Free All the Things You Never Knew by Angealica Hewley Page A

Edward. “He’s been having such good luck that he’s never really home.”
“One day we’re going to be in debt because of him,” Namine added, drinking her cup of tea.
Chance is the gamer in the house. Only twenty-one and has already become a gambling addict, well, maybe not quite yet but sure is getting there.
“And Lavender?” Leon asked, also needed to know.
“Somewhere in the barn or out riding in the meadow probably,” Gabriel answered.
“I am not!” came a voice from behind them.
“Lavender, finally!” Sheik clapped. “We can finally eat.”
“Where have you been?” Leon asked her once she’d taken her seat.
“Took Bess out for a walk,” she replied, scooping up some potatoes onto her plate. “Do you know that she’s soon to be in labor? We’ll get a new foal soon.”
“I’m excited for that, too,” Namine said gleefully. “Bessie is the best.”
“And where’s Chance?” Jack asked this time. “He’s not out at the game club, is he?”
Lavender shook her head. “No. He should be in soon. I saw him down the road when I came home.”
“I am in here now, thank you very much,” came Chance from the door. “Sorry, fellows, I have been trying to get that Campbell to give me my money.”
“Ha! He was at the club,” Aidan pointed.
Phoenix shot up abruptly. “Did you get cheated, too? Lord Crawford and I did. We were going to go gut the hell out of that Mr. McGillan at the Star but–”
“You went to the Star Tavern with Crawford?” Chance shook his head and came to sit down at his seat. “You can’t be doing that.”
“Well, you go to the Lion Head every–”
“Enough!” Leon cut in, unable to manage this any longer. “Good thing that you’ve all returned. I have a lot to discuss with you all so let’s eat and begin the story.”
    Hargate Inn
    “That’s so unlike Heartily to just leave us with nothing but a note of chicken scratches,” said Longsword as he fell on the couch and threw the Times paper over his face.
    “He must have problems back home,” said Hargate. “What did his note say?”
“He said he’ll be back in a fortnight and for us to start the investigation of the marquess if we wish,” Longsword answered.
“That’s it?”
“Pretty much.”
“He didn’t tell us where to start?”
“No.”
“Good. I’ll just start out by seeking his service,” said Hargate. “I’m a duke and I would use that power to my advantage.”
Longsword cocked his head in wonder and asked, “What are you planning?”
Hargate smiled slyly and rubbed his hands together. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
CHAPTER FIVE
    Blaine’s Home

“Let’s see here.” Susannah bit the end of her pen and checked
    through the list of names that Rose had given her along with the new ones she added a few days ago. “Okay, I got the Picketts down. There goes the Hathaways, the Smythe-Smiths, the Wilderoses, the Bridgertons…Oh, the Pratts. Can’t forget the Pratts.”
    “The Pratts?” Rose got up from where she was laying on Susannah’s bed and stroll over. “Who are the Pratts? Are those from your list now?”
    “Oh, please, don’t tell me you don’t know who they are.” “Never heard of them,” said Rose.
“Not even David Pratt?” Susannah put her pen down and sighed
    dreamily. “David Pratt. Oh, you’ve got to meet him some day. He was a handsome gentleman. Took my breath away the last time I saw him.”
    “Oh, no wonder you’re inviting him. I want to see what he looks like.”
“I assure you, he’s a hundred times better than your marquess,” Susannah said with a musing sigh. “Although he’s not as charming as your Mr. Heartily, but quite close.”
“Oh, please. Don’t mention him anymore,” Rose said, walking back to sit on the bed. “I despise him.”
“No you don’t. You loved him.”
“That was before when I was young and foolish.”
“You were not foolish. You met the perfect match.”
“I really wish…” Rose had to fight hard to not