All the Things You Never Knew

CHAPTER SEVEN

Dawson House

Rose lay on her bed and stared up at the ceiling through the darkness of the room. She wanted to cry again from the event earlier with Lord

Lansing’s depravity but she couldn’t. After encountering with Leon again, she realizes that she doesn’t care one teeny whit about Lord Lansing.

It’s Leon. Always Leon.

She hated how it all ends up back to him. No matter how much she tries to forget. No matter how much she tries to hate him, she can’t. Sure it makes her angry to think of the past, but one little moment with him shatters everything and she no longer remember the intentions she’d had in mind.

Oh, how she wanted to fling herself back into his arms. She would have if only…if only Lansing didn’t bring back the image of the past so clearly back into her head. She would have cried and let Leon comfort her. That is what he always does best. Comfort her.

However did that comfort turned to distress? Rose had no idea.

How did it? she wondered. How did Leon and they break up? Sure he was having his way with a tart at the brothel, but why? She had never really thought about it till now. What did she do wrong? Their love has been so…enchanted until one stupid night…

One stupid night…that destroyed everything.

Why did Leon do that to her? Rose still wanted to know.

As much as she hates to admit it, their encounter had been wonderful, though it’s only for a few minutes. Rose feel blessed. She just can’t show it again, for she fears of the past. If it was to lurk back, she would forever be ruined.

“Oh, Lord of Heaven,” she prayed, clasping her hands together with her eyes closed. “Please shine on me with your light and wash away my misery and sorrow with the purity of your tears–”

“Good God, honey,” came a sudden familiar voice from her window, startling her up. “Lord of Heaven doesn’t cry. Ever!”

“Leon?”

Great! Whenever she thinks about him, he’s there. And when he’s there, all the fury from the past arises.

“Give me a hand over here, would you?”

Stupid idiot.

Rose knew she shouldn’t do this, but got up anyway and walk off towards the open window.

“Why are you here?” she hissed, trying to sound as furious as she could. “Didn’t I tell you to get out of my life?”

“I did,” Leon answered. He looked a bit dazed, and smells like…whiskey and whatever alcohol beverage it was that he had drank.

“I did,” he said again, pushing himself up onto the windowsill. “But I’m back. I’m back for good, Rose.”

She arched an eyebrow at him. “Are you?”

“I haven’t yet done anything…May I get in first instead of hanging out here? Someone might see me,” he said, raising a hand to his head. “And damn if I’m not getting a headache.”

A smile tug at Rose’s lips as she move aside and let Leon fell through the window onto the floor. He was an ass. Always had been one. She just can’t seem to stay mad at him long enough.

She knows she should really push him back out to prevent a scandal from erupting, but thought not.

She needs him, whether she admits it or not.

“Look, Rose,” he began as he stood up from the ground and adjusted his crooked cravat, which really has no point because it was still off to the side. “I need to talk to you.”

“About what?” she asked, moving off to her bed, which was a total mistake because Leon was coming right after and the feelings she had wasn’t good.

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to ravish you or anything,” he said. It was as if he was reading her mind.

“I wasn’t thinking of that or anything,” she answered, which was the truth, if not fully.

“I have decided…” He cupped his head with a wince and fell on her bed.

“What the–” She quickly move to her feet and swat at his arm. “What do you think you’re doing? Get off!”

“I need to rest,” he murmured. “I ran here and I don’t feel good.”

“Of course, you don’t. You have the distasteful smell of alcohol and whatever else,” she said, settling down next to him.

He turned onto his back and looked at her. “You’re not mad anymore, are you?”

Rose flushed at his gaze and shook her head. “No.” She was earlier, but how could she now with him here so…charmingly inebriated?

“Then do you have time to listen to my ‘intentions’? You asked me earlier,” he said, swinging an arm over her lap.

“Your intentions?”

He smiled crookedly at her and rose up, pinning her down on the bed.

