She deserves better, yes. The marquess would be a good match, but if he’s Lansing’s son…Well, that just threw off everything.

What is he to do? Take Hargate’s suggestion?

No, he shook his head.

He can’t. There has to be another way.

But what other way is there?