All the Things You Never Knew

CHAPTER SIX

“Idon’t understand why you’re taking me to Phillipa’s House of

Pleasure, Your Grace,” said Marcus Lewis Dent, as he and the Duke of Hargate step up to the entrance of the whore house. “I have never expected a duke with a high position in the House of Lords like you to–”

“I do this for every lord that is about to become a newly wedded groom,” the duke answered with a smile. “Once I heard about your upcoming wedding with Lady Caralina Rose–or was it Rose Caralina–I planned this out for you.”

“It’s Rose Caralina Dawson,” the marquess corrected. “Ah, yes. I remember now,” the duke nodded.

Laguna knew he’s making a fool out of himself with his ignorant

replies, but never had he thought to be able to trick such a marquess this easily. Just a few simple words introducing himself and the position he held in society won everything. It took fewer words than he’d expected. It seems to him that this marquess is rather fond of lords in high position, especially dukes, and can’t resist any calls from them.

“So we are to do what here?” asked Lansing as Laguna opens the door and step in.

“Get an unlimited amount of pleasure before you set out to be the most honorable husband to your Lady Caralina,” Laguna replied. “Everything’s on me tonight. Just enjoy yourself.”

“I have been quite a celibate for a while too,” Lansing answered. “I give you my most grateful remark, Your Grace. Thank you for this night.”

“No gratitude needed,” Laguna answered. “And for your information, I hate formality. Just call me Hargate, or better Laguna. Your Grace is totally out of the question.”

Lansing looked a bit dumbstruck but nodded. “I see.”

“Oh, look who are here tonight, girls,” came Phillipa, the owner of the House of Pleasure, as she waves her handkerchief seductively in front of Laguna and Lansing’s face. “It’s been quite a while since you visited, Your Grace. Tell me who of my girls do you want tonight and I shall have her send up to your room.”

“Sorry, Phillipa. The pleasure is not my today but my handsome fellow here,” Laguna said, throwing an arm to pull Lansing in closer. “He’s the Marquess of Lansing, and would like to have a bit of fun before he gets married.”

Phillipa looked disappointed, but flashed a sugary smile at Lansing and scan him down with her eyes. “Handsome indeed. Might break my girls’ heart to know you’re about to get wedded off, but they would love to have you back here at any time. You may take a few as your mistresses, too, if you would like.”

“That pleasure is most honorably mine, Lady Phillipa,” Lansing said, raising her hands to his lips.

Phillipa fan herself nervously and replied swiftly, “Ah, charming. I’m no lady. Just Phillipa. Should we get to the drafting to see which of my girls would suit you?”

“I totally can’t wait,” Lansing exclaimed. “Show me the ladies!”

Hargate smiled delightfully as he watches a group of Phillipa’s girls came crowding around Lansing and brought him upstairs.

His plan was sure to work, and that Gareth Longsword better get here quickly with Lady Rose.

“Lady Rose is not home?” Gareth was rather disappointed when the maid told him so. “Where did she go? It’s late in the night.”

“You shouldn’t be calling upon her this late then,” the maid said rudely. “A proper lord wouldn’t.”

“What are you trying to say? It has matters to do with his lordship, the Marquess of Lansing,” Gareth replied infuriated.

What kind of maids does Viscount Herring hire to watch his daughter?

“His lordship? Did something happen to him?” the maid asked, worried.

“It’s private. I need to talk to Lady Rose,” Gareth said. “I might as well leave if she’s not home.”

“She’s not. If it’s that important you would’ve told me.” “Forget it.”

With that, he turned and swung up onto his horse.

He was not going to bother with that ill-mannered maid. He was an earl for Lord’s sake.

If he was the employer of that maid, he would have sent her packing. She’s not behaving properly in that role. He doesn’t know how Lady Rose can stand to have all those maids, his valet was certainly enough to annoy him sometimes.

And where the heck did she go? Hargate and his plan would be ruined if he can’t find her.

Did she go to a friend’s house, or was the maid just lying?

Did she run out in the middle of the night? That maid should have watched her.

Blast it! What is he to do?

The sound of horses started him into a halt and he watches as a carriage approached him.

“What the–” He cursed silently to himself as he realized who was driving it. “Halt! Halt! Halt!” he called out.