“Leon!” she cried, trying to push him away. “Get off me! What’s wrong with you?”

“Shhh…” He put a finger to her lips and rested his head on her chest. “I need this…so I can talk.”

“Get off me!” she snapped.

He covered her mouth with his hand and told her, “Sh” again.

“You’re too loud, Rose. Please be quiet.”

“You–” Rose flinched away, and finally gave up. “Fine. Your intentions? Make it quick.”

He smiled and sniffed into her hair. “Good girl.”

God, what is wrong with him? He couldn’t be that foxed, could he? And what is wrong with her?

It wrecks her nerve so to be pinned under Leon like this. She could hear her heart beating wildly within her chest against his. Surely he could hear it, too, from the silence of the night.

“Rose,” Leon murmured, nuzzling her neck. “I’m sorry.”

Sorry?

“About?”

“Everything…from that day…I left you.”

“And you’re telling me this now because…?”

“Look.” He sat up and pulled her into his arms, embracing her warmly. “I know you were mad earlier, and I understand.”

“And your point is?”

Leon sighed, and turned her face to look at him. “I want to tell you, love, that my intentions were far from Lansing’s and that you shouldn’t be mad at me anymore.”

Love?

“Whatever. You are just like him.”

A light chuckle escaped him, and he flicked at her nose. “No. I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“You…didn’t?”

Quite unbelievable.

“I did it…only to make you let go.”

“What!” Indignation struck her suddenly and she pushed him off. “Why did you?”

“You don’t understand.”

“I will never understand if you don’t explain your little behind right now, Mister!”

“You’re quite demanding.”

Why, of course! She has to be demanding now! She wanted to know why, didn’t she? Might as well make him explain it. But how would she know if it was a jest or not?

“I know you wouldn’t believe it, Rose. I know women don’t ever believe a man when they say this after so many wrongs, but I have to say it,” Leon said, running his hand through her hair. “I have to. I have many things to say, but let this be the first.” He gazed into her eyes once more and gently pushed her back down on the bed. “Because I love you.”

“You…what?”

His mouth met hers, and all thoughts were lost.

Because I love you…

Leon didn’t know if telling Rose so was a lapse or not. But hell, he would be lying to himself if he denies it because deep down, he knows that Rose had always been his love. The one he had wanted all along. The future of his life. If only he can make room for her to fit in.

His family was too dangerous for her to be a part of with all the enigmatic foes lurking around. There were five suspects he had been looking for, but there could be many others in their association that could cause a series of rampage. He doesn’t want Rose to feel insecure or be endangered in anyway.

Despite how many times Leon told himself that, he still can’t restrain himself from desiring her. He had promised not to violate her, but it seems he’s doing exactly that. He can’t hold himself back. Not today, tomorrow, now, not ever!

He doesn’t know if it’s the four bottle of whiskey he had chugged down earlier before he came that is making him reveal himself or his own truthful heart that is speaking. No. Definitely not his truthful heart. For one thing’s for sure, it’s not being true. It has never been. But with Rose, the truth is what he wants to spill.

“Rose,” he murmured against her lips. It’s been so long. Too long. He hadn’t kiss a mouth this pleasant ever since their break up. How he misses her so. Miss her with all his heart. She just doesn’t know how long he had endured the tedious life scavenging and hoping for the end of his adversity. Or how long he had waited to finally have the opportunity to face her once more.

“What did you say again?” Rose asked him, breathlessly moving her mouth away from his.

“Because I love you,” Leon repeated again. He said it so naturally without any hesitation at all.

It must really have been the whiskey.

“I don’t believe you,” she said, turning loose from him. “If you do, you wouldn’t have done that to me.”

“Rose, I–” He doesn’t know how to say this. Trying his best to prevent her from getting enrage he added, “Please believe me on this before anything else. I did not lay one finger on that woman the day you caught us together.”

He saw her flinch away in pain and move over to cradle her again.

