Intertwine by Nichole van Read Free Book Online Page A

“Just promise me you will be careful while I am gone.”
    “Oh, James, you must stop pleading with me to be careful.” Georgiana paused, looking sightlessly past James for a moment. Then she brought her eyes back to his. “Life will bring what it will. We cannot change that.”
    James grimaced and hoped that Georgiana didn’t see the pain flicker in his eyes. There for a second and then gone, tucked back away.
    She would live, he promised. He would find a way.

Chapter 5

    Duir Cottage
    Beltane
    April 30, 2012
     
    T he branch screeched along the window. Once, twice—a terrible nails-on-the-chalkboard sound. And then the wind gusted again, moving the branch away from the house. Rain continued to pour, pounding relentlessly against the roof.
    Sighing, Emme finished the last few bites of food and then reached for her purse slung over the back of the chair next to her. Flipping it open, she grabbed out her tablet. She loved her leather purse with its clever hidden clasp and series of zippers. Well, really it looked more like a satchel than anything else. But it was the only purse she had found that met all her disaster traveling needs, fitting her tablet, some makeup and travel toiletries. And a first aid kit with a couple of MRE’s, solar charger and a fierce looking multi-tool. Marc had gotten creative through the years.
    Turning on her tablet, she reviewed what she had learned over the last several days in her hunt for Finn. Trying to ignore the fearsome weather outside, refusing to allow the howling wind to rattle her mood.
    Between 1811 and 1813, there had been at least three families of consequence in the Marfield area. The preeminent family were the Viscounts Linwood, which she had already known.
    Another family—the Knights—might also be good contenders. There were three living Knights during the time period: two brothers, James and Arthur, and a sister, Georgiana. Both of the brothers were about the right age to be Finn, but Emme could see no connection with the letters F or E within the family.
    Unfortunately, the Knight’s family home, Haldon Manor, had burned to the ground sometime around the end of the Napoleonic Wars, destroying all the estate records, family history, paintings and, well, everything. Haldon Manor had been rebuilt a few years later in the Gothic Revival style the Victorians so loved and had been converted into a hotel and spa in the 1950s.
    Emme had visited Haldon Manor earlier in the week, as the estate was less than a mile from Duir Cottage. She had spent the afternoon chatting with the friendly staff and sipping tea in the dining room. Interestingly, she had learned that Duir Cottage had actually once been the dower house for the estate. Haldon Manor was known for its large enclosed garden, a riot of flowers and trees surrounded by an ancient wall—all that remained of its time as a medieval monastery. Emme had particularly loved the ruins of the gothic cloister, taking an embarrassing number of photos with her phone.
    After the Knights, the Stylles were another family of prominence in the area. Sir Henry Stylles was the only member of the family listed for the time period, and the parish registry indicated that Sir Henry was older, in his mid-50s. Not a good candidate for Finn. However, Sir Henry had been a voracious collector and his former estate near Haldon Manor now functioned as a de facto museum for the entire area. In fact, the museum had Spunto’s miniature portrait of Marianne Linwood in their collection.
    Rain pattered loudly against the window. Wind clutched at the shutters outside, twining around and shaking them. Though latched against the house, Emme could hear them rattle in protest, shivering against the window casement.
    Emme sighed and thought back to her visit to Sir Henry’s estate just the day before, the home still owned by the same Stylles family who had inhabited it in the early 19th century. She had arranged a guided tour with the curator, Mr. Betton, to