A Momentary Marriage

James de Vere, a pragmatic man who has distanced himself from his dramatic and greedy family, falls ill with a mysterious condition that London doctors cannot diagnose. He returns to his family home at Grace Hill hoping to find a cure, or to prepare his affairs for the end. At his doctor's home, James encounters Laura, the doctor's daughter, whom he had previously warned away from pursuing his cousin Graeme. Laura's father has recently died, and she faces losing her home and inheritance as the estate must be sold. James proposes an unconventional solution: marriage. He reasons that if his illness is terminal, Laura will inherit his fortune and become a wealthy widow, while he gains companionship in his final days. His relatives will be denied their expected inheritance. Laura, equally practical, accepts the proposal despite her reservations. As they navigate the shock and suspicion of their families, the two grow closer. What began as a temporary arrangement becomes something neither expected, as both begin to hope their marriage might be permanent rather than momentary.