“I know it sounds like a sham to you since I was half–” he hesitated but went on– “–since I was half… dressed, but I swear I never took her on or anything else,” he told her, grimacing as he feel a sharp aching pain to the side of his head.

“Leon, are you–”

“I’m f-fine,” he winced as Rose’s hand came over his head. Leon feels bliss to still have her care for him after he had hurt and deceived her.

“How much did you drink anyway?” she asked, lightly massaging the side of his head. “Hasn’t been more than an hour since we–”

“Can you not do that please?” he said, moving her hand away. As much as he enjoys her touch, the pain was afflicting too much. He probably went over his limit today taking down four bottles of Scotch whiskey. It seems to be going into his head and impairing his vision as she touches his head.

“I think I need to leave,” he said, rolling to his feet and slightly swaying back. Now doesn’t seem to be such a good time for him to speak, though probably it’s the easiest since liquor tends to get the truth out of him.

“Already?” she sounded rather disappointed. “You haven’t quite yet explain–”

He shook his head to straighten his sight. “Wrong timing,” he said, walking off to the open window he had come through. “Promise me you would consider what I had said and not let the past haunt you anymore. And please–”–he looked into her eyes and lift a foot out the window– “Please don’t marry Lansing,” he said unexpectedly.

The damn Scotch.

“Leon.” Rose walked over to him and gently cupped his face. “Are you sure you could get home?”

Was she even listening to him?

“I was able to get here; I should be able to return as well.”

“Sure. I don’t want you here any longer,” she said to him.

Total lie, he can tell.

He could never understand Rose. He could tell that she wants him to stay. Why does she have to deny it? The kiss they had just share, she had been willing to give it to him.

Women are so hard to understand. You give them pleasure and they reject it all at the end.

It’s to Leon’s advantage now to leave and clear his head before it gets worse. For some reason, he feels as if he’s going to start up a really regretful speech if he stays any longer with Rose. All the things he never wanted to say would come out. With Rose, secrets are hard to hide away. Right now he just wanted to tell her everything–of all the things she never knew. Every little secret of his life, his mission, his family–all the things on his mind.

“Sorry, Rose,” he said, reaching out to take her hand. “I’ll finish everything we have started tonight when my duty is over. Please, just don’t marry that Lansing.”

“Why–”

He cut her off with a brief kiss and slid off the windowsill and out into the night.

Rose touched her lips and watches as Leon clumsily slid out of her window and crept out into the darkness. She could still taste and feel the imprint of his lips on hers. It had been so long since she’d been kissed. Even Lord Lansing didn’t get the opportunity yet to kiss her like Leon.

Because I love you…

Those words shined on Rose like the rays of a glowing sun on a midsummer morning. Did he really mean it?

Lord Lansing had told her the same, but it hadn’t meant this much to her.

And why didn’t Leon finish telling her of his intentions?

So many questions were rising to her head.

Why did he tell her not to marry Lord Lansing? He didn’t seem to care before. He even said he wasn’t going to attend her wedding. What has gotten into him now? Was it because he had too much to drink? She knows he can get a little tick off when he’s drunk and speak of unexpected things. His ‘I love you’ probably didn’t mean as much as she’d hope either. It’s best if she doesn’t raise her hopes so high, but that’s highly impossible because since his return, all she can ever think about is him and everything that they had shared in the past. All anger had seemed to vanish. It does spark back at times but she’s not as infuriated as she had been back then.

Don’t marry that Lansing…

Lansing. Rose still has to deal with his lordship. For sure he’s going to call upon her on the morrow. She can’t decide on what to do now about their engagement.

He sure wasn’t as faithful as he had claimed to be.

No man is ever faithful, she reminded herself.

Walking back to her bed, Rose slowly lies down and closed her eyes to think. Her marriage with Lord Lansing was to take place in three months. She was most delighted to wed him before Leon showed up and turned everything around. She has to delay it, for she can’t fully make a vow at the altar that her heart is contradicting with. Tomorrow if Lord Lansing comes, if he dares, that is, she would work it out with him. There’s shouldn’t be a rush in the marriage. Plus, there’s plenty of time to spare.

