"Do you have to go?" Ella's mother asked, adjusting the white collar of Ella's red day dress. They were outside their house, Ella's suitcase beside her, her barely curls styled to perfection, a brown hat over her head.

"Yes mother," Ella replied.

"But it's not been long since you were out of your coma."

"I know, but I think I need a change of scenery for a while. It's only a week." Ella's mother had been trying to change her mind throughout the whole night. She understood she was only looking out for her and she was thankful for that.

"You and your aunt barely even talk," Mrs Featherington said, wiping her tears off her eyes. It made Ella's heart go soft. She didn't like seeing her mother cry. "I'm surprised you were happy to go see her."

"I barely know any of our family members' mother. I think it's time I get to know some of them." She hugged her, rubbing a hand against her back. "This is a good chance to do so. And please stop crying, you'll make me cry."

Ella could already feel her eyes well up. "Okay, I will. You're still sure you don't want me to escort you to the train station?"

Ella shook her head. "If you do, I might change my mind."

But that wasn't the truth. If her mother did follow her, she would find out that Ella wasn't going to the train station. She wasn't pleased with all these lies. But it was all for a greater cause.; the moon lamp. Once they were able to fulfil their part of the deal, all these lies would stop and the moon lamp would finally be made.

"Okay, love," her mother said and kissed her forehead. "Have a safe journey."

Ella came down the short flight of stairs, waving at her mother as she walked along the road, her suitcase in her hand. It was still early and there were a few people on the street. It didn't take long before she arrived at Juliet's home. Once she knocked, Juliet opened the door and welcomed her into the house.

"I heard you're going to see your aunt," Juliet's mother, Mrs Hastings said entering the lobby. She had blonde hair like her daughter but you could see the traces of grey hair in them.

"Yes, Mrs Hastings," Ella said, hugging her best friend's mother. "How are you doing?"

"Splendid my dear," Mrs Hastings said before she left the lobby.

"I received your letter," Juliet said, leading Ella to her room.

Ella entered the bedroom and Juliet shut the door. "Aye, I'll be leaving for a business trip."

Ella didn't want to tell Juliet anything about finding Captain Asher's children. It would lead to her revealing everything about Gerrard and the more Juliet knew about him, the less safe she was. So she was doing her friend a favour.

When this charade was over and Ella was basking under the glow of the moon lamp, she would tell her friend everything; including the fact that Gerrard tried courting her. If only Juliet knew that now, she would find him and make him eat his balls.

"And your mother doesn't know."

Ella nodded. "Jules, I want to apologise for what my father did."

"Don't worry about it, Ellie. Rikkarrd told me and I was just surprised. I didn't know he was looking out for me." She pointed at Ella. "Though shooting Rikkard was a bit much."

Ella grinned. "I agree. I'm glad he's healing."

"I have something to tell you," Juliet said and sat on her bed. She tapped the space next to her and Ella settled beside her. "Rikkard proposed!"

Ella and Juliet screamed at the top of their lungs holding each other as they bounced on the bed. Ella wouldn't do this on a normal day. But she was filled with excitement for her best friend. Rikkard had said he wanted to marry Juliet but she didn't know it was this soon.

"I'm happy for you," Ella said hugging her friend. She truly was.

"I'm so happy, Ellie," Juliet said and squealed. Ella didn't know how her friend could attain such a high pitch.

"Rikkard is a good man."

"He is," Juliet said and locked her hands. "My book is even getting published too. I told you, Ella, a man can be a blessing too. They can help you achieve your dreams. These are things love could do."

"I suppose your right," Ella said, smiling. She had already come to that conclusion two days ago. Robert was enough reason to believe it. But she couldn't tell him she was in love with him. What if he didn't feel the same way?

But he kissed you.

He has been kissing women for years. She could be another one on his list. Besides, he might not think she was smart enough to be his lover. He was a great man and he would want a great woman.

But if you think so, why did you kiss him?

That was a good question. It was because she loved him. Love made people do stupid things.

"And who knows," Juliet rubbed her hand up and down Ella's arm, "maybe Robert would propose to you."

Ella scoffed. "I doubt that."

"Aha! so you do like him." Juliet smirked.

"Maybe a little."

"That's enough to make you think of him whenever you wake up," Juliet said. Why did her friend have to always be right? She thought of Robert anytime she woke up. Whenever she was doing something, all she could see was his face. And when she was around him, she would wish the day never came to an end.

She came to him a woman with a principle she believed no man could debunk. But he did. He showed her he could help her achieve her dreams. He was a danger to her decency and every second she spent with him drove her insane.

"Come on, let's go," Ella said, getting up. "I can't keep them waiting."

