The engines of the train cried out as they headed for Chelmsford, Essex. Red leather seats and red tables furnished the first-class part of the train, the train station rushing out of view and being replaced with luscious greenery.

Robert and Captain stark were seated by the wall of the train, Howard seated on the outer part that was close to the aisle. He didn't like that idea very much because a few travellers, especially the big ones tended to bump into him as they went to their seats.

Captain Asher Newman was dressed in a grey tailcoat, a far cry from his usual army uniform. He claimed he wanted to remain incognito on this mission. Robert noticed he was tapping his big fingers on his lap, beads of sweat swathing his forehead. He was nervous. Who wouldn't be? He was about to face the parents of a girl he got pregnant and abandoned for years.

"The least they could do is throw curse words at you," Robert said, aiming to comfort him. "I'm sure you can handle that. After all, you've seen the spoils of war."

Asher chuckled, rubbing his shaking hands together. "Thank you, Lord Stark. But we both know this won't be a pleasant visit."

"Ow!" Howard cried as a man twice the size of the aisle bumped past him. The look he gave him was hot enough to burn down a building. "Captain, to be honest, we can both agree you're in deep shite-"

"Mr Lithstone," Robert said between his teeth, "not helping."

"But," Howard continued, "I'm sure once they hear your side of the story, they won't be angry enough to cut your head off."

"Your words are the most convincing, Mr Lithstone," Captain Asher said with a smile and looked outside the window, his brown eyes softening. He desperately needed this. He wanted a family of his own. One he could share moments with. Robert doubted his father ever wanted to share any moments with him.

Robert leaned back in his seat, his fingers in his blonde hair as he thought about Ella. It was becoming addicting and no matter how hard he tried to stop it, the harder it came back. Before he had departed, he visited the hospital and met a blonde girl seating next to Ella. The girl turned out to be the infamous Jules.

She was surprised when he introduced himself as Lord Robert Stark. Before he knew it, Juliet was already blabbing about how much Ella spoke of him and that made his heart melt. She even told him she knew of their little secret. That she was the one helping Ella sneak to his office. For some unusual reason, he was grateful that Juliet was in Ella's life. For if she was not, he may never have seen her before.

Ella's condition on the other hand was still the same. She was still in her coma and with every day that passed by, Robert could feel his fear of her death growing exponentially. He had never cared for anyone this much except for his family and Howard. What was the meaning of this? It couldn't be love because he wasn't only physically attracted to her, but he was also attracted to her strong will and genius.

Love was only about physical attraction, wasn't it? Or was he getting it all wrong?

"I believe we should rest," Captain Asher said, snapping Robert out of his daze. "Chelmsford is a long way from here."

It was true. Staring at the green plains that lined the railway tracks for the last time, Robert shut his eyes and tried to catch some sleep.

******

Chelmsford was clustered with roadside stalls and a market so large it took most of its road. After all, Essex was known for their large markets. Squeezing through the tight crowd, Robert and his comrades held their hands above their noses. The streets smelled like goat piss and cow shit.

No wonder they had one of the most dangerous cholera outbreaks in England. Spreading out the file in his hold, Howard read through it with vigour, his eyes skimming through the lines. When he was done he pointed down the road.

"We shouldn't be too far from where we could find a cabbie," He said with an encouraging smile.

After much stress, they managed to weave their way through the right street unto a more accessible road. It was merely tarred. Most of the cabbies than drove by looked like their carriages required maintenance and their horses were in desperate need of food.

Robert noticed one which didn't seem too bad for three people and hailed him. The three of them got in, but the carriage seemed to make a weak creak when Asher joined. After all, he was the big man and his shoulders took up almost half the width of the carriage.

"We should've found a bigger carriage," he said.

"If you mean by choosing the ones which look like termites held an annual food feast with it, I think I would prefer walking," Howard said, looking at the shabby interior. Cracks were at every corner and the seats were hard as a rock.

"Where to Sir?" The cabbie called out.

"The old farm close to the Chelmsford and Essex hospital," Robert informed.

"Hold on, it's going to be a rough ride," The cabbie's whip lashed. "Hiyah!"

****

And indeed it was a rough ride. Robert kept on hitting his head continuously on the iron roof the entire ride. Maybe walking would've been a better option. They had arrived at their location and were now facing a bungalow that was being trailed by a set of stones as its walkway.

Siding the walkway were apple trees that bore, red mouth-watering apples. Robert looked at the signboard that held the building's location.

"The Garfield Farm," he read out. "This is the place. This is where Emily's parents are."

"Are you ready?" Howard turned to Asher who looked like he was about to shit in his pants.

This wasn't only a breaking point for him, it was also what determined Robert's fate. If Emily's parents were complying enough to give them information which would help them, then he would know that his metal which would be safe. And then he would be able to show his father how capable of a son he was.

"Captain, this is it," Robert said, his blue eyes searching for Asher's brown eyes that were gazing at the floor.

"You're right." He took in a deep breath. "Let's pay the Garfields a visit."