Hidden Within

Prologue

A soft sob echoed through the silent night as a mother held her small baby girl to her chest, cradling her to her heart as she whispered loving words that she wished her baby would always remember. Hearing the sound of a carriage the woman seemed to shrink into her self, holding her baby just a little tighter as her soft blue gaze moved to look among the shadows. Two figures appeared out of the night mist, one a tall man the other a lady. The man slowly looked her over with a soft sneer as he glanced to his wife his voice a deep baritone, "Elisabeth, are you sure that this is what you want?"

The small lady stepped forward, her gentle eyes peering at the other lady who held the tiny bundle, "Connor, there is nothing I want more in the entire world."

Nodding the man stepped forward to stand by his wife, now talking in a hushed tone to the lady who held the baby, "Once this is done you must never contact us, you will have nothing to do with this child you understand? If you give her to us you will never see her again. She is no longer yours."

The lady dipped her head, the dark cloak covering up her features as she let out a soft sob, nodding her head as she whispered in a voice that cried out in sorrow, "I understand your lordship."

The man held out a large package and the woman reached out a pale hand to carefully take it. The smaller lady stepped forward, her hands reaching for the tiny bundle. Gently she took it from the cloaked lady and unwrapped the blanket, revealing a beautiful blonde haired baby, "Oh, Connor she so adorable."

Shifting the man leaned closer, the contours of his face softening as he looked at the tiny person, "Yes, she is."
Smiling the lady turned away from the mother, nodding her head in deep gratitude as she made her way back out into the night, towards the carriage. The man turned to look at his wife and then back to the lady, his voice deep, "You are not to say anything about this. If I see you again things will get very unpleasant."

The woman nodded as she watched the couple drive off with her daughter, tears of sorrow slid down her cheeks as her hands moved to cover her mouth as she sobbed, "Oh my daughter, I'm so sorry.I love you so much."