She had read about this in books. But never in her life had it been done to her. Though not knowing the particular mechanic of this action, her body acted for her. His lips were soft and moved with tender grace, making her stomach flutter with butterflies. All form of hatred she seemed to have for him vanished for that moment.

What surprised her the most was that she kissed back, her hands running through his blonde hair. A part of her reminded her that this wasn't right. What would people think if they saw them? The rebellious part of her didn't want to listen to logic. The windows were shut so they were safe from the public eye.

Her body was flourishing with a whirlwind of puzzling emotions as his hands claimed her, touching her in areas she had never let any man touch. Her bosoms heaved as he latched his hands on her neck, a moan escaping her lips.

His tongue was persistent, wrapping around hers in a manner that should be forbidden to exist. Soon, she began to feel an unfamiliar sensation below her stomach. With each tongue twist, she could feel the moisture build-up between her legs.

Hurriedly, he lifted her off the chair and placed her on his lap. They both locked eyes, Robert's golden hair catching the tiny slant of sunlight sneaking past the curtains.

"What are we doing?" She asked her soft hands on his chin.

"I don't know." His jaw tightened. "We can stop if that's what you want."

The harsh reality hit her; she didn't want to stop. But this man was her worst enemy. She was already beginning to detest him after what happened to Juliet. He was trying to do the same thing Juliet's lover did to her. She would not let this man fool her. She had to learn from her friend's mistakes. Feeling this way for Robert would be a great distraction. She had a goal and must stick by it.

Coming back to her senses, she unmounted from his body and moved back to her former position. She arranged her dishevelled brown hair and straightened out any rumples the cloth must've formed.

"This never happened," she said, her fake beard moving.

Robert gave her a long look before he replied. "Sure."

They both spend the rest of the ride in silence, the thoughts of what they had just done tensing the atmosphere. By the second hour, Ella was getting tired of the itching silence. He truly knew how to keep his mouth shut.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked, getting a glance in return. Eager to get an answer, she joked. " Surely you don't plan on eloping with me without my consent."

Robert sighed, locking his hands. "We're going to Captain Asher Newman's estate."

Ella knew that name was familiar. Her eyes circled with remembrance when she got a flashback of the ball. He was the tall man who had complimented her.

"Why are we going to his house?"

"The letter Cowper stole belonged to him."

"Blimey. If the letter belonged to him, why was it in your custody?"

"You ask a lot of questions," he hissed, staring outside the slightly open window.

"If I'm going into a cave, I should at least know what I'm up against."

Reluctantly, he began narrating about Captain Asher's wife, her death, the children that were given up for adoption and how Robert was tasked with finding them.

"...and that was how we got here. This was the only way for me to guarantee the safety of the metal," Robert finished.

Ella didn't know what to say. Robert was just a man trying to make a moon lamp no matter the cost. Though she understood why he was trying to get rid of her earlier, she couldn't soften up to him yet. Juliet's story was a daring reminder of what happens to women who let men deceive them. And she wasn't going to be a victim of such.

The way Robert looked away assured her he wasn't willing to entertain questions anymore. Was he this way because his plans to trick her didn't work? Tch, men. He could put on a cold demeanour and none of that would budge Ella's opinion of him. He wasn't to be trusted. He was a distraction.

She moved to the other end of the carriage and swept the curtain aside. Spread beyond was a manicured park with finely trimmed trees. Men in red uniforms stood at attention, muskets hanging on their shoulders. The carriage took a sharp turn and stopped before a fine cottage with stone walls and two soldiers guarding the brown heavy set double door. Right outside was Howard looking tired with black bags below his eyes and towering over him was the familiar-looking Captain Asher Newman in a white shirt and black waistcoat.

They exited the carriage and covered the distance to the entrance.

"You must be Mr Law." Captain Asher Newman said, looking at Ella. "Though I can't help but feel that I know you from somewhere."

