Today was one of the best mornings Ella had ever had. She had laid on her back in the silk inner wear from last night, her legs raised to the ceiling, kicking the air constantly. Look at her, behaving like the heroine of a bloody romance novel.

She didn’t believe it but it did happen. Robert kissed her once again. And not only did he do that, but he also touched her. He touched her with dirty and raw intentions that would make Juliet’s jaw drop.

She rolled over her belly, resting her cheeks on her hands, fantasising about kissing him once more. What did this mean for both of them? She knew how she felt but didn’t want to admit it to herself. She had promised herself that harbouring feelings for a man would only be a distraction to her cause.

But Robert was proving her wrong. He was willing to risk his happiness just for her to chase her dream. Maybe she was wrong all this while. Maybe he wasn’t going to leave her after taking her decency. Surely she was far different from whichever empty heads he had been with over the years.

He even told her that he had never met a woman as smart as her. He accepted her into his world and was willing to make her feel like she belonged, despite her gender. Something she has been trying to prove to her father.

The faint feet-falls coming from the corridor alerted her. She was accustomed to those footsteps. They belonged to her mother. Scurrying into her bed, she covered herself up with her sheets, her brown hair flopped onto the pillow. Once the door clicked, she faked a yawn, welcoming her mother.

“Dearest,” her mother said, “How do you feel?”

Ella rubbed her eyes. “Mother, you're back.”

“Yes, love.”

“How was your journey?” Ella asked, sitting up against her headboard.

Her mother sat next to her in bed. “It was tiring love.” She pinched Ella’s cheeks. “Mr Finn told me you didn’t even leave your room. I had to say, I was thinking you would sneak out to see Juliet. I know how close the two of you are.”

Ella grinned internally. Mr Finn never let her down. Though she was worried for him when she got home. He was pacing to and fro at the entrance of the house, obviously thinking about her whereabouts. He was the only one who had believed in her since she was a child.

She remembered that night he first gave her those science books. He had made her feel like she belonged and a woman was capable of doing what a man could. For that, she would be forever grateful. But all that was wiped away when her father laughed at her when he found out she wanted to be an inventor. She was so close to proving him wrong.

Once Robert fulfilled his end of the bargain with Captain Asher, she could finally complete the moon lamp with Robert. She couldn’t wait to flaunt the lamp in her father’s face.

“Well mother, I couldn't leave the house when you told me not to.”

Mrs Featherington smiled that sweet motherly smile. “That’s why I’m going to let you visit your friend today. Just be back before eight p.m.”

That was how it was done. All Ella had to do was act like a sweet eighteen-year-old daughter who didn’t spend the night kissing the Rake of London. She embraced her mother in a tight hug, grinning like a four-year-old.

“I love you.”

“Me too dearest.”

******

“You know you didn’t give me the details of last night,” Juliet said, wearing a set of pink gloves. She was dressed in a light peach gown that had the design of white roses lining the base of the cloth. Unlike other days, Ella was dressed in a blue day gown, her barley curls packed in white headwear. Robert had asked her to dress that way since they weren’t going to his office.

“We just kissed,” Ella said, shrugging as she stood next to her friend’s bed.

Juliet rolled her eyes. “Oh please, you looked like a tomato when you got back here.”

“Maybe we did a bit of touching." Ella smiled, falling back flat on Juliet's bed. She ran her fingers over her lips, remembering whose lips were on the last night.

“I remember a particular person saying men were a distraction,” Juliet said, looking thoughtfully at the ceiling. “I wonder who that is”

Ella tossed a pillow at her friend who dodged it, the two friends laughing together. Juliet sat next to her friend in bed, her finger running over Ella’s rouge cheeks.

“Do you love him?”

The question travelled down Ella’s mind, her gears rolling. Did she love Robert? That was a very good question. She knew her heart skipped a beat whenever he smiled at her. She knew she always thought of him. His company was always her favourite time of the day.

He was the only man except for Mr Finn who believed a woman could be as smart as a man. He was willing to risk his dream by letting her work for him. And when he kissed her last night, it had a deep meaning of trust and vulnerability. She knew the answer to her friend’s question. But she didn’t want it to be true. Yes, she loved Robert Stark.

But it went against her very moral code; men were a distraction and falling in love with them was like selling your future to them. But Robert had proved her wrong. But she wasn’t sure she was willing to accept those feelings for him. They were dangerous.

“I don’t know Jules,” Ella said, placing a forearm above her head.

“Just make sure you do before you go any further with him. You don’t want to make the same mistakes I did.”

Juliet still bore the guilt for what she had done with Rikkard. That wasn’t her fault. The goat had misled her and now that she was with child, he planned on leaving her dearest friend. That wasn’t going to happen. Not on Ella’s watch.