“Who in the world–” Leon pulled hard against the reign of the horses and tried to stop the carriage before it hits the madman in front of them. “What are you…” he stopped as he recognized it was Longsword with his hand up in the air.

Hell! He didn’t want this. Not with Rose in the carriage. “L-Leon, what’s wrong?” came Rose from inside the carriage. He looked down to see her sticking her head out the window and

told her to get back in as he jumps off to confront Longsword. “Heartily? You’re back already? What are you doing out here so

late?” Longsword asked. “Where’s Hargate?”

“I was going to ask you of the same.”

“Why are you driving that carriage out?”

“I have business to do,” he said flatly, hoping Longsword would

stop and let him on his way.

“Who was that in the carriage? Is it Lady Rose? Did you abduct

her?”

Damn, he didn’t think Longsword would see Rose and recognize

her. “Hell no!” Leon bellowed. “Just taking her–”

“He’s taking me home,” Rose interjected, cutting him off as she

got out of the carriage.

She was no longer in her disguise.

“Wow. It was just a guess,” Longsword said with a grin. Leon had the urge to jump up and tackle Longsword down for

having to make him admit it.

“What are you two doing out here anyway?” Longsword asked,

raising an eyebrow at Leon.

What am I doing? Rose had asked herself once the carriage started moving.

This wasn’t her intention.

She was only supposed to get a glimpse of Leon and get back the invitation then return home–not spend half an hour in his presence having him dress her hair, nor riding home in a carriage driven by him.

Oh lord!

What would Lord Lansing think if he finds out? He would certainly jilt her. She would be ruined and stay a spinster for the rest of her life. She would be a disgrace to her family.

She should have thought twice before she trotted off to Hargate Inn and got into this mess.

But then…did she really care?

No matter how much she despises him for the past, she’s quite happy to have him still worry about her. He’s still the same man she had known. Never had he change. Still calm and protective as ever.

In fact, that was the reason she’d fallen in love with him in the first place. He had saved and protected her from facing a fate similar to the one she had encounter with that Bruno and Kentle.

That day…

Her thought trailed off. She can’t simply think back. Otherwise…

“What the hell!” She heard Leon curse outside.

Leon muttered some words over the horses’ cry and feel the carriage come to a stop.

Did something go wrong?

She stuck her head out to ask Leon only to get dismiss back inside.

She heard him jump off and walk away shouting out to someone.

Someone? A man.

Oh God, she’s going to get caught!

The thought panic her and she look around wondering what to do.

She’ll be ruined!

There’s nothing she can do.

As Rose listens, she realized that the man Leon was speaking to was one of his companions and the panic in her chest eased a little.

He was asking Leon about where he was going and then to her surprise, asked if it was her that’s inside the carriage!

Oh this ridiculous disguise doesn’t work!

She strips it off and threw it in the carriage.

Knowing she’d been found out, there’s not much she can do except get out and try to save herself.

“Get back in the carriage,” Leon ordered her, but Rose paid no heed.

She has to save her reputation.

“Mr. Heartily is just taking me home,” Rose said nervously out to the companion of Leon’s. “I was out looking for my fiancé and just happen to stumble across him.”

“Is that so?” the friend of Leon seems to doubt her, but then added, “I know where his lordship is. In fact, I was coming out to find you myself and take you to him.”

She heard Leon cursed and her eyes widened in shock.

“What?” He was looking for her? She barely knew him.

“I’m Gareth, the Earl of Longsword,” the man introduced, bowing to her. “I saw your fiancé and thought to fetch you.”

“Fetch me?” Rose went completely blank for a moment. “For what?”

“He’s drunk at the brothel of Phillipa’s,” the earl finished.

The word slapped at her and raged filled her suddenly.

Sure she had said it’s all right since he was a man, but with a lord telling her that he’s at a brothel and it happening at the very moment, she lost it.

“Show me to him!” she blurted before anything else.

“My pleasure,” the earl replied, reaching out his hand. “Get up here.”

Rose took hold of his hand and he swung her up behind him on the horse murmuring something to Leon and rode them away.

“Longsword!” Leon shouted angrily as Longsword swung Rose up and rode off into the darkness.

Did he just say he was taking Rose to Phillipa’s brothel to get her fiancé? What was Longsword thinking? He was the proper earl and knew this was wrong.

