The magpies perched on the tree outside the hospital sang a melodious tune, Ella slowly waking up to a cacophony of it and the chatter of the hospital wards. Her vision was hazy, the white ceiling above dancing like stars before her eyes. She felt a searing pain in her head as she turned, whining in response to the pain.

"Ellie," a very accustomed voice called out and her brown eyes searched for the owner. There Juliet sat, before her, her blue eyes wide with excitement. "You're awake."

"Awake?" She questioned her friend's words. Glancing around, she noticed the people lying on beds and nurses in white attending to them. "Where am I?"

"The hospital. You've been out for a week now."

She winced, sitting upright on the bed as she placed her hand on the throbbing side of her head. The last thing she remembered was falling off that cliff at Gerrard's house. That would explain the pain in her head and the bandage that was swathing it.

"I should call the nurse to check you. By the way, your mother was here a few minutes ago. She went home to prepare dinner." Ella felt a torrent of pity for her poor mother. Who knew the tons of sleepless nights she probably had, worried about her? The same could be said about Juliet too. Blast that slippery log of wood!

Sighing she glanced around the room and notice a beautiful rose bouquet on her bedside table. She knew she hated flowers. But these were too gorgeous to be disliked.

"You like them, don't you?" Juliet asked, smiling. "Lord Robert brought them for you. By the way, I have to say, he had quite the charm."

Robert. He was here?

"The nurses said he had been coming here every day."

Everyday? She stretched her hand to collect the flowers but couldn't reach them. Juliet helped her out and she held them close to herself. The thought that Robert cared to visit her every day made goosebumps torment her body. Who knew how guilty he must've felt for sending her to Gerrard in the first place? But he didn't need to bother himself, she wanted to make that moon lamp as much as he did.

"Look at how you're blushing like a tomato," Juliet teased, playfully patting Ella by the shoulders.

"I'm not blushing," Ella said, her cheeks adding an extra tinge of red.

"It's fine, it's okay to be in love, Ellie."

Those words reminded Ella of her friend's current situation. "How about Rikkard? Has he reached out?"

Juliet's playful exterior turned sad. "No, Ellie, he hasn't. I'm scared."

"Oh love," Ella said, placing her hand comfortingly on her friend's hands. "Once I get out of here, I promise we'll figure this out."

And also she'll need to thank Robert for the flowers. He may be the reason she would start to love flowers again. Just maybe.

"Thank you. By the way, Lord Robert told me to tell you he was going to Chelmsford for Emily's parents. He said he knows you'll want to come to work and find him."

That man. She clenched her teeth and it hurt her head badly. Blast! He went to find Emily's parents without her. He never ceased to annoy her. While she was cursing profanities at him in her mind, Juliet called a nurse who came to check her vitals.

"You suffered a minor head injury. Luckily, you didn't fracture your skull. So a few days' rest is all you need to be up and going again," the nurse said, smiling warmly at Ella.

Well, that was great. She would have enough time to plot how to kill Robert for being such a bloody poppycock. She wondered how he was doing there at Chelmsford.

*****

Far away in Chelmsford, Robert and his mates stood outside the home of Emily's parents. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the wooden door of the house. While they waited for a response, he looked around, appraising the luscious apples on the trees with his cerulean eyes.

Footsteps receded and soon the door opened, a man who looked to be in his fifties standing before them with a white work shirt sported on. His eyes were an ageing shade of brown, his brows grey with age, and his head shaved neat of any hair. Wrinkles were imprinted on his face, his lips dry with little cracks.

"We're looking for Mr Garfield," Robert said, looking back at Howard and Asher who looked like he wanted to be swallowed by the ground.

"That's me," he said, narrowing his eyes at them. "Can I help you? We barely get any visitors here."

"We're here to discuss a matter of great importance. It's about your daughter, Emily."

His brown eyes went soft when his daughter's name was called. Robert felt pained for bringing her up. If what she wrote was true, it would be sad to remind him about his dead daughter. But for now, he hoped she was alive. Maybe it would ease Asher's tension a bit.

Mr Garfield opened the door wider. "Come in."

They walked into the home, the warmth of the building enwrapping Robert as they went deeper into the house. The walls were painted a light brown, the floor floored with wood. Mr Garfield led them to a living room with three sofas facing a fireplace that was burning. At the centre of the chairs was a coffee table that had a newspaper rolled up on it.

"Have a seat," he said, gesturing at the seats. They complied and he sat on an armchair and called over his shoulder, "Honey! We have visitors."

"Visitors?" A high-pitched voice asked. And soon a woman appeared through a doorway. She had brown hair that was streaked with grey hair, her brown eyes reminding Robert of someone familiar. He couldn't put his fingers on it. She wore a brown apron, flour tainting it. "Good morning lads." She turned to her husband. "Who are they?"

"This is my wife. Honey, these men said they have something to tell us about Emily."

Her brown eyes gazed to the ground, a fond memory tutoring her soul. Robert knew getting information wouldn't be easy considering Emily may be dead.

"Emily is dead. Died a long time ago," She said after finding the courage to speak. "So why are you here?"

Robert glanced between Howard and Asher as they shared a non-verbal communication. It was official; Emily was truly dead. That last part didn't deem to fit for Asher because he balled his hands into a fist that was too tight Robert felt he might soon bleed from his palms.

"Our condolences," Robert said and took a deep breath. "We're here to ask for your help."

"On what?" Mr Garfield asked, coughing softly.

"To help you find your Grandchildren. The one Emily gave birth to."

Mrs Garfield gasped, looking at her husband who gave her the same look of astonishment. So they didn't even know where the children were too. She held her husband's hands and turned to look at Robert.

"And how do you know about Emily's pregnancy? We kept it hidden."

Robert and Howard looked at Captain Asher. This was his cue to speak. The Marquess gave him an encouraging nod. Sighing deeply, he spoke.

"That's because I'm the father of those children."