Regency Romance: A Duchess in Disguise (Historical 19th Century Victorian Romance) (Duke Fantasy Billionaire Romance)

by Sarah Thorn

  Eana loved June; it was her favorite month. Not only was it the month in which she was born, nineteen years ago, but it was the month in which the forest really came to life. As spring gave way to summer, the pine trees began to throw off their woody scent, and animals busied themselves with the task of bringing their young into the world.

  As she always did, Eana left the castle by the back entrance at nine in the morning and took the steep path down the mountainside, to the blanket of trees which stretched from Ben Shee down into the glen below. She was proud to wear the tartan of her father's clan. She always wore a full-length skirt and shawl in the black and blue colors the clan had fought wars to protect. As she took the path into the forest, a deer stopped in its track and looked at her for a second, before jumping over a fallen tree and disappearing. Descending all the time, she followed the path as it wound it's way between the trees, eventually reaching the stream in the bottom of the glen. It was Eana's favorite place, a small clearing on the valley floor next to the water. She sat on a rock, reached down and untied her shoes. The water was cold and made her gasp as she put her feet in. She leaned forward and saw her reflection, the face of a beautiful young woman, flickering in the ripples. Her strawberry blonde hair fell forwards framing her face, and as she brushed it back, she saw a terrible witch.

  Eana was lonely because she had powers others were terrified of. If she hadn't been the daughter of Laird Irving, she was sure that she would already have been burned alive. She had no idea what she had done to deserve it, but someone had given her special powers. There was no evil in her thoughts or powers, as everyone imagined, only goodness. Three days ago she'd seen a bird hopping around on the forest floor, it's wing broken. All she did was look at it and wish it could fly again, and it did. It's wing straightened against its body, and it flew up and into the sky. When these things happened, it gave her a magnificent feeling, but there was a price to pay, her social exclusion.

  ''There she is,'' Angus whispered to his brother, Bran. The two men were dressed in the tartan of the Sutherland Clan, the largest and most aggressive clan in Scotland. The Sutherland Clan killed people for fun, but on this day it was serious. Laird Sutherland had sent his sons to find and kill Eana.

  ''She's full of evil, a witch. She has strange powers. Find her, kill her and bring her body back to me,'' he'd told them.

  ''It's a pity to kill such a beautiful woman,'' Angus whispered.

  Bran looked at her as he crouched behind a tree and nodded in agreement. ''The most beautiful I have ever seen. But we must not defy father.''

  ''Perhaps we can have a little fun with her before we slay her?'' Angus looked exactly like his father. He was big, six feet three, and quite fat. His red hair was wild, and his beard hung down to his chest. Wrapped in red and white tartan, he looked intimidating.

  ''Yes, that's a good idea. We can have her first,'' Bran said, his cheeks puffed and red with the exertion of walking ten miles.

  Eana felt goose pimples and knew she should put her shoes back on. Years of conditioning had taught her that when she felt goose pimples, danger was imminent. As she fastened her laces, she scanned the trees looking for anything that would confirm how she felt. She saw nothing. She stood and began to walk back from where she had come. When she heard the sound of breaking wood, she began to run up the hill as fast as she could.

  ''Quick, she's seen us,'' Angus said, jumping up and running after her, his brother following close behind. They ran down the hill, jumped over the stream and began to follow Eana up the other side of the glen. She looked behind her and saw them, two large red-haired men, in vivid tartan bearing down on her. She knew they were Sutherland Clan, and the thought of what they would do to her if they caught her made her sprint. She was slight, fit and remarkably fast, but the brothers had longer strides, and they soon began to catch her. If, as everyone thought, she'd had any powers of evil she would have used them to stop her pursuers, but what use were her well intended powers in this situation?

  The path became much steeper, and Eana slowed as the muscles in her legs began to burn. The two brothers although overweight were strong and they were now just yards behind her.

  There's only one way, she thought. She left the path and ran to the left along the hillside, weaving in and out of the trees and ducking under branches. The two large men began to slow, their bodies not as agile as Eana's. She'd learned a few things about warfare from her father. He'd always told her having knowledge of the ground was a great advantage in a fight. She hoped it would be now.

