As the carriage carried Robert along the blocks of offices, he stared into the other side of his cabin. He couldn't believe it. Arthur had won Edward. He bloody won the best horse rider in London! Edward caused his downfall by choosing a horse with shorter legs and less race time. He believed he could beat the lowly stable manager's son and that sent him to his doom.

Arthur's stead was brown and strong with athletic legs and was one of the experienced horses. He made Edward eat friggin dust. What a lad! Working in a stable truly had its advantages. Now the boy was going to race in the royal derby and the Duke had already sent a servant to the bank to withdraw Arthur's promised advance.

Unlikely to Robert's expectations of an interesting night yesterday, Arthur denied his assumptions and didn't visit Grace. One would've thought that after he won the race, he would want to celebrate with his lover. But she waited at the window and he never came.

The carriage pulled to a stop, reminding Robert that he had serious tasks ahead of him. He would have to find Emily's parents today. At the entrance of the building was Howard in a black tailcoat, tapping his legs impatiently.

"You love tardiness, My Lord," Howard greeted.

"I believe I should've hired you as a timekeeper instead," Robert replied, entering the building with his right-hand man.

"A job I would've taken as seriously as I take my current one."

Robert couldn't think of a good comeback so he was silent as they climbed the stairs to his office.

"I've done my research on Miss Emily," Howard said, opening Robert's office door for him.

He sank behind his black desk. "Tell me we have good news."

"I'm afraid there's bad news too."

Robert winced. "Give me the good first."

"The house her parents once lived in is owned by Gerrard Finley and we can trace them from there."

"The bad news?"

Howard scratched the back of his neck. "We have to check Finley's estate files to know where the family relocated to."

Frigg! Robert thought, hands raking through blonde hair. Why did Gerrard always have to be in the bloody picture? At times Robert wished he could toss him into the bloody Thames and never hear of him again.

"Is Mr Law present?" He asked, reclining in his seat.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Tell him I need him in my office now."

Robert believed it was time he apologised to Ella for being such an arse to her ever since she came to work for him. Maybe she deserved a chance to chase her dream just like Arthur was given a chance to chase his—Robert considered his sister the dream girl of any man.

"As much as I hate to see his face, I'll let him know of your request," Howard said and left the office.

Ella sat behind her desk, staring into the now orderly archive. At least it was in order when she arrived this morning. Maybe Robert had decided not to try making her quit again. Though she had to admit, working in the archive was quite a bore. Tidying it up only shielded its lack of services to the office. Robert hadn't even asked for a file or even a pen or anything.

The door opened and Howard walked in, glancing around. "I must say your cleaning abilities are rather marvellous."

"A compliment? From you?" Ella raised a brow. "Is the world coming to an end?"

"Every time I see your face I wish it does."

Ella laughed ironically. "Why are you here Mr Lithstone?"

"Lord Robert wants to see you. Now."

Finally, some real work! Grinning like a child who had been given a pack of biscuits, she sprang from her seat and watched Howard scowl at her before he left. In the blink of an eye, she was before Robert's office, knocking on his door.

"It's Mr Law," she said, feet bouncing excitedly.

"Come in."

She swayed the door wide and walked in. The room was as she remembered it; blueprints of lamps on the wall and a black desk and chair at the end. Robert sat on it, blue eyes regarding Ella's full form. There was a way he looked at her that made her stomach giddy and legs wobbly. He had strong eye contact.

"You asked for me, My Lord." She bowed like a perfect English gentleman. All those practising with Juliet truly paid off.

"Yes, I did."

He kept watching her, sunlight dancing like fireflies as it came in touch with his hair. He looked heavenly and Ella wondered how a man so handsome could be such a diabolical wench.

He breathed in deeply. "I wanted to apologise for how I have been treating you. I've been rather unpleasant."

"I couldn't agree more." They both chuckled and Ella felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Why she was acting in such a nonsensical manner was still undisclosed to her.

"I deserve that."Robert pursed his lips.

Ella wasn't thoroughly convinced about whatever was happening. A day ago he had scattered the archive and gave her a mischievous wink. Now he expected her to believe he had come to his bloody senses and was apologizing.

"To be thorough, what you're saying is," she inclined her head, "you're letting a woman work under your employ."

"Indeed and I'm allowing her to chase her dreams of being a scientist."

She narrowed her eyes, rubbing her beards. "Did you hit your head on a rock on your way here?"

"I most certainly did not."

"And you expect me to believe that a man who was willing to do anything to get rid of me, now wants me working for him?"

Robert nodded. "I assume that shouldn't be big of a problem."

"Hmm, make me believe you."

"What?"

"Do something to prove that you're willing to accept me as an employee."

He closed his eyes and blew out air. "You're truly impossible."

Gently, he bent down to his desk as if to withdraw something. He froze, hands mid-air. His eyes widened and Ella could only comprise it to be alarm. Hurriedly he dragged out a drawer and began ruffling through, the sound of paper crumpling together. Ella took two steps backwards, stricken with fear because Robert was acting like a lion looking for his stolen share of meat.

"It's not here," Robert said under his breath. "It's not here."