Susannah was probably right.

Her heart could still change.

Leon’s back, you know, the most maddening part of her mind spoke. She knows he’s back that’s why everything was so difficult. Her life and decisions would have been so much easier if he hadn’t. Perhaps if he had been more open, everything would have been all right.

Why can’t he just be truthful and share his thoughts with her? No matter what happens, no matter what the hardship is, no matter the price, she will pay just to know what’s inside his heart and what he truly wishes. Everything in the past, she’s able to forget as long as he is honest with her. Madness comes and goes, but it doesn’t stay forever. She can live up to meet his criteria if she wishes, whether he likes it or not.

Yes! A brilliant idea came to her. She would try to make Leon reveal himself. She knows he is hiding something with those understatements that he never clearly goes into explicit details. She would use the Marquess of Lansing to resent him. If he really cares and love her like he had said, everything should go smoothly.

Rose smiled to herself again and pulled the cover under her chin.

She had denied Leon of everything but a part of her heart is still open.

Hargate Inn

“I’ve tried,” Leon said, falling exhaustingly onto the bed with a grunt. “I need to sleep.”

“Whoever told you to drink so much?” said Longsword, as he flip through another old Times paper. “You won’t be able to tell Lady Rose anything with that head.”

He had told her the most important thing though.

“It’s late anyway,” said Hargate. “Time to get a good night’s sleep. It’s nearly two in the morning.”

“Sure.” And before Leon knew it, he was off into the darkness.

The Duke of Hargate and Earl of Longsword left the room to which Leon slept in, and went out into the hall.

Hargate Inn was usually a busy and crowded place but tonight it seems to be more on the down side and relaxing.

“We did try our best to get Heartily and Lady Rose back together,” said Longsword as they walk into the salon. “Though our– or rather your technique wasn’t as successful as we had predicted, it was well worth it.”

Hargate sighed, and hung his head wearily as he sat down on the couch. “I guess everything should be all right.”

“You sound a little despairing, what’s wrong?” Longsword asked, settling down on the couch across from Hargate.

“Nothing,” he replied, rubbing his forehead. “Gareth, do you think you could help Leon on with Lansing’s case for a couple days? I have some businesses to tend.”

“Businesses? Like what? Need Heartily and I to come along?”

“No,” Hargate shook his head. “It’s…part of my role in the House of Lords.”

“House of Lords, huh? If that’s the case then good luck.”

“Thanks,” Hargate answered, and flip out his pocket watch to check the time. “I think I’m going to skip sleep tonight and go out on my mission from the Lords,” he said, getting up.

“Why not wait till tomorrow?” Longsword asked.

“I want to get it over with,” Hargate replied. “Tell Heartily tomorrow that I’ll be back in a fortnight or two.”

“It’s that big of a deal?”

“Yes.”

“Heartily just got back, and now you’re leaving. Makes me feel like an idler with nothing much on my case.”

“You can always go out to search for more countesses,” Hargate put in helpfully with a smile.

“I have decided to give up on that,” Longsword answered with a breath of resignation. “There are no women that would meet my criteria.”

“Really?” Hargate arched an eyebrow at him and laughed. “Interesting. Didn’t know you have set qualities for women.”

“No, not women. A bride, actually,” Longsword said.

“Matters not.”

“So you’re heading out?”

“Yes.” Hargate fixed on his waistcoat and tidy up his cravat. “It’s a quarter pass three so I must get moving.”

“I totally hate you and Leon for leaving me all the time, Laguna. But all right. I’ll see you soon then.”

“Please call upon me if there’s any emergency. I promise to make it in a flash.”

“Got it.”

With a nod of farewell, Hargate grabbed his hat from the stand by the window and slipped out, leaving Longsword behind.