  ''We're catching her,'' Angus shouted when he saw Eana slowing. Eana was standing with her hands on her knees, totally exhausted, unable to run another foot.

  ''Grab her,'' Angus shouted. He lunged forward and put out his arms to take hold of her, but she ducked and rolled away to the side, down an embankment. Angus, unable to stop his bulk from moving forward, fell over the cliff. Bran was able to stop himself, and when he looked down, he saw his beloved brother's body career into the rocks two hundred feet below.

  Eana got up and started to run back up the hill. Bran wasn't capable of continuing the chase. All he could do was cry out his brother's name and vomit at the sight of his contorted body.

  *****

  Laird Irving wiped his brow on his tartan sleeve and sat down next to the huge fireplace in the castle's grand hall. He looked at his wife and smiled. He'd married her twenty-five years earlier. Not for a single second in all those years had he had any regrets about marrying her. She'd given him a beautiful daughter and she'd always been ready to give her advice at times when he'd had no idea how to proceed.

  ''I've spoken to him,'' he said.

  ''What did he say?'' she asked. Her husband was older now, but still very attractive, she thought. He was a big man, and she felt protected by him. Strong and athletic he was fiercely loyal to his clan and despite being heavily outnumbered by the Sutherland clan, he'd always stood his ground. The deep scar on his left cheek was a testimony to that.

  ''He agreed we need each other. The Sutherland clan is larger than it was last time they attacked us, and after Angus's death, Laird Sutherland has declared his intention to slaughter all of us.''

  ''Then she will marry Laird Muir's son?''

  ''Yes. She will unite the Muir Clan and the Irvine Clan, and together we will be able to defend ourselves.''

  ''And is he a good man? Eana is a sensitive, shy young woman, and she will need an understanding man.'' She stared at the swords hanging on the wall above them and hoped her daughter's new husband would love her.

  ''Eana is a lonely person. Her powers have alienated her and made her the object of Laird Sutherland's aggression.'' Laird Irving leaned towards his wife and spoke more softly. ''You and I know that her powers are good in nature, but people are suspicious and believe her to be evil. Her husband will learn to understand her, and in time, her reputation will improve.''

  “Shall I ask her to come and talk to us?'' she asked.

  ''Yes, I would like to tell her about her new future.''

  When Eana arrived in the hall, her father gave her a loving smile. Her green eyes reminded him of the jewels the Sutherland Clan had stolen from his mother's room when they'd ransacked the castle thirty years before. It was the same day as they'd killed his father. 'My dear, I want to tell you what I have planned for you.'' She nodded. ''You are to marry Laird Muir's son. His name is Alexander.''

  ''I will not,'' Eana looked desperately at her mother.

  ''It has been decided. Laird Muir and I have agreed to unite our clans against the danger of the Sutherland's.''

  ''Is that all I am to you? A pawn in a battle? I am your daughter, how can you treat me like this?'' Eana's tears flowing freely.

  ''You are in danger. When Angus Sutherland died, his father declared you his chief enemy. Alexander Muir is a strong man who will care for you long after your mother and I are gone.'' He was sorry for his daughter's loneliness, but none of her tears would change his mind.

/>   ''You are cruel people, both of you. Why don't you leave me alone?'' Eana shouted and stormed out of the hall.

  *****

  Alexander Muir stood in the circle marked out by lines of sand and roared. ''Come on who's next?'' The group of men looked at each other, none of them wanted to step forward. ''Laurie, it's your turn.''

  Laurie Hamilton was six feet three and broader than any other male in the clan. He walked into the ring and looked sheepishly at Alexander. ''Attack me,'' Alexander said. Laurie flew at him but Alexander swerved out of the way, and Laurie landed on his backside outside the ring. The other men laughed. He got up and charged again. This time, Alexander caught him in his arms, turned him around and slammed him into the ground. Laurie looked up at him and shook his head. ''Enough?'' Alexander asked him. When he nodded, Alexander turned to his men.