****

After a five-minute walk along their street, they saw Robert's black carriage down the road. The footman came off his seat and helped Ella with her suitcase. She thanked him and Juliet walked up to the window and knocked on the glass. It rolled down and Robert poked his head out, his blonde mane of hair falling in excellent locks.

"Miss Hastings," he said, resting his forearm on the window. "I didn't think I would be seeing you today."

"I came to see Ella off," she answered, beckoning on Ella to come closer. Ella closed up their distance and Juliet wrapped an arm around her. "I want you to make me a promise, Your Lordship."

"What is it?" Robert asked, raising a brow.

"You have to promise me that you'll keep my friend safe. Even if it comes to you losing your balls to save her, do it."

"Jules!" Ella exclaimed.

"Shush darling," Juliet said and put on a stern face. "Do I have your word on that?"

"You do."

"Even if it means losing your balls?" Juliet asked, surprised. Ella was surprised too. Would Robert lose his balls just to protect her? Well, that was a silly thing to think of. What in God's name has Juliet done to her brain?

"Let's hope it doesn't get to that, shall we?" Robert said.

Juliet raised a thumb to Ella. "You're in safe hands. He's willing to lose his balls for you."

Ella wanted the ground to swallow her up. Juliet's level of embarrassing her didn't have a limit. She should be acclimated to it by now.

"Alright Jules," Ella said, kissing her friend's hand. "I'll be back in a week."

Juliet hugged her. "You better be."

"Bye," Ella said, entering the carriage as Robert held out a hand to support her.

"Goodbye, love."

Robert shut the carriage door and Ella looked out the window, waving to her friend as the vehicle began moving. Once she was out of sight, Ella put her head back into the carriage.

"I was wondering when you would stop waving," Robert teased, reclining in his seat.

"I was waving to my friend. It's something friends do when they're departing each other."

Robert rolled his eyes. "I can't believe I'm being lectured on the art of friendship."

Ella's smile flickered across her face like a hologram. Then she noticed someone wasn't in there with them.

"Where's Howard?" she asked.

"He left earlier with Captain Asher. They'll be setting up camp at our first stop."

"Camp?"

"The journey to Crawley may take up to two days. And we won't be able to find an inn to rest. So we'll set up camp in a safe place."

Ella had read about camp stories that ended up with lovers kissing each other till the next day. Was she going to do that with Robert? The thought of spending a night with him was exciting.

"And I needed us to have some time to ourselves."

Ella's heart skipped. "Some time to ourselves?"

"Relax," Robert smirked, bringing out Ella's moon lamp-in-progress from a bag beside him. "Some time to ourselves so we can complete the moon lamp. Then by night, we try to light it up."

Ella's body streamed with enthusiasm. She couldn't wait to get started. Robert handed it over to her and fetched a brown paper from the same bag. It contained a drawing of the moon lamp.

"I drew this last night. It's going to help you make it faster," Robert said and held it up. He glanced at the bag he brought the paper. "The tools are in there. Get to work."

"Aye, aye captain." Ella saluted and took out a spanner from the bag.

He chuckled. "Get to work, we don't have all day."

*****

Completing the moon lamp was harder than Ella had anticipated. After every two hours, she took a nap break in which she woke up from to catch Robert watching her with her almost completed moon lamp in his hands. What a gentleman.

By evening she had completed it and she was so excited that she didn't know when she hugged Robert. She tried to pull out but he held her back.

"Give me a minute, " he said against the back of her neck. "This feels nice."

Ella moved closer, feeling his hard chest against her soft bosom. Darkness had taken over the sky and a shaft of the moon's silver light ran past the windows. She felt warm and at peace in his hold, not wanting the embrace to end. She sniffed in his rose-scented whiff, her fingers playing with the strands of his hair.

"I'm proud of you, Ella."

At those words, every wall of protection around her castle of trust was broken and she felt herself being left in her most vulnerable state. Alone and appreciative of his presence. He was the beacon of light that had led her through the dark walls of her doubt. He was the reason she kept going. The reason her doubts were beginning to fade away. Robert Killian Stark was everything she needed. A supportive pillar.

"Thank you, My Lord."

He pulled out of the hug and kissed her forehead. "You have a beautiful mind, Ella. Don't ever doubt yourself."

They continued the ride in silence, both staring dreamily into each other's eyes. Crickets chirped into the night, trees banding both sides of the carriage. They seemed to have entered a forest. Silver light phased past the spaces between the umbrella leaves the trees created, casting its immaculate glow upon the ground.

After a bump, the carriage stopped and Ella could hear the chatter of deep masculine voices. Yellow, red, and orange hues of flames casted against the body of the carriage.

"It appears we've reached," Robert said.

Ella grinned picking up her moon lamp. "Time to test her out."

"Aye," Robert said, nodding.