Prologue

Gwen had seen the artworks in her father's office many times. He too had not been immune to the beauty of the United Kingdom. She had seen pictures on google and photos friends had taken. What she had not been prepared for was the astounding beauty of Oxford University up close and personal. The pictures did not do the place justice.

After staring dumbly in wonder for several moments, she grabbed her suitcase and walked along the street beside the place looking upon the map for her location. While the scholarship did pay for her accommodation, Gwen had to make some last minute adjustments for more privacy. She intended to keep her head low and her appearance as inconspicuous as possible.

Turning into another street that had cobblestones and picturesque village looking houses and apartments, Gwen found the house she was looking for.

While it did look like a nice place, it still reminded her of an abandoned cottage out in the woods. Something out of a horror film even though it was attached to the rest of the buildings in the street. It was covered in vines too with various pot plants on the window sills.

Licking her lips, Gwen made it the front stairs and knocked on the door. It didn't take long for the would be land lady to answer.

Gwen cocked her head to the side as the older woman peeked her head out the door.

"Um…Tess Williams?"

"Yes?"

Gwen licked her lips.

"My name is Gwen Stacey. The foreign exchange student. I spoke to you on the phone?"

The door opened wider and the woman scrutinised her up and down before giving her an uncharacteristic big smile.

"Why yes I do remember. Come! Come in."

Gwen breathed a sigh of relief and follow the lady inside.

"Now now, placed your things over there. I'll show you to your room in a bit. Please sit…sit."

Gwen complied, sitting on the comfy couch looking uneasily at all the catholic iconic symbols throughout the room. A big statue of the Virgin Mary standing upon the serpent was above the fire place.

It only painfully reminded her of her father. He had been a deeply religious man expecting law and order in his own home as well as on the street.

"You must be tired from your journey. Fancy some tea?"

Gwen looked at the woman and gave a weak smile.

"That would be lovely."

She waited solemnly, staring at the fire while Tess fussed about in the kitchen.

She tried so hard to focus upon the fire, but her thoughts irrevocably went to Peter and then to Harry.

She bit her lip remembering their fight. How betrayed Peter had felt. How ashamed she was at what she had done.

But she couldn't erase the past nor could she really make up for a mistake like this.

And so she had closed up her heart and had taken off like a coward. A coward with an uncertain future.

"Lot's of sugar darling?"

"Please," Gwen said as the woman came over with a tray of fancy china and heaped three tea spoons full into her cup and stirred.

"It is lovely thank you."

Tess smiled before leaning back in her sofa chair.

"Now are you going to tell me exactly what you are doing here?"

Gwen stopped short as she was about to take a sip and raised her brow.

"What do you mean? I came here for…"

"No no, not that. I mean why are you here in that condition?"

"What condition?"

Tess's grey eyes twinkled and she gave her a pitying smile. She set her own tea down.

"Come now, you can't fool me. I've been a midwife for well over thirty years. I imagine it's your first too by the look of things."

Gwen's mouth hung open for a moment before she shut it and sat mutely in her chair.

Tess resumed drinking her tea as calmly as if she was with a friend talking about the weather.

Gwen swallowed hard before looking back at the fire. So the jig was up.

"I am a little over eight weeks actually," she whispered under her breath.

Tess set her tea down on the table again and reached over to touch her hand. She squeezed it meaningfully.

"How old are you Gwen?"

There was a long pause.

"Nineteen."

Tess smiled at her.

"A little young to be getting yourself into this sort of trouble aye?"

Gwen reluctantly nodded as Tess leaned back in her chair and looked at her thoughtfully.

"Are you going to turn me away?"

The older woman's eyes widened before she gave out a short little laugh.

"Turn you away? No. That would be cruel. Why would I turn away an expectant mother about to start a college degree? No lovee, you are completely fine. I am just wondering what you are doing here is all. In that condition."

Gwen bit her bottom lip, trying to think of what to say. The fact that she was here at all was crazy enough to say the least. She didn't want to admit to her land lady that she was running away from her problems.

"This was too good of an opportunity to pass up and I didn't want to let an unexpected pregnancy to stop me." It was only half a lie, but Tess seemed to buy it.

"I see and the father? If you don't mind me asking. It just that in my experience as a midwife, men want everything to do with their children or nothing to do with them. We won't have a distressed and desperate boyfriend coming up here causing a scene will we? The neighbours won't like that."

Gwen had to refrain from gripping the chair. She mustered up the fakest smile she could although she was sure Tess realised that it didn't reach her eyes.

"No not at all. It is just me."

She sipped her tea then, but it tasted like ashes in her mouth.

And her thoughts went to Peter and Harry. The mess they were in, how she was tied to it and the danger she was in if Harry or God forbid, anyone else in the Osborn Cooperation or in the government ever found out.