  ''Not one of you warriors can beat me at wrestling,'' he laughed. Every one of them liked and respected him. He was just twenty-one but a bear of a man whose loyalty to his fellow warriors knew no limits. They all knew that he would never expect any of them to do something he wouldn't do himself. At six feet six, he was the tallest and strongest. As a very young man he'd been thin and gangling, but after hundreds of hours of training, he'd developed awesome muscles. He was unusually dark for a Scotsman. His father was fair, but he'd met a dark haired French woman while fighting in Southern Scotland and fallen in love with her. She'd died soon after giving birth. ''You all need to....'' Alexander stopped talking when he saw two horses approaching. It was his father and his bodyguard. ''Father, would you like to wrestle,'' he quipped.

  ''You are not yet ready, my son,'' he joked. The men smiled at Laird Muir's quip. ''Please leave us, men, I want to speak to my son.'' The men walked over to an oak tree and sat down to rest. As they looked across at Laird Muir and Alexander, they saw them deep in conversation.

  When Laird Irvine mounted his horse and rode away, Alexander shouted. ''Laurie come over here.''

  ******

  The Village of Wellbridge was under the shadows of Drummond Castle, halfway up Ben Shee. It had a wall around it which was patrolled by men in kilts with axes and shields. Behind the walls, the houses were small with roofs made of thatch. People made a living growing vegetables and rearing livestock to sell at the weekly market. On market day, people came from many miles around to purchase supplies and catch up on the latest gossip. Eana liked market day; it was the only day she didn't go into the forest. It was also the only time in the week when she saw people other than her mother and father.

  As she wandered between the market stalls, people talked about her as they always did. Their snide comments didn't seem to worry her any more. But when a young child looked at her and cried 'witch', something in her snapped.

  ''I'm not a witch, you horrible child,'' she shouted. The child was shocked and began to cry. His father took the child in his arms and shouted at her. ''You are a witch, and if your father wasn't the Laird, you'd be cast out of the village.''

  ''What have I ever done that was witch-like?'' she asked. The man couldn't answer and turned away.

  Laurie was standing outside the small house that served tea, among the farmers and greengrocers. He'd spotted Eana walking in the market and was immediately impressed by her beauty.

  ''Who is that?'' he asked the fat man who handed him his tea.

  ''Ah, you should keep away from her,'' he said. ''She's Laird Irving's daughter. They say she has special powers, but I, like many others, think she's a witch.''

  ''Whatever, she's certainly very beautiful,'' Laurie said as he scratched his kilt-covered leg.

  ''She is, but she's very strange. What's your interest in her?'' he asked.

  ''I have no interest in her at all,'' he lied.

  Auchen Castle was the seat of Laird Muir. It was more pleasing on the eye than Drummond Castle which was a fortress, but Auchen Castle was much more homely looking. When Laurie arrived back at Auchen Castle, Alexander was waiting for him in the hall where swords, spears and swathes of the Muir Clan's tartan hung on the walls.

  ''Did you see her?'' he asked anxiously.

  Laurie took off his Tam O' Shanter and swept back his hair. ''She's extremely beautiful.''

  ''What does she look like?''

  ''She's tall for a woman. She's blonde and has a perfect body,'' Laurie made the kind of gesture men do when talking of a woman's breasts. Alexander smiled. ''Her face is so pretty it will melt your heart, but....''

  ''But what?''

  ''There are a lot of rumors about her.'' Laurie's eyes dropped to the floor, afraid he was about to disappoint his friend.

  ''Spit it out Laurie or you'll be landing on your ass again,'' Alexander joked.

  ''They say she's a witch.''

  ''What? A witch? Then how could my father possibly agree to a marriage?'' Alexander stroked his strong jaw and though about what his spy had told him. He certainly would not marry a witch. He believed they were evil and should be burnt at the stake. ''It can't be true, the daughter of Laird Irving can't possibly be a witch.''

  ''She looks too beautiful to be a witch,'' Laurie added.

  ''And how many witches have you met?'' Alexander asked. ''But if there are rumors about her, she must be strange in some way.''

  ''I only know what I have told you. She's beautiful, and there are rumors about her.''

  ''Then I will tell my father that I don't want to marry her,'' Alexander said steadfastly. It was bad timing; his father heard him as he was walking into the room.