“How are you feeling?” the earl asked Leon the next morning as they sat down for breakfast in the dining room of Hargate Inn.

“Much better,” he replied, taking a drink of his cup of water. Alcohol is not in his favor at the moment after last night. “Where’s Laguna this morning?” he asked, when he realize that Hargate didn’t rise to join them.

“He said he had some business to deal with through the House of Lords,” Longsword replied, taking a bite out of his buttered toast. “He said he will be back in a fortnight or two.”

“That’s way too long,” Leon replied, rubbing the side of his head.

“He said he will make it if we have any emergency,” Longsword added. “Besides, aren’t we going to take one step at a time to obliterate that marquess?”

Leon thought about it for a moment and replied, “I guess.” He still hasn’t explained everything to Rose to get her to understand his intentions; slowing down the mission a bit won’t hurt as long as he knows where his target was.

“So, what to do today?” Longsword asked. “Any plan?”

“Plan?” Leon had thought of going back to explain everything to Rose, and this time finish it before leaving. Instead of saying so, he just shook his head. “Nothing at the moment.”

“I’m thinking I should return to Somerset for a couple of days to check on my estate,” Longsword said after a while. “Since you still have to go through the ‘amorous’ process of your mission, I figure it should be fine.”

“Of course,” Leon nodded. “And besides, you are an earl after all. A bastard like me can’t be keeping you around.”

“You are not a bastard,” Longsword declined. “Technically, yes; but in truth, no.”

“And to think I’ve been calling Lansing a bastard all along when I’m the real one,” Leon laughed. “He can throw it back in my face.”

“And you can extend your fist to his in return if he dares,” Longsword put in. “You are not what you are known to be.”

Leon just shook his head. “You have no idea.”

“I don’t need ideas; I just know,” Longsword smiled. “Anyway,” he went on changing the subject. “If it’s fine with you I’ll be off to Somerset by noon and returning back in a day or two.”

“Do what you have to do,” Leon said, pouring himself another glass of water. “Just keep your ears open.”

Longsword merely laughed and nodded. “I will.”

Leon feels a little insecure to have his two companions going away, but he would handle whatever he can.

First on his list…Rose.

Dawson House

The Marquess of Lansing stood rather nervously as Rose approaches him and tugged uneasily at his cravat.

You should be afraid, you rotten lord, Rose thought to herself as she sat down on the couch across from where he stood. She had expected this.

Lord Lansing had called upon her early that morning, most predictably to apologize. Rose isn’t going to give in that easily if that’s what he’s planning.

Lord Lansing cleared his throat and with a formal greeting bow, sat down across from her. “I’m guessing you’re still infuriated by yesterday’s…uh…incident.”

Rose merely looked at him and scoffed. “You wish. I’ve forgotten it entirely overnight.” And she did if not fully, for she has other things to worry about. Whatever his lordship did is not really at her interest or concern.

“That’s good,” Marcus said, looking more relieve. She would sure like to throw a tantrum but sees no use for it.

“I have to make it clear that us men needs to go out elsewhere to release ourselves since we can’t stay trapped in as a celibate until we get leg-shackled,” he went on saying. “I’m hoping you will under–”

“I get it,” Rose answered. She doesn’t want to waste time on such a topic.

“Even better then!” the marquess cheered. It seems he wasn’t really into apologizing but trying to make the situation better with what he thinks to be a reasonable statement. “So I’m guessing our wedding would still go–”

“No,” Rose cut in with a shook of her head. “Our wedding is to be put off.”

“What–Why so?” he asked, eyes widened in disbelief. “We had the invitations made.”

“I don’t think it’s the right time,” she answered, though that’s not really the reason. “I figure we should wait… a couple more months. I’ll ask Susy to send in apologetic letters to the recipients.”

“Because of yesterday, isn’t it?”

Quite obviously, she wanted to say, but shook her head. “No. Just a change of mind.”

“Rose,” he said, reaching over to take her hand.

