All the Things You Never Knew - By Angealica Hewley Page 0,27

room,” he said to the man that had approached.

Kentle did so obediently and grabbed Rose’s arms.

“Let me go!” Rose shouted again. “Let me go!”

“Upstairs with her!” Bruno demanded.

“Would she be a share?” Kentle asked, which sickened Rose more than ever to think of the possible fate lying ahead of her.

Bruno grinned lazily. “After I’m through with her, yes.”

Ugh! Despicable!

Rose tries to free herself, but was still too weak to break the hold.

Kentle threw her over his shoulders and up the steps they went with that grotesque Bruno following after and cooing at her.

“Help me!” Rose cried over and over again, kicking and shoving.

The giant Bruno struck her across the face and snatches her over from Kentle, almost sending them backward off the steps.

But luckily for that little sway, Rose spotted him, again.

Leon.

He was passing by on the level above them across the hall.

Relief passed over her.

Should she shout? Scream? Holler?

There seems to be no other choice. It’s either him or the two despicable men.

In that case, she chooses…

Leon had never felt this tire in his life. After arriving at Hargate Inn, he came to find the fancy room of Hargate empty with only a small lighted candle burning.

Where had he gone to? They were supposed to meet by nightfall. Perhaps he arrived earlier than expected. He did force his curricle a little roughly to get to London faster. The horses must have hated him.

Leon threw down his sack and walked over to brighten up the room with more light. Something caught his eyes on the desk as he struck the matches and stop to pick it up.

~*~

The Honor of Your Presence is Requested At the Marriage of

Lady Rose Caralina Dawson, To

Marcus Lewis Dent,

The Marquess of Lansing, On Thursday,

The Thirtieth of September, 1817 At Noon

St. Gabriel Church

Upper Holloway

~*~

A wedding invitation?

Leon read it more clearly.

It was not just any old wedding invitation.

It was Rose’s wedding invitation.

Who sent it here anyway?

He turned the envelop that laid underneath it and saw his name

printed out in smooth slanted calligraphy.

Who could be so kind as to invite him to Rose’s wedding? He just thought it ridiculous. Is this some trick of Hargate’s? For

sure Rose would never invite him.

He hadn’t even seen her since the ball, nor did she see him. Whoever sent this must have known he’s here.

The marquess maybe? That’s impossible. They’ve never even

met.

Leon took the invitation and stuck it in his coat pocket. He decided that he’ll go take a drink below with the other men until Hargate returns.

Little did he expect the little surprise that was about to come as he crosses the hall to the stairs and heard that voice.

That scared familiar voice.

“Leon!” Rose screamed from the top of her lungs, waving up at him to get his attention. “Leon, help me!”

Thank God, he stopped and glanced down.

He looked confused at first, but then there was a flicker of sudden realization in his eyes and he came running down to her

“Leon!” she cried once more as he pushes down the drunken Kentle.

“Why you–” Bruno threw Rose down and started swinging at Leon.

“Move, Rose,” Leon said, pushing her back as he dodged and tackle Bruno down on top of Kentle. He ran back to grab her hand. “Come.”

Before Rose knew it, they were running up and down the hall as a group of men came running to the scene.

They flew up another flight of stairs before Leon finally push open the nearest door to a darken room and pull Rose in, shutting it behind him. They both slipped onto the floor panting in exhaustion.

Rose could hear both their hearts beating loudly as they took a moment to catch their breath. Then she remembers who she’s with and all the weariness she felt vanished.

“Rose.”

She quickly stood up and moved away as Leon said her name.

He chuckled and stood as well.

“Are you all right?” he asked, reaching over to touch her arm.

“Don’t touch me!” Rose said rather too loudly, stepping away.

“I would have expected a word of gratitude or two,” Leon replied, also taking a step back.

She’d forgotten about that. But then of course, she forgets everything when she…sees him.

“Thank you,” she said briskly.

He just stood there for a moment without a word, and then move to what seems like a desk in the moonlight and lit up a lamp.

“So–” He blew out the match and settled down on the bed next to it, examining her thoroughly. “Such a surprise to see you again.” He sounded so nonchalant and easy, bothering the nerves out of