The ball. Ella shook her head, "I'm afraid I haven't seen you before, Captain."

Youre a brilliant liar.

She couldn't help it. Her identity was meant to be a secret. Robert made sure to stick that into her bloody head. Ella was eager to see Cowper. Robert had told her earlier that they caught him. Captain Newman gestured for them to follow him inside and they trailed behind him.

Inside his home was warm, antelope heads and guns decorating the walls of the corridor.

The hallway opened to a living room with two brown chaise lounges and a fireplace that was burning intensely. He opened another door that lead to a room that Ella could make out to be a war room. On a big round table in the middle was a map drawn on what looked like the hides of skin. On the walls were different medals and high above was a glass cupola that let in the warm morning light. She hadn't noticed it from outside the home.

"What are your thoughts on my home, Mr Law?" Captain Newman asked, gesturing around the war room.

"I find it quite marvellous."

"That's unusual," He said, sitting down. "Most women would find something to complain about it."

Ella's heart clenched. "Most women?"

"Captain Asher knows you're a woman," Robert leaned in to whisper, his hands innocently behind him.

She clenched her teeth and spoke through them. "And you didn't bother to tell me in the carriage?"

"I'm afraid we were busy with something more intense," he teased and walked away, leaving Ella fuming. Bah! He was unbelievable. Now she was in a room full of men who knew she was a woman dressed as a man. What could be more embarrassing?

"You need not worry, Mr Law," The captain gestured for everyone to have a seat. "Your secret is safe with me."

"Though you need to worry about that beard," Howard said for the first time since they arrived. He looked like a ghost with his heavy eyes and tousled black hair. "Everyone can see how fake it is."

Everyone in the room except her nodded.

Ella touched the beard, frowning. Juliet gave this to her. How dare they condemn her friend's taste in the disguise department? Though she noticed something odd. Howard was advising her about something. Maybe he was easing up to her after all. She wondered how someone could hate her just because of a hard handshake.

Reluctantly, she joined them at the table. Robert side glanced at her and she felt her cheeks heat up. We must focus! We must focus! She cleared her throat and looked at the medals, trying her best to get her mind off him.

"Mr Law, I assume Lord Robert has informed you on the necessary information you need to know on this operation," Captain Asher said, declining in his seat.

"Yes, he has, Sir."

"Then we can proceed," He answered. "Mr Lithstone and my soldiers have been torturing Mr Cowper for any form of information he may hold but so far, he has proved that whoever he gave that letter to is a lot more powerful than you had thought."

Robert and Howard locked eyes and exchanged a non-verbal message. It piqued Ella's curiosity but she didn't bother to ask. Howard might as well tease her again since he was already fond of it.

"I even pulled out all of his nails and he didn't budge in the slightest," Howard added, running his hands through his black curls. Ella was shocked to her bones. She didn't know he could be so brutal. He noticed how she was looking at him and added, "I was in the army. I had done things worse than that."

"You don't say."

He did a fake laugh and quickly turned his face stoic. "We have to come up with an alternative to make him talk."

Ella wanted to shove a pipe up his rude-she shall not say the word that came to her mind.

Just then, a soldier burst into the room, his eyes wide open.

"Captain," he saluted, but you could still see the worry in his eyes.

"What happened soldier?" Captain Asher asked, his brown eyes growing darker.

"The captive is dead."

The seagulls flew over the ocean, their caws echoing down the distant sun that was sinking into the horizon. A man in a black cloak watched the river, the wind skimming past his dress, creating a fluttering melody.

A horse neighed behind him and the soldier in red alighted and walked up to him on the docks.

"Is it done?" The man in the cloak asked.

"Yes, Sir." Fear was etched in the eyes of the soldier as he watched the cloaked man.

He handed him a parcel. "Here's the money, as promised."

"Thank you, Sir," the soldier greeted and began to walk away.

"Remember," he stopped midway to listen to the mysterious man. "If you get caught, you too will end up like him."