At the age of 18, James Brandon's life is set fair. He is in love with his father's ward, Eliza, and he is looking forward to a lifetime of happiness with her. But his world is shattered when Eliza is forced to marry his brother and James joins the army in despair. Returning to England, Brandon finds Eliza in a debtors' prison. He rescues her from her terrible position, but she is dying of consumption and he can do nothing but watch and wait. Heartbroken at her death, he takes some consolation from her illegitimate daughter, whom he raises as his ward. But at the age of 15, the young Eliza goes missing. Oppressed by the thought of what could have happened to her, he is surprised to find himself falling in love with Marianne Dashwoodbut Marianne is falling in love with Willoughby.
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