Without much thought, he jumped back on the carriage and drove out after them.

What is this all about? Why was Longsword bothering with bringing Rose?

“You’re really sure his lordship is over here?” Rose asked, still unable to believe what this Earl of Longsword had told her.

“I made sure I wasn’t seeing doubles before coming to get you,” the Earl replied.

“I don’t see any reasons why he would be at a whore house when he’s marrying me,” she said. She thought he was better than this.

“Lady Rose, we’re men. And men don’t always act as honorable as they appear before a lady,” he said. “You don’t really have to go with me if it makes you uncomfortable then.”

“No,” Rose shook her head. “I want to confirm your observation.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“I can’t until I have seen it with my own eyes,” she replied, and took the lead in the walk as they arrive at the brothel.

Yes. Exactly as Gareth had wanted.

Lady Rose is in a raging fury and is most determined to seek the marquess out. He will have to say that this lady of Leon has a quick temper. He’d better be careful with his actions because this Lady Rose now seems to be in the mood of shooting off his manhood from announcing her fiancé’s dallying with light-skirted madams at the brothel.

Longsword wonders if Hargate has taken the case to its climax yet. He’d better hurry up with the pace because this Lady Rose is coming up fast. Gareth doesn’t want them to arrive at the wrong timing but just at the perfect scene.

Plus, Leon was out there on his way too. They have to act fast. Leon didn’t look too happy when he had dragged away Lady Rose.

There would surely be hell to pay.

He’s totally sorry for having to do this but it’s the only good choice to bring Leon and her back together.

She’s to lose that marquess after all so let it be this that parts them.

God, he just hopes Lady Rose’s not on the verge of killing here. It would be quite an unpleasant sight.

Gareth hurried after her and they both stop in front of the House of Pleasure glowing in the dark with shadows lingering around the window.

“So this is it?” she asked, cocking her head to one side.

“Yes,” Longsword answered. “Phillipa’s House of Pleasure as it’s called.”

“It won’t be so pleasurable once I find that Lord Lansing.”

“You won’t do anything violent, would you?”

“Depends on what you mean by violent,” she answered, and ran up the steps to start pounding on the door.

She was mad. Totally mad.

Gareth has to do something about this. He has to find Hargate.

He saw the door opened and fortunately, it was Hargate.

Lady Rose didn’t seem to care but pushed right in.

Hargate waved down at Gareth and whistled for him to come up.

“You came just in time,” Hargate told him. “Lansing’s just about to come down.”

“I thought I was too early.”

“Almost a little too late, but you made it.”

“Lady Rose is really in a fury temper,” he said.

Hargate nodded. “I can see she is.”

“You suspect this would work?”

“Most certainly,” Hargate said. “Though I might have to pay extra for any damages she might make.”

“You did have your share of women, did you?”

“Not this time,” he shook his head. “And not for the many years to come.”

“Heartily’s on his way here too,” Longsword said. “I encountered him with Lady Rose and just kind of stole her.”

“He’s back already?” Hargate looked a bit worried. “Very well. I’ll explain everything.”

There was a sudden crashed in the house with several screeching women and a few shouting voices before Lady Rose dashed out angrily, and ran her way out into the darkness of the night.

“I suppose a riot is caused in there,” Hargate said with a light whistle.

Gareth shook his head. “This is so not good.”

“Rose!” came the marquess as he dashes out after her.

“Hold on, Lansing,” Hargate said, halting him. “What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know,” Lansing said breathlessly. “How did Rose know I’m–”–he cupped his forehead and shook his head– “No. Now she’s going to be mad at me.”

“Perhaps we weren’t careful enough when we came here,” Hargate said.

Gareth has to admit that this fool of a duke is pretty good at playing his game.

“Maybe,” said Lansing, “but I have to go after her.”

“Don’t waste the time,” Hargate replied. “She’s angry now. She won’t listen. Wait till tomorrow.”

Lansing hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Don’t worry, old pal. She’s already mad so get done with your business here and explain things tomorrow,” Gareth suggested. “There’s no use bothering when she’s in a fury temper.”

“But–” The marquess was going to say something but then stop. “I guess you’re right.”

“Don’t worry,” Hargate said to Lansing. “If anything goes bad, I’ll talk to her. She’ll understand.”

