Mr Pennyworth led them to a tiny room that had wooden walls and brown marble tiles that reflected the shafts of light entering through the two windows by the side. A long brown bench was facing a door Ella assumed to be where Rikkard's office was.

Juliet seemed to tense, her arm tightening around Ella's. It was going to be okay. But Ella didn't think it was a good idea for Juliet to join them to go in. They needed to know the reason Rikkard hadn't spoken to Juliet. If he didn't want to see her since, what made them sure he'll want to speak with her being around?

"Jules, just stay here while we sort this out. Do you think you can do that?" Ella asked, holding Juliet's elbows as she looked deep into her friend's blue eyes.

Juliet nodded, sitting down on the bench. "Thank you, Ellie."

"Anything for you, love."

"Ella," Robert said, calling her attention. His eyes still had a speck of anger in them. Was he still annoyed because of what Shelby did? She hoped he wasn't going to do anything bad to him. Shelby was just an idiot.

"I'm coming." She kissed Juliet's forehead before she went into the office, Mr Pennyworth shutting the door behind them.

The office was by far, eye-pleasing compared to Robert's mundane-looking one. The walls were coated in classic grey, the lower half covered in dark wood. By the left was a bookshelf fully stocked with books and the flooring was vinyl, reflecting the beams of sunlight entering the room from the windows.

Behind a mahogany desk was a man with ginger hair and spectacles over his green eyes, his high cheekbones freckled with orange spots. He sported a grey coat, his veined hands running over the file before him. Now Ella knew what made Juliet spread her legs.

"Mr Jones," Robert said, taking a step forward.

Rikkard looked up from his file and his eyes narrowed as he stoop up. "My Lord, I never expected to see you here?"

"I'm full of surprises."

"Please, have a seat," he gestured at the two seats before his desk and once his eyes laid on Ella, he frowned. "You!"

"Me? What me?" Ella was confused that she couldn't even form a correct statement. Robert's face was a copy of hers. What did Rikkard mean by her?

"You're his daughter, aren't you?" Rikkard said, pointing accusingly at Ella.

Ella's jaw dropped. "Whose daughter?"

"Mr Jones, I would like us to have a seat before you start pointing fingers," Robert said calmly, his fingers on the head of the chair before him.

"I apologise, My Lord. Please have a seat."

They complied, sitting before Rikkard. He sat after them, his green eyes still staring at Ella with contempt. What in the queen's name did Ella do? She had never met this man in her life before.

"Now, can you explain to us the reason for your sudden outburst?" Robert asked, leaning back in his seat, assuming a comfortable pose.

Rikkard cleared his throat and fixed his gaze on Ella. "She is the daughter of the man who has deprived me of being with a woman I love with all my heart."

Ella reduced her eyes to a slit. "Are you off your rocker?"

"I'm completely spiffing," Rikkard replied. "I advise you should check if your father is."

Ella was still trying to decipher this man's words. Juliet had fallen in love with a lunatic. What did her father have to do with this?

"Mr Jones, we'll talk about your issues later," Robert said, lacing his hands together. "But for now, let's focus on the reason we're here."

Rickard nodded, still eyeing Ella with hatred. "Okay, My Lord."

"We're here to discuss a delicate matter concerning your sudden departure from your lover." Robert glanced at Ella. "Miss Hastings. Who supposedly, is pregnant with your child."

"A child who's about to have a mad father. I feel so sad for Juliet," Ella sighed, motioning at Rikkard who looked at her like she had hit a nerve. "She finally finds a man and he turned out to be a lunatic. My, my, how the world works."

"Oh," Rikkard said, taking in a deep shaky breath. "Julie. My dear Julie."

"Her name is Jules. And I'm the only one allowed to give her nicknames," Ella snapped.

Rikkard pursed his lips. "Miss Featherington."

Ella was sent into a twist of shock. "How do you know my name?"

"That is because I know you. And your father is the reason I have been unable to see Julie."

Oh, things were getting interesting. What did Mr Tony Featherington do this time? Working for Gerrard wasn't enough, now he was in her friend's love life.

Robert raised a brow. "Can you elaborate?"