  Almost as tall as his son and covered in battle scars, he was an intimidating character. ''We need the alliance to help us against the Sutherland Clan. Laird Irving's daughter is the perfect solution. The marriage will go ahead, like it or not.''

  Alexander grunted. He had to find out if she were indeed a witch. ''May I, at least, meet her first?''

  *****

  It was an unusually sunny day when Laird Irving brought Eana to Muir Castle. She'd flatly refused to accompany him, so he'd picked her up and carried her. Eventually feeling faint hanging over his shoulder, she'd relented.

  ''I'll meet him, but I'm not promising anything,'' she'd said. Her father had laughed at her stubbornness.

  When the castle door swung open, Alexander got his first glimpse of his bride to be, and he wasn't disappointed. She was as beautiful as Laurie had said. Her hair was plated in a single strand, and her eyes were highlighted with woad. Her skin was pure, without a single blemish, and her body so perfectly proportioned that it made him instantly lustful. Her eyes looked like emeralds and despite being a hugely powerful man they made him feel humble. Indeed, too beautiful to be a witch.

  ''I am very happy to meet you at last Eana,'' Alexander said.

  Eana could hardly bring herself to look at him, but when she did, she was in awe of his physical presence. Her father was a big man and battle hardened, but Alexander was altogether different. He looked so strong, she wondered if he knew how to harness his strength when handling a delicate woman.

  ''I think we should leave them to it, don't you Laird Irvine?'' Laird Muir said. The two Lairds walked into the castle and left Alexander and Eana alone.

  ''Would you walk with me,'' he asked. She nodded and took the offer of his arm.

  The castle had a small garden, for the growth of vegetables. Alexander took Eana to a seat in the corner under a tree. In the shade, it was pleasantly cool, and Eana felt herself relaxing in his company.

  ''Are you a shy man?'' she asked.

  ''No, I am certainly not shy. It wouldn't be right for the heir to the Laird of Muir to be shy.''

  ''I am shy,'' she pointed out. ''I'm very shy, and I find it hard to talk to people. I prefer to be alone. If we are to be married, it would be better if one of us wasn't shy.''

  Alexander was taken by surprise at her honesty. ''Why do you think you are shy?''

  ''I keep out of the way because people don't like me. ''

  He couldn't understand how people could dislike s
uch a beautiful woman. He liked her but more, it was her raw sexual appeal that he found irresistible. ''Why would anybody dislike you? You are so beautiful, and you look as though you wouldn't harm anyone.''

  ''I don't really know. There are a lot of rumors about me.''

  Alexander thought for a moment. This woman was no witch. It was clear that rumors were just rumors. ''When you marry me, nobody will ever say anything unpleasant to you again, and if they do, they will pay dearly for it.''

  ******

  The marriage took place under the walls of Muir Castle, on a piece of ground the clan always used for baptisms, marriages, and funerals. The ladies of the village had decorated wooden poles with wild flowers and shrubbery, and arranged them in a large circle within which the guests sat. Eana and Alexander were married by the local minister under an arch of wild roses. Guests watched as Eana arrived, dressed in white, carrying a sprig of wild heather for luck. When Alexander turned around to see her, he was was floored by her. He'd never thought he would find such a beautiful bride, and today he was marrying the most alluring woman in all the clans of Scotland.

  When Laird Irvine handed his daughter over to Alexander, he took her hand, and the power she felt exuding from him gave her the strength and confidence, to stand in front of so many people and give herself to him.

  Once the marriage ceremony was complete, Alexander bent down to his new wife and whispered in her ear. ''You no longer have to be shy. You are my love, and you are able to move freely between the people without fear. They will admire you for what you are. The most beautiful woman alive.''

  Afterwards, everyone gathered in the great hall for a celebratory meal and dancing. Eana and Alexander sat together on a long table at the head of the room between their parents. Eana saw a young woman sitting at a table opposite, staring at her. She seemed kind and when the dancing started, Eana got up and spoke to her. She was Alexander's cousin. and Eana discovered that she lived with Laird Muir because her parents had been slain in a terrible robbery just three years before. Her name was Davina, and Eana found her charming company. She was slender and delicate looking, and like Eana, she was strawberry blonde