“Thanks,” Lansing cheered a little as Hargate spoke.

“Now get back in there and finish having your fun before you’re strip off the chance,” Longsword put in, afraid that Leon might arrive and things won’t be good.

“Aye,” the marquess saluted and stumbles back inside.

“I think Lansing has the dumbest son in the world,” Hargate said, shaking his head.

“I would’ve run after the lady,” Longsword said.

“Oh, well. Let’s see if our little friend Leon would come.”

Rose could hardly believe this was happening to her. Again! The moment she rushed into the whorehouse of Phillipa’s she’d encountered the most repulsive scene ever. It was almost like the sight she had seen a decade ago. His lordship was half-naked with his arms around two floozy half dressed women flirting and laughing.

Before Rose knew it, her temper had ticked off and she was in an aggressive act yelling, and beating the heck out of every furniture in the house. It wasn’t until the tears begin to strike through the barrier of her weakness that she came to her senses and bolted out of the place.

How much heartbreak is she going to have to endure before she finds true love?

First Leon, then Marcus.

Could any men ever be trusted?

She had thought to be the best wife for Marcus, hasn’t she? He chose a whore over her...just like that God damn Leon had!

What do those whores have that she doesn’t? Bosoms the size of a pumpkin? An hour glass figure that shows all temptingly seductive curves? A voice that lies and flatters without much to its meaning? A body to sell for nothing more than business of unimportance?

Rose wiped at her eyes and slows down her pace of running as she thinks to herself.

Why should she cry? There’s no reason. She should have known better from her experience with Leon. Men are never faithful. Not a single one of them. Their words were all lies to fool the heart.

Devil takes it, she’s letting history repeat itself again! She had tried so hard not to let it happen. And here she is, crying over the same situation from years ago.

Curse that Leon for taking it to effect in the first place, now it has ruined her whole–

“Rose!”

She stopped and tries to run off into the woods as she saw that it was Leon calling and riding towards her on the carriage.

He jumped off and ran right after her, reaching her within a breath.

“Rose!” He shook her shoulders and tried to hold her still as she struggles.

“Let me go!” she cried, pushing against him.

She despises him and all men.

“What is wrong with you?” he asked, gazing down at her.

Rose quickly turns away as the tears begin to form in her eyes again, and shook her head.

“It’s none of your–”

Before she could finish, he pulled her into his arms and hold her, blinding everything else.

Leon couldn’t think of anything he can do to comfort Rose, except embrace her like this to ease her pain.

The moment he’d looked into her eyes, he could see how badly she was hurt.

Longsword must have taken her right into the brothel to catch that Lansing.

He would thrash the hell out of that man for this if he wasn’t so damn considerate of Rose’s feelings.

He knows he had hurt her once, but there was a good reason and he tends to make it up. Lansing had different intentions.

It bothers Leon to see Rose in this way. He still couldn’t forgive himself for having her suffer like this in the past. He wanted to apologize and tell her that he still loves and cares for her, but it seems she would never trust him again.

“Rose,” he murmured, smoothing her hair. “What’s the matter? Why are you–”

She raised a finger to his lips, shutting him off and pulls away from his embrace. “It doesn’t matter now,” she said, quietly with a little sniff.

She was crying.

No…why is she crying?

And what doesn’t matter?

“Rose.” Leon was about to raise a hand to her shoulder but thought better at the moment to restrain.

“Are all you men this way?” she asked, turning slowly to look at him.

Damn if her eyes doesn’t make him want to pull her back.

“What do you mean?” Leon asked, confused at her question.

“Lie to a woman that you love her and then run off to a f*cking whorehouse to dally with those tarts of a bitch!”

Leon was caught by surprise at the sudden change of tone in Rose’s voice and her use of terms. And also at the situation she’d mentioned. He’d never seen her so furious–well, not since the last time he had done her wrong anyway.

Her glare was so set and sharp that if it was a militant weapon it would’ve killed him right this instant.

“Why do you ask?” Leon said, not knowing what else there is to say.

“Tell me,” she ordered infuriatingly. “Why do you men choose those whores over a proper lady?”

Leon would have laugh at that ridiculous question if Rose didn’t look so malevolent at the moment, but knew better.