Rose pulled back and said, “No.” She is not going to let him touch her. Sure she had liked him before and allowed him a hug or two with a kisses here and there, but now it‘s the total opposite.

“I know I made you lost your trust in me, but yesterday the Duke of Hargate came and…well, he made an offer that I can’t deny,” Lord Lansing explained.

“An offer you can’t deny, huh?” Rose raised a questionable eyebrow at him. “Too dally with some harlot? I think you made that choice yourself. His Grace couldn’t have forced you to.”

“Well,” he tugged at his cravat again and cleared his throat. “He’s a duke, and you know it’s not good to decline–”

“No explanation needed,” Rose said with a sighed. “Let’s space out for a few months. I don’t think marriage is a good idea at the moment.”

“But I don’t–”

“Please, or I’ll jilt you all together,” she answered, irritated that she didn’t think before she spoke.

“You–”–he seem about to burst but stopped himself– “Now that’s a little overdoing don’t you think?” he said more calmly.

“I see it the right thing to do, m’lord,” she answered, and with a wicked smile added, “And you can gain all the pleasures you want. I will not deny you of your satisfaction. Just don’t go digging in the wrong place.”

“I guess I like that,” the marquess said after a moment of consideration, rubbing his hands together with a smile curved on his face.

Rose can see it now with the look on his face that he is not one that she can put her trust or faith into–or rather spend the rest of her life with.

“An agreement then, is it not?” she asked just to clarify things.

“Fine,” he said. “But you have to promise not to be a fallen woman on our wedding night.”

Not to be a fallen woman?

Rose almost laughed at his lordship’s absurd demand. He has the right to go f*ck around but she can’t? So unfair–not that she had planned to do such a thing, mind you. She can surely keep her virtue intact until their wedding night, except there’s not going to be a wedding–not with him anyway.

Yesterday she had decided that she would make herself happy. She would marry and choose the one she loves. Her father is going to be disappointed, but she wants to–she has to. She spent the whole night lacking sleep thinking about her future. She had waited a whole decade for a moment she had been denied, and over a person she can never have and who would never truly accept her for whatever reason. But she would make it work.

Besides, Leon had tried to tell her something, and that something sparks a little something that she can’t define in herself. If only he wasn’t so much of an idiot as to make himself drunk before confronting her. She had been angry, yes, but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t listen. Well, on second thought, she might not have if he was sober so that’s out of the way. She would listen now if he decided to tell her again.

“So how long are the few months that we’re holding the wedding off?” Lord Lansing asked her quite ecstatically. “Five? Seven? A year?”

Rose hadn’t yet decided on that. “Half a year?” she replied with a shrug.

“Fine with me,” Lord Lansing answered cheerfully. “Not that I don’t want to marry you, that is,” he added quickly as if to not make her doubt him from his excitement.

She knows he was pleased with her proposal; she was too.

“You may leave now, my lord,” she said as politely as she could to not make it sound like such a rude remark. “I will call upon you if I think otherwise.”

“My pleasure then, Lady Rose,” he said, standing up to give her another formal bow. “Until we meet again.”

Rose allowed him a kiss on the hand, and then led him off with a dismissal wave.

“Nice day to you, m’lord.”

She waited until he had left and jump up on her feet in joy.

She did it!

She had the advantage and she took it! Now she’s able to do everything she wishes, well, maybe not everything, but she’s free from the marquess to do what she needed to for a while.

Next in her scheme, find Leon and make him speak! She has the perfect plan to make that work.

“Is that his lordship that just went out?” came Susannah through the door into the sitting room where Rose was beaming. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh, Susy!” Rose exclaimed at the sight of Lady Susannah and rush up to hug her. “I have a plan, Susy. A brilliant one.”

“If it’s about his lordship, then don’t tell me,” said Susannah. “It would make me sick.”

“No, silly,” she laughs. “I’m not marrying him anymore.”

“What?” Susannah just stared at her blankly. “Are you sure?”

