INTRODUCTION

It was love that set her fate. But, unfortunately, rose's Mother chose to love the wrong man, and as a result, she had to leave everything behind.

It was the eve of her tenth birthday when Rose heard her parents arguing in the kitchen of their quaint apartment in Camden Town, London. She couldn't understand what was going on for the life of her. All the little girl understood was that it was serious - dead serious. She stood there clutching a doll her father had given her for her birthday as she watched her mother break out in tears. Terrified, she watched her mother plead,

"What do you mean, Leo?"

"I don't know, Bess, but they found out, and I need to get the both of you out of here. It's not safe. They aren't like normal people. They have power - real power. It's not safe for us anymore. You need to go home." His warm aristocratic voice was usually strong, but her father never swayed when speaking, but it was different this time; all his elegance was lost. Her father spoke like a man broken.

Rose watched as her mother's eyes widen in terror; she had never seen her mother look so frightened in her life. Rose would never forget this moment imprinted in her mind. In the future, she would look back at this moment and recognise it as the beginning of the end. Her eyes followed her parents as they began to pack a couple of suitcases quickly. In what seemed like an instant, the cases were full of clothes and was filled with most of their personal items—a whole life within the contents of two suitcases. A strange feeling settled in Rose's tiny stomach.

"Leo, what does this mean for us? Will you follow us?"

Her father stood in front of her mother, wiping the hot tears from her beautiful face, "my love, my heartbeat, I can't promise anything. Everything is too complicated right now. I'll write for now and send money for the both of you. But, if I can't be there, I want you to be comfortable at the very least." There was a paused moment between the two adults. The air was thick with tension. Finally, rose's mother nodded her head, barely accepting her father's answer.

The Clock had struck 10, There moment had ended, and with everything packed and the two dressed to leave, Rose felt her father take her in his arms and carry her to a vehicle with a young driver waiting for them. The little girl sat quietly in her seat as she felt the silent emotion of her parents settle in. The ride was long for Rose, and she soon felt her eyes get heavy. Bess and Leo watched their little girl as she slept. Their heart broke for the happy home they knew she deserved, but she wouldn't be able to have.

It was around midnight when they arrived. Birmingham, a place Bess thought she'd never had to move back to. Back to a house she had thought she'd never need to go back to, but she knew it was the only place she could go back to.

This was now the dreaded moment for the couple. Now or never. Leo kissed Bess one last time; it was as tragic as it was beautiful. They shared their final moments when Leo then turned his attention to the sleeping girl. His little angel. He kissed her on her forehead and whispered,

"My little Angel, stay sweet, stay kind, and one day I promise to find you. I love you."

Bess scooped the sleeping girl up in her arms and carried the girl out of the vehicle as Leo waited in the Car. Bess stood on the side of the road as the young driver collected her luggage.

"Thank you, Alfred. You're a lovely lad, and I hope you and your mother can afford that shop one day. Best wishes." Bess had a soft spot for the young Alfred. He was a good boy, and she silently wished that the boy would not fall victim to her fate.

"Thank you, Miss Day. I'm sorry that everything went down like this. You're a top lady, and Rose is a proper young lady in the making. Stay safe." Bess smiled at the boy and whipped the tear that fell from her cheek. The young driver, with nothing else to say, got back into the car and drove off.

Just like that, the life that Bess had created in London was over. She shifted the sleeping girl to her hip as she crouched to pick up her bags. Then, finding her balance, she'd seen that a door was open, and there stood Polly Gray in all her glory. Bess stood there awkwardly as she hung her head in unspoken shame. Polly raised her eyebrow at the defeated woman.

Rolling her eyes, she said, "go on then. Come in before the both of you freeze to death."

Bess exhaled a breath she didn't realise she was holding and entered the Shelby household. That day marked the beginning of the end for Bess, her story now reaching its end. For Rose, however, it was the day she found her fate.