Her world was in tatters. She had lost everything and there she sat in her home in London that she once loved so much but now seemed so cold and empty. Calls continued to come in from friends and Mrs. Thirkell intercepted them all. She just couldn't see anyone just yet. All she could think about was Grant and the children, long for them. The past two weeks she had managed to go to Ambassadors a few times a week but for the most part she stayed at home. She felt exhausted and yesterday morning she had thrown up. Mrs. Thirkell brought her some tea and pleaded with her to see the doctor. She knew Lady Sabrina Longworth all too well and something wasn't right…something beyond her pain over losing her family.

They had been so careless, she and her sister. Not thinking how things would eventually turn out. They would just switch places for a week, to experience the other's life and get perspective on their own. Well, a week turned into three months and Stephanie lost her life. When her husband Grant discovered the truth he banished Sabrina from his and the children's lives. She left the hotel room and returned to London to try and pick up the pieces and Grant returned to Evanston to deal with the children. She had no idea if they knew the truth or if he let them believe their mother abandoned them. She got up and stoked the fire in the fireplace, pulling her robe closer around her she could hear the thunder and the rain beating harder on the roof.

There was a knock on the door, "Yes." She called out

The door opened and Mrs. Thirkell came in, "Today's post, madam."

"Thank you, Mrs. Thirkell." She said taking the stack of mail from her, "Oh, I'll have lunch up here, please."

"Of course, Madam." She replied as the phone rang, "I'll get it." Mrs. Thirkell picked up the phone, "Hello…one moment." She turned to Sabrina, "Madam, it's Doctor Thorndyke's office."

"Thank you." She crossed the room and took the phone, "Hello." She said as she heard Mrs. Thirkell close the door behind her…and that's when everything changed

/

A month later Sabrina sat in Dr. Thorndyke's office still hardly believing what was happening. She nervously twisted her ring around on her finger while she waited for him. A few minutes later he appeared.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Sabrina, I had a last minute issue come up." He explained taking a seat behind his desk, "So, how have you been feeling?"

"Alright, I suppose." She replied, "Still in shock, I guess."

He smiled sympathetically, "I know and we did discuss your options…" He began

"No Doctor, that is out of the question." She cut him off, "I'm having this child."

"Good." He said, "So what about the vitamins?"

She half smiled, "Taking them religiously."

"Well, you're about to hit fourteen weeks so it's a little early for an ultrasound so we'll schedule that for next month."

"Doctor, I won't be here next month." She explained, "I'm leaving London…I think the best thing I can do for my child is to make a fresh start."

"I see." He said, "What are your plans?"

"Well, I've sold my interests in the antique shops and there's an offer on my house. I plan to move to the States. New York."

"I know a wonderful obstetrician there, Dr. Blasedale, a woman." He said, "I'll have my secretary get you her number."

"Thank you, Doctor." Sabrina stood up and headed for the door

"I wish you all the best, my dear." He got up and followed her out to the front office where his secretary, Kate was waiting, "Kate, please get Lady Longworth Dr. Blasedale's number in New York. She'll be moving there in the next few weeks."

"Of course, Doctor." Kate smiled in reply; looking up the number she wrote it down, "Here you are, Madam."

"Thank you." Sabrina replied, "Oh, my name is no longer Lady Longworth. It's just Sabrina, Sabrina Hartwell." She certainly wasn't going to continue to use Denton Longworth's name and the title that went with it in New York, nor give it to her child

/

Later that afternoon Sabrina retreated to her room again, asking Mrs. Thirkell to continue fielding calls and to bring her tea at four. She stood at the window that overlooked the gardens thinking about the upheaval in her life. A life that wasn't really her own anymore. The enormity of it all came crashing down around her and she began to cry. She cried for herself, the sister she dearly loved and missed, for the loss of a family that had never really been hers and for the life that grew inside her that deserved better that what it would be getting. The child that deserved his father, a father that would never know it existed. How could she tell him when all he would when he saw her face or heard her voice is turn her away? She caressed her abdomen that was beginning to take on a slightly rounded appearance. My precious little one how I wish I could give you more. How I wish I could give you your daddy and your cousins who will be your half siblings too. What a mess I've made of things not just for me but now for you. But I promise to give you the best life I can. New York is a terrific place and we'll make new friends and you'll be happy, I promise.

"Madam." Mrs. Thirkell called out knocking on the door, "I have your tea."

"Come in Mrs. Thirkell." She replied leaving the window, "Thank you." She hadn't told Mrs. Thirkell about the baby, just that she wanted to move and wanted Mrs. Thirkell to stay with her if she wanted to

"Mr. Rawlings called and the closing on the house is scheduled for next week." Mrs. Thirkell informed her, "I told him that was fine."

"Of course, the sooner the better." Sabrina replied

"Madam." Mrs. Thirkell said, "I've been thinking about what you said and I would be happy to stay with you in New York."

"Thank you, Mrs. Thirkell." Sabrina said taking her tea and sitting on the chaise lounge in front of the fire, "I appreciate your willingness to make such a big change."

"Well, how can I leave you?" She said, "You'll need a lot of help with the baby."

Sabrina stopped with her cup almost to her lips, "How did you know?"

"Madam, I've been with you for a long time." She replied, "You've been tired. You feel ill in the mornings and you asked for decaffeinated tea…plus I found the prenatal vitamins in the bathroom when I was cleaning."

Sabrina smiled slightly, "I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner…I guess I was trying to get used to it."

"Well, you just tell me what you need and I'll do it." She said turning to leave

"Mrs. Thirkell?"

She turned back around at the door, "Yes, Madam?"

"No questions?" She asked

"I'm not here to ask questions." She replied, "I'm here to help."

"Thank you." Sabrina said quietly

Mrs. Thirkell nodded and left

TBC…Sabrina begins her life in New York