"Of course, My Lord." Rikkard hit the bridge of his glasses. "Some weeks ago, I had met with Julie at our usual spot and she told me she was with my child. I was happy because I was truly in love with her and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her."

"So why did you run away?" Ella asked.

Rikkard glanced at her and then took off his coat. He rolled the sleeve of his white shirt and showed them a bandage wrapped around his hand. Slowly, he took it off to show a red-rimmed injury that was healing slowly. That was a bullet wound.

"I didn't run away. You see, Miss Featherington, that night while I was with Julie, I didn't know your father was watching me. Just as I kissed her goodbye and was on my way to my house, he shot me," Rikkard said, gesturing to the wound. "Right here. And he told me that if he ever saw me close to her again, the next gun would go to my heart. I tried to explain to him that I truly loved her and was willing to get married to her. But he told me he was just protecting his daughter's friend."

Ella felt a yank at her heart. Her father truly cared enough for her that he was willing to protect her friend and save her dignity. But unfortunately, Juliet was with his child now and there was nothing that could be done. Ella felt bad for what happened. This was all her father's doing. She didn't know if Juliet was ever going to forgive her.

Robert held her hand from under the table and said, "It's not your fault." He looked at Rikkard. "And you shouldn't blame her. You shouldn't have been running around with her friend at night if you weren't ready to be shot down by a protective man."

This situation reminded Ella of what she did with Robert. Was her father going to do the same thing to him if he found out? She surely hope he did not. If not she would take the gun from him and shoot him back. No one touched Robert. Not while she was alive.

"I agree, I am sorry Miss Featherington," Rikkard said rolling down his sleeves and putting on his coat.

"I am the one who owes you and Jules an apology. My father shouldn't have pushed the two of you away. But," Ella narrowed her eyes. "you have to promise me right here and now that you would marry her. She has your child and we can't risk people knowing you knocked her up before you married her."

Rikkard nodded. "You have my word. You're a good friend, Miss Featherington."

"Thank you, Mr Jones," Ella said, smiling. Would you look at that, they were getting along already.

Robert leaned in and whispered into her ear, "I believe we should give the two love birds some time alone. You can apologise to her later."

Ella agreed. "Mr Jones, Jules is just outside. I'll ask her to come in."

"Oh my goodness," he said, covering his mouth, his eyes tearing up. "Is she really outside?"

"She is," Robert replied, nodding.

He circled the table and bolted down the office. Ella and Robert walked out to the lobby and saw the two of them embracing each other tightly, tears rolling down Juliet's cheeks. This was beautiful. To hell with thinking men could be a distraction; Rikkard was supporting Juliet in her dreams as a writer and Robert was doing the same for Ella. Maybe not every man was a distraction.

Ella couldn't deny that she wanted this. She wanted this with someone who made her feel special; she glanced at Robert who was watching the entire scene with a smile on his face.

Maybe a Rake had time to see the beauty of love. And maybe he would want to experience it. But Ella didn't believe it was going to happen anytime soon. They both had an important task ahead of them; finding Emily's parents and securing the metal so they could make the moon lamp. Whatever happened next, she hope it lead to whatever her friend had here with Rikkard.

He released her from the hug and she rushed to encompass Ella, her arms rubbing tightly against her back.

"Thank you, Ellie," she kissed her cheeks and pulled out of the hug. "Thank you very much." She turned to Robert. "And you, My Lord, are the best. I'm truly glad you could make out time for this."

He glanced at Ella. "It wasn't a problem at all. You two, have fun. I and Ella would be leaving."

"We'll have a lot to talk about later," Ella said, still sad that her father was the reason her friend was in pain. But she was glad she had everything fixed now. By the time they were out of the publishing house, she patted Robert by the arm. "Thank you, My Lord."

"If I got a pound for the amount of thank you's I received today, I'll be richer than the Queen herself," he joked, entering the carriage after her.

Ella smirked. "Aren't you richer than her already?"

"I suppose so."

"If that's you're way of saying you're welcome, I would take it." She noticed the carriage wasn't going in the direction of her house. "Where are we going?"

He smiled warmly, his blue eyes radiating happiness. "My home. I'm going to teach you how to make a moon lamp."

Blimey. She wasn't ready for this.