Rose gave her a wicked smile and asked, “Susy, what do you think about writing apologetic letters to announce the end of my engagement to Marcus?”

Susannah gasped and then returns the devious grin. “About time.”

Leon had decided to seek out Rose that afternoon after sending Longsword off with a good luck on his trip to Somerset.

He had been spying on her from a nearby tree across Dawson House, waiting for a moment he can speak to her alone. Yet, ladies like her can never go anywhere alone without a proper escort and he’s growing impatient waiting under the blazing sun.

Time for Plan B.

He jumped down from the tree and raced off behind another just a few feet from the lawn of Rose’s house. He feels like a devious thief trying not to get himself caught red-handed. Makes him feel like a half-witted fool too, but sometimes you have to be a fool to get to where you want

Leon peeks out from behind the tree and scowled as he saw Rose walking around the Dawson Garden with her maid trailing along behind her.

“Damn you honorable lady,” he hissed out loud.

He looked around for a pebble or something to distract the maid away.

Nothing. Dawson House was, for one thing, too spotless and clean. It’s as if the Viscount Herring put out orders for his servants to pick up every fallen leaves or twigs every few seconds.

Fortunately, Leon had a silver coin in his pocket from his last bidding at a game with his friends and took it out. He looks around for a possible piece of distraction and spotted a flower vase placed out on the outdoor table. With a set aim at the target, he used all his force to throw the coin to break the vase.

Unfortunately, the coin bounces off and hit the maid at the back of the head instead.

“Oh hell!” Leon cursed at his bad aim. His sisters could have battered it.

“Frances!” he heard Rose gasped as she ran over to the falling maid on her knees, covering her head.

She said something he couldn’t really make out and took the maid inside.

Damn, he blew it!

Or not, for Rose rushed back out to search around the grass for something.

Leon gave a sigh of relief and blew out a whistle before she leaves again.

She scan around in search of the sound and then he saw what appears to be a smile on her face as her gaze set upon him.

She appears to be in a good mood, despite what had happened the day before. And if he’s not mistaken, she’s quite pleased to see him. He’s quite overjoyed to see her as well. He had always been.

She slowly strolls over and pushes open the tiny gate that separated them.

“You look…quite in high spirit today,” Leon beamed.

“Same to you,” she said, though not as pleasantly. “Did you hit Frances?”

“What?” He was lost for a moment and then realizes she was talking about the maid. “Sorry,” he answered. “I had to get her out of the way.”

“By throwing a stone at her?”

“Can’t we discuss this in private?” he asked, looking around. “Someone might see us, you know?”

“Oh, of course.”

She looked back at the house and motion for him to take the lead.

It surprises Leon to see her so obedient and calm. Usually she would have protested or argued with him about how all the scandals in the world would arise and the ton would look down upon her but today was different. He can’t seem to make anything out of her mood, for she changes it every time without warnings. She can be all jovial and then like a blink of an eye turn into a flesh eating serpent–an exquisite one too, that is. He rather likes it.

Leon drags her off behind another set of trees across the road, out of sight, and pin her against one of them.

Biting back her lips, she looked skeptically at him and waited for an answer to her previous question.

“You seem different today,” he said instead. She does, and it bothers him.

“New day, new feelings,” she replied coolly. “Why, you’d rather I be mad? I could if you want.”

“I’ll pass,” he answered quickly. He doesn’t want to wake the serpent.

How Rose would kill him if she had known of the metaphor he had made out of her.

She slips a hand to his waistcoat and snapped up a button he had forgotten. “So…you haven’t answered my question,” she said, looking back up at him.

Her eyes gave a sparkle that distracted his sanity. He just wanted to ravish her there and forget everything else.

“I–”

It was difficult to focus on his thoughts with her staring at him like a Goddess from above. Her hair was neatly pinned up in shining curls and she wore a lacey blue gown with ruffles on the cuffs, brightening up her feature.