“You didn’t make any mistake.” Ella sat up, hugging Juliet from the back. “Don’t worry, now we have Robert on our side, I’m sure everything would be fine.”

“Do you trust him?”

“Well, he trusted me enough to let me work with him even though he knew that the repercussions would be great. Not trusting him would be selfish of me.”

Juliet leaned her head against Ella’s and smiled. “That’s the first step of falling in love. Trust.”

“I’m not in love,” Ella said, rolling her eyes as she stood from the bed. “Come on, let's go. Robert must’ve gotten tired of waiting for us.”

Besides, she couldn’t wait to see him again.

Women, Robert thought, rubbing the bridge of his Roman nose. They always took their time to get dressed up. He could remember the countless times, his father and mother had a falling out because of her late dressing habits. And before he knew it, Grace had joined her too. What made them dress up so slowly? All they had to do was wear a bloody corset and put on their gown.

It was that simple.

Sighing, he reclined in the seat of his carriage, holding down on the lapels of his tailcoat. Though he shouldn’t complain. Ella gave him the best night he had ever had in years. She was tender and gracious in his hold. Her lips were dripping with honey and he had savoured every bit of it. And she smelled so good too.

He was glad that he found someone he could pour out his worries to. She was like him; wanting to prove something to her father. But her reason was different. She may not know this, but she didn’t think she belonged to the world of science because of her gender. Which would explain why she wanted to make something as great as the moon lamp. That way she could show her father that he was wrong about everything all this while.

But the thing was, Robert knew she did belong. She had the heart and will of an inventor. If only he could do something to show her the truth about herself. The moon lamp was a far reach for now. But he could show her how much she can do with some other things. Which was why he had another surprise for her after they must've gone to see this Rikkard man she spoke of.

A big familiar head popped into the view of his carriage window. Shaking his head at her playfulness, he asked his footman to open the door for her. Ella came in, her friend coming in next.

“Miss Featherington, I didn’t know your punctuality was top-notch,” He teased, his lips dripping with sarcasm.

Ella faked a smile. “Why thank you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you once more, My Lord,” Juliet said, her blue eyes catching the rays of the morning sun as the carriage began to move.

“The pleasure is all mine, Miss Hastings,” Robert said, glad that someone was glad to see him. Unlike a certain lady who had nuts for brains. The least she could do was apologise for coming late.

Juliet glanced at her friend. “Ella couldn’t keep shut about you. She’s your biggest fan.”

“Oh really,” Robert asked, adjusting the collar of his shirt with swagger. Ella glared at her friend who in return gave her the sweetest smile.

"You're dead,” Ella mouthed, pinching Juliet by the lap. Robert had to say, he was delighted to hear from someone else how much Ella admired him. Surely he knew but having her friend tell him made him feel like he had secured a special place in her heart. Which he considered quite odd since he had never had feelings like this.

Later he would ask Howard what all these symptoms meant; his heart-tugging when he was next to her, body warming up whenever they touched and the way he smiled within himself when he looked at her for longer than three seconds. He wasn’t accustomed to what those meant.

“Don’t let it get into that head of yours,” Ella said, crossing her arms as she stared out the window.

Robert smirked, licking his lower lips. “Too late, it's already been stored and registered.”

“You two are just-“ Juliet squeaked, forming both her hands into fists as she closed her eyes. Robert and Ella looked at her like she had lost her mind. Was she convulsing?

“Miss Hastings, are you alright?” Robert asked, bothered for Ella’s friend.

“I am fine,” she grinned, glancing to and fro between Robert and Ella. “Who would’ve known.”

“Known what?” He asked.

“Nevermind," Juliet said, waving it off.

Ella ran a hand over her throat, signalling for Robert not to prod further. Hmm, strange. For someone who had an unborn child with a father who wasn’t responsible enough to marry her, she was quite lively. This could be her way of concealing her pain. Or maybe this was just how she behaved. If it was the latter, he was deeply concerned for Ella.

After a long ride, the carriage pulled to a sharp halt. Juliet’s face contorted into one of worry. Aiming to ease her tension, he patted her back gently.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. You have the Marquess of Starlington by your side.”

“Thank you very much. My Lord.” She took in a deep breath and Ella placed a hand comfortingly on her forearms, soothing her anxiety.

“What do you say we go get this Rikkard and make him act like a proper gentleman?” Even though Robert knew he barely acted like one. Goodness, how hypocritical.

Juliet smiled, nodding her head. “Let’s do this.”

“Thank you,” Ella mouthed to Robert and he answered with a curt nod. It was the least he could after what he put her through.