Intertwine by Nichole van Read Free Book Online

made him a enticing matrimonial fish to be landed. Wherever he went, conspiring mamas threw out their lures, casting their fresh-faced daughters in his path, trying to reel him in. As a rule, such girls were well-mannered and polite. Often they were pretty. Occasionally witty and passably clever.
    But never thrilling or truly fascinating. Never compelling or with a promise of adventure. Nothing in them generated a spark of something more within him.
    James had tried to find such women interesting. Truly he had. He had no particular aversion toward marriage.
    There had been the lovely second daughter of a marquis, Lady Margaret. She had been everything his mother had ever wanted for him. Well-bred from an illustrious family. But when she had thrown herself at James in the family library, he had realized that she wasn’t everything he had ever wanted. James had decidedly strong feelings about the importance of self-worth. Feelings Lady Margaret apparently did not share.
    Of course, that hadn’t been nearly as bad as Miss Mariah Croft. Well, Miss Croft herself was actually fine and amiable. Mrs. Croft had been the problem. Hinting not so subtly that if he were to marry her daughter, James could enjoy more than one marriage bed. As if he were that type of man.
    It all had left a bad taste in his mouth.
    “True, sister. I don’t think I will bother Lord Preston with a visit. Instead, perhaps I will head north to Liverpool to consult with Dr. Carson and stop by Lyndenbrooke as well. I should ensure that your steward is managing the estate well.”
    “Lyndenbrooke,” she sighed. “It would be lovely to see it again. Perhaps in the spring. I miss it so.” Lyndenbrooke was Georgiana’s estate, left to her by their paternal grandmother. Though small in comparison to Haldon Manor, it provided an adequate living. James knew that Georgiana had had hopes of perhaps living there independently one day. A hope that James profoundly prayed she would realize.
    “Heavens, Georgiana!” Arthur said, his voice too loud. “You are so ill. How can you even talk of visiting Lyndenbrooke? It is completely out of the question.”
    “Arthur, really, that is uncalled for—”
    “—James, she needs rest not a holiday!”
    “You have no right to assume—”
    “Enough! Both of you.” Georgiana’s eyes snapped with anger. “Arguing with one another will not help me. I know you both would like me to live. But the reality is that very few survive the white death. It kills in degrees, but it kills nonetheless.”
    “Really, Georgie.”
    “Georgiana—”
    “No, hear me out. I want to live. Trust me, I do. But I want to live fully. Death will claim all of us at some time. Neither of you can stop that. But until then, I want to live, . . . not die beforehand, slowly in inches.”
    Georgiana looked between them both. James could feel the strength in her. The determination.
    Arthur stared and then turned away. James swallowed and slowly nodded, letting out a low, harsh breath, raking a hand through his hair.
    She was right, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.
    For the thousandth time, he silently vowed that she would live. He would find a way. Somehow.
    Georgiana had always been the brightest part of his life. The one thing that held him firmly to Haldon Manor.
    As a youth, James had planned to leave, despite his responsibilities as heir. To find adventure. But then his father had died unexpectedly and he had found himself suddenly the head of the family. Everyone looking at him, requiring something of him, their mother distraught with grief, Arthur and Georgiana needing someone to guide them. Then their mother passed away too, leaving Georgiana to find her way to womanhood alone. And now Georgiana herself was ill. He would not leave, not when his sister needed him so much. Not when he needed her so much.
    “Well, Georgie, we will just have to get you well. I won’t tolerate this illness of yours any longer,” James said quietly.