"Is there a problem, My Lord?" Ella asked, worried for him.

He ignored her and picked up the telephone. "Mr Lithstone, I need you in my office, now."

Ella didn't know how physically possible this was, but Howard was inside the room before she could batt another eyelid. He rushed to the table and bowed.

"My Lord."

"Did you take Emily's letter from my drawer?" Robert asked.

"I did not."

"It is not here anymore. I usually leave my drawer two inches open. But this time, it was fully closed," Both men looked at Ella and she felt like she was being cornered by two Tigers.

"Why are you both looking at me like that?" She took another step back. "I didn't take anything from your drawer, My Lord."

"You," Robert growled, rounding the desk. "I should've known."

"Should've known what?" Ella asked, panicked, her heart beating faster.

"I had thought it quite unnatural for a woman to want to work for a man. That dance with Gerrard, he told you to meet me didn't he? You're working for him are you not?"

Ella's voice was caught up in her throat as Robert glared icicles at her. Was he accusing her of working with Gerrard? She hated the man with her life. Why would she want to work with the baboon?

"I am not!"

Robert had cornered her to the wall, his tall form casting a shadow over her small physique. His glaring eyes sent boring holes down her nape and she seemed to burn under his presence.

"Listen to me, woman." Robert bared his teeth. "You will tell me where you kept my letter and I'll let you go."

"I'm not with any letter." Ella could feel the tears coming. Robert was so bent on firing her that he didn't see how wrong he was in the situation. She didn't even know of any bloody letter.

"Don't lie to me!" His sky blue eyes screamed danger.

She had never seen him this enraged. Whatever this letter was, it meant a great deal to him. But what she didn't understand is why his hatred for her would make him blame her blindly.

"I'm not lying." Her throat constricted and her eyes welled up.

No! She would be strong! She wouldn't let this man blame her for anything she did. She would stand her ground.

"I have to admit, Gerrard was smart. He knew your gender would be the least I would ever suspect of theft."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Stop blaming me for what I didn't do!" She slammed her fist countless times on his broad chest but he didn't flinch or flex a muscle. He was hard as a rock.

Robert must've spotted something on her face as his gaze softened and he took a step back. And then she felt it; hot tears running down her cheeks.

He closed his eyes. "Get out and never come back."

"I swear I didn't-"

"Get out!"

She looked at Howard who was doing nothing but glaring daggers at her. No one believed her and a fool she was for thinking that maybe Robert was beginning to ease up to her. With warm tears streaming down her cheeks, she ran out of the office.

Robert couldn't believe he was about to let her into his life. She had him fooled all this while. Hissing he walked up to a wall and banged his hand repeatedly on it till his palm became sore. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the way Howard looked at him. The look that said; you need to explain what just happened.

"Howard-"

"When were you going to tell me Mr Law was Mrs Law?"

Robert steered to him, hands on his waist. "I didn't want to get the reaction I am getting now."

"What reaction?" Howard lifted a brow.

"Your judgment is so strict."

"Are you to imply that I should be at peace with working with a woman dressed as a man?"

Robert sighed. "I didn't know she was working for Gerrard."

"Gerrard or not, we both know the gravity of the situation if she was ever caught. Your dreams of making the moon lamp would be ruined and you may never be able to make your father proud."

Howard was making sense in every way. The moon lamp was the only thread of hope Howard had of making his father love him and be proud of him. But if Ella's identity were ever to be revealed while she was under his employ, he would be ruined.

"You need not remind me of what I am meant to do." Robert ran his hands through his locks of golden hair.

Resting in his seat, he took in deep shaky breaths. One part of him wished Ella didn't do this while the other pointed all fingers at her. And the last part had bloody facts to back up its opinion. Firstly, it was quite odd a woman was willing to do office jobs and even willing to wear men's cloth for it. Secondly, she danced and spoke with Gerrard before she met Robert on the balcony. Thirdly, she kept asking about making the moon lamp. She probably wanted to see it firsthand so she could report back to Gerrard.

Bloody hell, Robert thought. There were a lot of clues pointing to her as the thief.

"Do you think she stole the letter?" Howard asked.

"Clearly all evidence points to her. Nothing has ever been stolen in my office before and a day after she came, an important letter went missing. Tell me that's not something, Howard. There wasn't any break-in. This was done by someone who knew when I left and when I came in. We all know there's only one person behind this."

"I agree, My Lord," Howard rubbed his jaw. "But if you truly believed she stole that letter for Gerrard, why did you let her go?"

A picture of Ella crying made his heart clench. She looked so innocent when he saw her on that balcony that evening. Maybe he was giving her the benefit of the doubt. He couldn't stand seeing her with those tears.

"I don't know, Howard." Robert intertwined his hands. "I don't know what came over me."

"Maybe deep down you don't want to believe she did it?" He inclined his head.

"I'll like some time alone, Mr Lithstone."

"Whatever you need, My Lord," Howard bowed and walked to the door. He held the knob and looked over his shoulder. "By the way, I knew she was a woman the whole time. I just respected your decision not to tell me."

With that, Robert was left alone in the confinement of his office.