It was a stormy November night as the young couple walked down the cobbled street. The wind danced around them carrying with it a biting cold, the rain lashed at their faces and the ground beneath them barely visible. Darkening clouds increased the gloom as they struggled onwards, the young mans slender frame fought against the wind, his emerald eyes against the darkness. The young woman next to him tightened her grip on his hand and moved her body closer to his. They arrived at a small house which stood on the corner of the narrow street, a solitary candle flickered in the front window. The young man knocked loudly and waited wrapping his arm around his companion. The door opened and behind it stood an elderly gentleman, his back slightly curved and his right hand placed upon a worn walking stick. As his eyes fell upon the couple he quickly observed that the female was clearly pregnant. The man with her took an envelope from his coat pocket and handed it to him, the old mans eyes instantly fell upon the crimson seal on the back of the envelope and a flash of uncertainty and fear flickered in his grey eyes. He looked back up at the couple hesitated and then stood aside allowing them into his home.
The young man placed his hand on his companions back and she stepped into the hallway, she turned her head slightly and looked into a small living room a crackling log fire stood at the back in an old style brick fireplace. The flames danced hypnotically and cast waves of amber across the room, she heard the front door close and turned her attention back to the old man. He shuffled passed them and entered the living room and sat down in a large armchair, he looked up at the couple and spoke in a soft voice "Please take a seat" as he spoke he motioned with his hand to a sofa next to the fire. The couple walked to it and sat down appreciating the rest and the warmth, the old man turned the envelope over in his hands and looked into the fire the couple stayed silent and watched him.