“I can’t really say,” he said with a light shrug. “Men have different intentions.” That was merely the truth. Men do have different intentions. He knows he does.

“Do they?” She raised an eyebrow at him and sighed. “And what are their intentions may I ask?”

Why is she doing this to him?

“I can’t really say,” Leon answered.

“What were your intentions when you did it?”

She looked and sounded so threatening that Leon hesitated a bit.

His intentions? He can’t tell her.

“I can’t really–”

“Don’t say you ‘can’t really say’ or else I’m going to burst!” she interjected madly.

“I can’t–why do you want to know anyway?” he asked halfwittedly.

“You–forget it!” she cried, turning away. “I know how you men are now. You can never admit your wrongs. You and his lordship are just the same!”

“Wait a minute. You can’t compare me to him. We’re two different–”

“Oh, you two are just alike! I hate you both! Get out of my life!”

“Rose–”

Leon reached out to grab her but she had already fled her way down the road. He wanted to go after her but know it’s not going to get any better.

Why is she having such a mood swing? First she was all miserable and tearing, but then pleasant in his arms for a moment. Now she’s ranting on about him and that Lord Lansing, comparing them to one another.

What exactly was all this?

He’d only been gone for a few days and troubles are already beating at his heels.

He has got to seek out Hargate and Longsword, for this must have been a game of theirs.

He has no doubts about it.

Curious, Leon rushed to Phillipa’s to find Hargate and Longsword standing outside at the bottom of the steps.

“Finally you’re here,” Longsword said with a wave of his hand, acting as if nothing had happened.

“You’ve made a new record, Heartily,” said Hargate, looking at his pocket watch. “Bridlington, East Riding is hours away and you made it here quite faster than I have expected. When did you depart anyway?”

“That is not important,” Leon answered, not in the mood for jokes. “What’s important now is that Longsword just took Rose away to here and had her crying back when I was coming. I need an explanation.”

“Oh, that.” Hargate sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, I can explain.”

“Speak then,” Leon demanded.

After seeing how upset Rose was, he’s not going to let that marquess off. Not to mention that he himself was involved in the situation that made Rose cried.

“Relax, Leon,” Longsword said. “You look so enraged.” “I am!” Leon snapped. “God knows I am!”

“About what?” Longsword asked rather dumbly.

Leon waved a dismissive hand. “Just tell me why the f*ck that Lansing was here,” he said. “Besides the obvious, I know you two had something involve.”

“We took him here for a little fun,” Hargate answered.

Leon turned and narrowed his eyes at Hargate. “A little fun?”

“Well, it was a part of the plan I had,” Hargate said.

Leon arched an eyebrow. “A plan?”

“While you were gone, I hatched out a plan to help reunite you and your beloved little Rose,” Hargate replied.

“And?”

“It went successfully,” Longsword put in with a grin of a dupe.

“Did it?” Leon highly doubted that after encountering Rose. “And what was that plan, may I ask?” Although he already had a sense of it.

“I called Lansing out to Phillipa’s House of Pleasure and told Longsword to get Lady Rose to catch him in the act of intimacy.”

Leon could hardly believe what Hargate had said. “Oh hell,” he cursed. “Of all the plans in the world!”

“You should be happy,” Longsword told him. “Lady Rose got quite furious and almost destroyed the whole place. You should be able to win her love now.”

“Bloody hell I would!” Leon had never thought to be this piqued. How could this possibly happen again? No wonder Rose was so angry and compared him to that Lansing.

“You are not happy, aren’t you?” Hargate asked.

Stupid question.

“Of course not!” Leon bellowed. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“Not in the least,” Hargate admitted.

“Of course you wouldn’t.” Leon gave a sigh and paced the ground.

They wouldn’t know.

“Are you…okay?” Hargate asked. “Want to tell us what’s on your mind?”

Obviously not.

Leon shook his head and stop to release an indignant breath.

“We made it worst, didn’t we?” Longsword murmured with a light shook of his head. “I told you it wasn’t a good idea, Hargate.”

“I thought it would help–”

“It’s all right,” Leon interjected. Though their little act made him most furious of all things, he’d got to let them off. They didn’t know about his past with Rose and how they had fallen apart.

“You guys were trying to help and I am most definitely grateful,” he told them, flashing a light grin.

