The night they had all been waiting for had arrived and everyone was prepared and waiting for her royal majesty, Ella Featherington downstairs. Robert was curious as to where she learned her habit of being late. Well, it was a good thing she was; so he would have the chance to give her something.

Walking along the creamed walled corridors, he arrived at her bedroom door and knocked twice before he turned the steel handle. Her room had a four-poster bed by the side and a burning fireplace that confronted it. She was by the corner of the room fixing her brown barley curls, her image reflecting in the mirror before her.

When his eyes set on her dress, his mouth went ajar. She looked magnificent in her blue swan-like gown. Her sleeves were short, leaving her forearms bare. He couldn't take his eyes off her. God help him.

When she heard his footsteps she swirled in her heels and they both locked eyes. Her face was immaculate and her brown eyes endearing. He could stare at them all night long. She smiled when she observed that he was wearing the clothes she bought for him. He was glad she liked how good it looked on him.

"You look stunning," she said, her eyes raking over his black frock coat which was lapping over his black vest.

"Thanks to you."

She patted her stray hair strands down. "I'm sorry for being late. I'll be down in a minute. Let me just fix my earrings."

She bent over the drawer that the mirror was placed on. Picking up her earrings, she wore them, the blue orbs gleaming under the flames of the fireplace. It was a good thing she chose that colour. The gift he was about to give to her would match it perfectly.

"I see you're not wearing a necklace," Robert said, slowly walking up to her.

Ella rubbed her tender hands on her nape. "I forgot them when I was packing."

Their proximity was so close that he could feel her soft derriere melt between his soft erection. A few more seconds in that position and he was going to be fully strong. Putting his hand inside his frock coat, he brought out a beautiful testoon necklace. It had blue crystals that glinted as light cut through it. He placed it over Ella's neck and her eyes widened with amazement.

"What is that?" She cried out happily.

He wore it on her neck and it fit her perfectly. "My mother wore it to the queen's wedding in 1840. She gave it to me afterwards and said it should be for my special person. I've waited eight years and I think I've found her."

Ella's eyes teared up as she rubbed her fingers over the beautiful necklace. "My goodness, I don't know what to say. It's truly beautiful."

"Beautiful people deserve beautiful things," he answered feeling his heart thud at the strong eye contact they both shared. The leer of the flames danced in his blue eyes and all he wanted to do at this moment was to kiss her till the night ended.

"Am I truly special to you?" She asked softly, placing a hand on his chin.

He held her neck gently and bent down for a gentle kiss. Pulling out, he rubbed her rosy cheek gently and said, "You are Ella. Now, let's go downstairs, they're waiting for us."

****

"We're all gathered today, to witness one of the grandest matches of this year. Fighting for the prize of sixty thousand pounds, Ayomide, our very own beast!" The announcer yelled, pointing at the doorway at the corner of the large room. A cacophony of cheers roared through the room as the audience cheered for their local champion.

Tendrils of flames shot up at both sides of the doorway. A tall dark skinned man with hard muscles walked out drinking a cup of water. He poured the remaining on his head. His dark eyes were feral and his steps portrayed confidence. Next to him was Pittsbury, puffing out smoke from his mouth. He shook some of the spectators as they proceeded to the ring in the middle of the room.

Ella watched the man with disgust. If only these people knew what sort of person he was. They wouldn't dare to touch his hands. Her fingers grazed over the necklace Robert gave her. He had told her she was special and at the spur of the moment, she wanted to hug him and never let go. She was special, and Robert thought so. No one could make her doubt herself anymore.

The seating for the spectators was ascending stairs that ran around the room in form of a triangle. Robert had reserved the best seat for all of them, which was the front. She sat next to Howard who was watching Ayomide with curiosity. He looked deadly. But Ella was confident in the Captain.

"Challenging him is a man we've never heard of before, Colin Dickson!" Ella smiled at Howard who in return smiled back. The Captain had insisted he didn't use his real name for safety reasons. Ella had suggested good names but he ended up going with the name that had male genitalia in it.

"Captain, Captain!" Dorice in Ella's arm cried out, pointing at the door where Captain Asher was walking out. His brown eyes were unusually cold, his bare chest oiled. Ella felt her heart tug when she saw Robert next to him. He looked irresistible in the black frock coat and vest. Good thing she saw that store the other day.

The Captain entered the ring while Robert waited outside alongside Pittsbury. When the Marquess looked over his shoulders, he caught Ella staring at him and waved. Ella was too flushed to even wave back. Dorice on the other hand didn't hesitate to wave. It was a cute scene to behold.

"I have to say, he looks good in that cloth," Mrs Tucker said. She was seated next to Ella, Campbell doing a toddler dance on her lap.

Ayomide looked at the Captain and laughed. Then he proceeded to say something Ella couldn't hear. But whatever it was, it seemed to annoy the Captain because his brown eyes were glaring hard rocks at the man.

The announcer began the match and two fighters began throwing punches at each other. Ayomide was throwing most of the punches and so far the Captain was dodging them successfully. It seemed the training paid off and the audience clapped whenever the Captain dodged a punch successfully.