“I wanted to talk to you,” he managed, trapping her against the tree with his arms.

“So you threw a stone at Frances?” she said again with a frown.

“She was following you like some bodyguard and it annoys the heck out of me,” he answered. “I thought I would rage out and kill her.”

A whimsical laugh escaped from Rose and she lightly punched him on the shoulder. “You idiot. She does serve as my bodyguard, you know?”

“Of course,” he nodded with a smile. “But I have to say, I wasn’t planning to hit her. I was…having a bad aim and didn’t hit what I had intended to hit. Plus, I didn’t throw a stone or anything.”

“Really?” She looked at him amusingly and trails a finger along his cravat.

Hell, she’s up to something.

“Stop that,” he said, grabbing her hand away before everything goes the wrong way.

She chuckle lightly and face him again. “Don’t you have something you want to talk about?’

“Yes.” He wasn’t sure if he would be able to say it when she’s acting like this.

“Go on then,” she said, leaning back on the tree and smoothing her gown. “I have something wonderful to tell you as well.”

Wonderful? Is that why she had been acting so overly off from her normal self?

“Perhaps you should tell me of your ‘wonderful’ news then,” Leon decided.

“You sure?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.

“I’ll be pleased to hear,” he replied.

She gave out a deep breath and flashes a smile at him again. “Okay,” she started. “I’ve decided–”–she paused and sighed– “–I’ve decided that Lord Lansing and I should get marry by the end of next week.”

“What?”

That was what she called ‘wonderful?’

“I’ve made up my mind,” she went on. “After yesterday’s incident, I figure that I don’t want to lose the man I love to another woman again.”

She…loved that Lansing?

“So,” she continued, “I’ve decided that Lord Lansing and I should get on with the wedding as soon as possible since we…consummated our relationship.”

“Consummated what?” No, it couldn’t mean what he thinks, could it?

“Don’t be so surprise,” she jeered. “You know Lord Lansing and I are to wed anyway. Why not just get it over with? That way, he will be mine and I will be his in name, body, and soul. We would become one. Any woman can have him, but he will always be mine.”

“You–you’re lying!” Leon bellowed incredulously. “He–he betrayed your love last night!”

“Just as you did a decade ago!” she snapped.

That caught Leon’s tongue for a moment but he went on.

“I didn’t mean to betray you! I told you that!”

“I don’t care!” Rose answered. “I was angry with Marcus, yes–”– so now Lansing is Marcus– “But after you left and he came to apologize early in the morning, I…” She trailed off as to check his mood and then went on. “I forgave him and we made a decision magically like that–” she snapped her fingers– “–and consummated our relationship and entrusted each other with loyalty and faith for the rest of our life.”

“No!” he shouted in sudden anger as he threw a fist at the tree, just inches from Rose’s face. “You didn’t!”

God, tell him she didn’t. He didn’t just tell her that he loved her the other day just to face this. It pains him to think of that ass Lansing touching her or doing anything beyond that.

“Leon!” She grabbed his hand to examine his fist that was scraped with blood and kissed it gently. “Why are you hurting yourself? What’s done is done. Things can’t turn back to what it used to be.”

He pulled his hand free from hers and turned away. Never in his life had he ever been this furious. If what Rose said was true then his mission and everything he had set out to do is at ruin.

Hell blasts him. He was an ass. If only he had told her the truth. If only he hadn’t back out. If only he told her of his story. If only he…

Everything was too late now. Everything he had wanted her to know, everything he had wished for her to hear is going to remain unspoken and trap inside his heart forever. Everything he had dreamed as a reality would remain a fantasy, and that would be that.

“Good…bye, Rose,” he said, clenching his fist to hold his temper down. And this time, he meant it. He didn’t want to say those words but is left with no other choice. After his duty is over, he will leave her…forever.

And Lansing…

He has got to be grateful that his life is being spared.

But for his father’s crime...

That son of a bitch would still pay!