“Tell us, Heartily,” Hargate demanded, walking up to Leon. “I know something has been weighing on your mind. Your disapproval of this tells me so.”

“It’s really none of your concern, Hargate,” Leon answered coldly. “Might as well leave it.”

“No,” Hargate objected. “You are my friend and I intended to help you. Makes me feel bad to fail. Please tell me.”

“No,” Longsword put in. “Tell us. We’re here for you, Leon.”

Bastards of a friend they were, Leon thought to himself as he turns to look at them. Friends are truly idiots who would always stand by you after a foolish act. How is he ever going to keep his privacy to himself with these two idiots lurking in every time? Perhaps it’s time he tells them of his past, for he’d been waiting a long time to get rid of it.

“Let’s return to the inn and sort it out,” said Hargate. “This isn’t the place.”

“Fine,” Leon replied, moving back towards the table with a bottle of whiskey to pour himself a glass as they got back to the inn.

He took a nice long shot and finally settles it down.

“I did the exact same thing as that Lansing ass had a decade ago to Rose,” Leon told them, not hesitating in any way.

“What?” Hargate and Longsword were stunned to hear. Leon couldn’t believe he did it either.

“I didn’t actually have sex with any women, mind you,” Leon added bluntly. “It was merely a plan of my own to make her let go.”

“Good God!” Hargate exclaimed. “No wonder your Lady Rose was so infuriated.”

“Why did you do such a thing?” Longsword asked.

“Primarily to keep her safe from the enemies of my family,” Leon added. “Secondly–”

“Why did you choose to fake a scene like that to break her off?” Hargate inquired this time. “You should have done something else like tell her directly.”

“Or never break up with her at all,” Longsword replied.

“I suppose I was having the same shallow thoughts as you guys were with Lansing,” Leon answered, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. He rather dislikes revealing personal information about himself. “It was to make Rose give up on me and go on to find another man who would love and care for her,” Leon continued after his drink. “But now that I looked back, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done it, but I did. Now, there’s nothing really that I–”

“All right, Heartily,” Hargate cut in. “I understand now of your reasons. Perhaps you should save the rest and explain it to Rose. She would want to know that. It would most definitely reverse her heart back to you.”

“Are you crazy? I can’t tell her that!” Leon said, swooning down on a chair nearby. “She would never–”

“If it’s the truth, then you should tell her,” Longsword interjected. “Though Hargate’s plan had somewhat succeeded to make Rose angry at that Lansing, she is still under his control because of their engagement. You must work to break it off. I see the truth of your story to be the perfect solution.”

“But she could always jilt–”

“Longsword’s right, Heartily,” Hargate came in. “It’s at your advantage now to patch up the hole in between you and Rose. I guess I have helped you by getting her ticked off by Lansing’s act at Phillipa’s. You must continue on with the next act to the game in winning back little Rose.”

Leon sighed, and covered his face with his hands, shaking his head lightly. Is he always going to listen to his friends? Though he will have to admit that they’re never wrong with suggestions. It’s always, no matter how incredulous it sounds, successful at the end.

“I’ll think about it,” Leon said, after a brief moment. He hasn’t quite made up his mind yet and he still has the business about that marquess’s father to handle.

“You can’t think now,” Hargate said. “You have to do it. Don’t be like the weaklings with all talk and no show. It’s quite dull, I tell you.”

“Not to mention you’re going to possibly kill her future husband,” Longsword added. “You might as well tell her the truths that are running in your mind and get her to understand. That way, she would know that you had been as loyal as a dog to its owner and had never done anything to betray her.”

“Could I?” Leon sounded like a fool to ask. He didn’t know if it’s the whiskey kicking in or what. He can hold his liquor well, except for that night with Hargate and them, but that can’t be it. Maybe he just couldn’t make himself believe Longsword’s words.

“Most definitely,” Hargate added in agreement. “The game isn’t over. You can still play to win.”

Leon thought about it, and brought himself to another glass of whiskey. He needed it right now. Somewhat his mind is not acting right because now it tells him…Do it!

Do it!

Yes. He’s going to do it and make right everything. He’s going to explain to Rose about everything he’d done, his intentions that she had asked, anything she would wish to know, maybe even his family’s secret. He could trust her with it, could he?

Then after that is done, the war begins.