Ayomide slowed down his pace and moved back, waiting for the Captain to strike first. It was a trap and Ella hoped the Captain knew too. Unfortunately, he didn't and he went for the punch. Ayomide ducked and hit the Captain's jaw with a sharp uppercut, blood spewing from his mouth.

Ella felt an unusual strain at her heart as she watched the Captain bleed from his mouth. She could feel the emotion churning beneath her and she forced herself to put them in check. She should have more faith in the Captain that he would bounce back.

"Come on, Cap!" Robert yelled, taking off his coat as the heat of the match grew. He walked over to Ella and handed her the coat. "Hold this for me, dear."

Dear...

Goodness, had His Lordship hit his head? From calling her Mr Law

to Miss Featherington, then to Ella and now he called her dear. What was next? Love? Who knew, that day might be around the corner. She held the cloth close to her face, his scent hitting the roof of her nostrils.

Her senses were fading out as she watched him roll the sleeves of his shirt, giving out commands to the Captain in the ring. His veined forearms still had the dazzling effect they had on her. She was thrown out of her daydream when the Captain was punched so hard she heard the sound of a fist meeting flesh.

He was being pummeled out there. Ayomide rarely had any bruises on his face. However, the Captain's lips were swollen and there were purple rings under his eyes. He had to turn the tables or this match would be lost soon enough. The crowd began chanting Ayomide's name, pumping him up. By the time the Captain regained his stance, his opponent's athleticism gave him an advantage as he landed him with another blow so fast he couldn't catch it.

"Dear God," Ella said, covering her mouth with both hands. He didn't give the Captain any chance and was swathing his face with continuous blows; each one cracking Ella's heart till it finally shattered. Not knowing what overcame her, she kept Dorice on Howard's lap and rushed to the ring.

Robert saw her coming and rushed to her holding her arms, a sense of urgency in his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"We have to stop it," Ella's eyes welled up with tears as she watched the Captain struggle for his dignity in the ring. Pittsbury was watching the entire fight with a small smile on his face. "Robert, we were wrong. Four days wasn't enough to prepare the Captain. This man is beating him to a pulp!"

"Listen, we can't stop the fight. If we do it would be over and the money would be gone." Robert ran his hands shakily over the air, his eyes locked on the Captain who was holding onto the ropes for support. Ayomide went in for another blow, sending him to the canvas.

Ella tried to rush past Robert but he held her back. "If we don't stop they'll kill him!"

"Ella, you need to have faith in the Captain." He held her back, his blue eyes softening as he saw the eyes roll down her cheeks. She rarely cried and though she hadn't known the Captain for a long, something deep down within her couldn't stand to see him being beaten like that.

"You're crying," Robert whispered.

"No, I'm not." Ella tried to wipe them off but they came pouring like a friggin of water fall. Keep your emotions in check, Ella. Please...

But the Captain was being beaten to a pulp. She couldn't stand it. She shook her head. She truly couldn't bear to watch it any longer. But then she saw something that gave her hope. The Captain tried to open his swollen eyes and locked them with her. His lips parted when he saw the tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Miss Featherington, you're crying," he said and just then, he was carried up by Ayomide who had a big dark hand on his neck. The crowd cheered once more. Ayomide was about to deal the last blow. But what happened next shocked everyone. The dark man threw his fist at the Captain who caught it promptly. "You made Miss Featherington cry." He clenched his jaw hard. "No one makes Miss Featherington cry."

Captain Asher headbutted Ayomide in the head and sent him staggering backwards, his hand above his eyes. Ella gasped; did her tears seem to have some sort of effect on the Captain? By the time Ayomide regained his composure, the Captain knocked him out with a heavy blow to the chin.

The room went silent at the unexpected victory. Captain Asher stood over the knocked-out body of his opponent and looked at the blinding fair lights in the ceiling. He let out a loud cry, plumes of steam leaving his mouth. It was then the crowd joined in clapping loudly.

"The winner of the sixty thousand pounds, Colin Dickson!" The announcer yelled.

"He did it!" Ella screamed and hugged Robert tightly.

"I told you to have faith in him." When he withdrew she could see the tears he was holding back. They were finally victorious. By this time tomorrow, they would've already found the Captain's children and the mission would be over. And they would finally be able to make the moon lamp.

Mrs Tucker walked up to them with the twins. She had a soft smile on her face that said, "Thank you." The Captain had saved her family.

Howard hugged Robert, patting his back. "We did it mate."

Ella looked at the two friends. They were the second family she never knew she would find. They all entered the ring and began congratulating the Captain. The twins were who he asked for first, carrying both of them in his arm. You could see the smile on everyone's faces. Everyone except Pittsubury who Ella noticed retreating into the crowd, his brown eyes holding a strange ominous sense of foreboding Ella didn't like.

But she wouldn't let the poppycock ruin their night. They had won. She wiped the remainder of the tears in her eyes.

"Are you okay, Miss Featherington?" Captain Asher asked, looking down into her brown eyes.

Ella nodded, wiping her tears. "Aye, I am. Let's celebrate your victory."