Regency Romance: Duchess In Distress (Historical Billionaire Military Romance) (19th Century Victorian Romance)

by Sarah Thorn

  ''You knew about this didn't you?''

  ''No,'' she shouted. ''How could you think that?''

  ''It's obvious: you knew, and at the last minute, got cold feet and warned me. I don't trust you any more. You nearly got me killed.''

  ''Alexander,'' she cried. ''No, you're wrong.''

  ''How else could you have known to warn me? Of course, you were in on it.''

  ''Alexander I have special powers. I can predict things.''

  ''You have what?''

  ''I don't know how, but I have the ability to sense danger. Strange things happen around me.''

  He thought about what Laurie had told him. ''I don't believe you.''

  She took hold of his arm, ''You must believe me, I have some powers.''

  ''Is that why people think you are a witch?'' She nodded. ''Witches should be executed,'' he said savagely. ''You will stay here in this room and not leave.''

  She burst into tears as Alexander removed Bran's body from the room and locked the door behind him.

  Eana was confined to her room for two weeks before anybody came to visit her. All she saw was the man that brought her food, and the woman that stood over her as she bathed. She cried herself to sleep every evening. Alexander discussed the situation with his father, and they went to see Laird Irvine. Laird Irvine told them that he knew his daughter had some special powers but that they weren't sinister and that she wasn't a witch. Alexander was angry with himself for having married her. Laurie had told him the rumors about Eana, and if he'd been more forceful, he was quite sure his father would eventually have relented.

  One evening Alexander was sitting with Laurie by a fire in the castle's courtyard.

  ''I'm no longer interested in her. I am not convinced she isn't a witch and witches should be executed,'' Alexander told him.

  ''But you fell in love with her,'' Laurie pointed out.

  ''Yes, and I can fall out of love with her again. I'm not convinced by her attempts to deny she knew anything about the attack, and if she didn't, you have to admit her powers are quite strange.''

  ''I suppose so,'' Laurie smoothed his kilt over his legs and took a sip of his beer. ''But if her powers are only good, I don't know why you are so concerned.''

  ''We are going to war with the Sutherland Clan,'' he said, changing the subject. ''Laird Sutherland has denounced me as a common criminal for slaying his son. He's sworn revenge, and this afternoon, my father received a messenger.''

  ''What did he say?''

  ''He said that Laird Sutherland has challenged us to a battle at Cloggan Moor in a week. If we don't go, he's vowed to attack us here at the castle.''

  ''Then we should go and kill him,'' Laurie jumped up and brandished his sword in a gesture of defiance.

  ''We will. He's also challenged the Irvine Clan. We will fight alongside one another and defeat him forever.''

  That evening, Davina opened the door to Eana's room. ''I'm sorry I haven't been to see you, but I was forbidden from having anything to do with you. The guards have been called away, so I sneaked in.''

  ''It's lovely to see you,'' Eana said hugging her new friend. ''I have been so alone. Will they kill me?''

  ''What? Kill you, why?''

  ''I'm sure Alexander thinks I'm a witch.''

  ''Alexander has other things to worry about now. The clan is at war with the Sutherlands. There will be a battle soon. Your father will fight alongside Laird Muir and Alexander.''

  ''Oh, how terrible. Laird Sutherland is a monstrous man. He's probably trying to avenge his son's death,'' Eana said.

  ''That's exactly what he's trying to do. I'm very afraid they will be killed.'' Davina said as she sat on the bed next to Eana.

  ''Help me,'' Eana said.

  ''I will help you in any way I can. What do you want me to do?''

  ''I want to go and see Laird Sutherland.''

  ''What? No. That's a really silly thing to do.''

  ''Everyone thinks I'm worthless, I might as well try and prevent the war.''

  ''But Eana, how do you think you can do that?''

  ''By offering myself to him. Laird Sutherland has wanted me killed for a long time.'' She put her hand on Davina's delicate shoulder and looked into her eyes. ''He sent his son's to kill me in the forest, and more recently, his only remaining son to kill me here in this very room. I will exchange myself in return for peace.''

  ''That's ridiculous, Eana, you can't do that. He'll just kill you and wage war anyway.''

  ''I must try. I am worthless sitting here in this room. I want to try.''

  ''But I will not help you to certain death.''

  When Davina left, Eana began to plan her escape. She looked out of the window and tried to estimate the distance down to the ground. After her evening meal, she tied the bed clothes together and waited until it was dark. When she lowered the makeshift rope out of the window, she realized it was a few meters short of the ground. She tied one end to the bed and in the dead of night rolled out of the window and began to climb down. She'd dressed in a black skirt and black shawl which made her almost invisible against the dark wall as she inched her way down. When she reached the end of the rope, she took a deep breath and let go. When she hit the ground, she tried to roll and take some of the force out of the landing, but she felt a sharp pain as her knee buckled under her.

  She got up and limped down the embankment to the place where she'd married Alexander, and across to the road that led away from the castle.

  When Alexander found out that his wife had escaped, he was furious. He took the guards by the throat and threatened each of them with beheading.

  *****

  Eana held her knee and grimaced as she lay in the undergrowth below Laird Sutherland's residence. It was almost dawn, and she'd been walking for six hours to reach her goal ten miles from Muir Castle. She saw guards circling the property and a deep looking moat full of stagnant water. She would wait until daylight and then present herself. She didn't want to risk being mistaken for a male intruder in the half light of the dawn. She'd probably be killed anyway, she thought, but she wanted to speak to Laird Sutherland first.

  When the sun appeared from behind the castle walls, Eana came out from under the bushes and began to walk towards the moat. A guard high up on the castle wall shouted to a colleague, and in no time, she was surrounded. When they realized it was a woman, they decided they would bring her to Laird Sutherland instead of killing her.

  ''Who the hell are you?'' he roared. Just like his son Angus, Laird Sutherland was fat and red-faced. He had fiery ginger hair and cold blue eyes. Sitting in the great hall in a throne-like chair, he looked huge. He was dressed in red and white tartan and held a stick with a bulbous top which made it look more like a club than a stick.

  ''Do you now know who I am?'' Eana was brave enough to ask.

  ''I do not. Why were you walking near my castle? You are not Sutherland Clan.''

  ''I am Eana Irvine, the woman who married Alexander Muir.''

  His eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward. ''Eana Irvine. You murdered both my sons.''

  ''I didn't. Your sons attacked me and died because of it. If they had kept away from me, they would both have been alive today.'' Her voice echoed in the huge room. The ceiling was high and full of oak rafters from which flags of Clans the Sutherland's had extinguished hung.

  Laird Sutherland nodded, and the guards that were holding her let go. Without their support, she felt her knee give way, and she stumbled forward. He stood up and took hold of her collar in his fat fist. ''Why are you here? Do you realize I will kill you?''

  ''I have come to ask you to agree to peace between out clans. War will only lead to death and suffering. The Irvine and the Muir clans are not seeking war, but you are.'' Eana winced as he pulled her to him.

  ''I will not allow you to come here and tell me what to do. Your father and Laird Muir are both murderers, and they will be eliminated at Clodden Moor.”

  This was not how Eana had planned it. She knew sh
e would be killed, but her heart sank knowing that it would be for nothing.

  “Guards take her away. We'll kill her after the battle.''

  Two guards took her by the arms and dragged her from the hall, down some stairs and threw her into a dungeon full of old straw.

  ''I quite fancy having a go at her later,'' she heard one guard say to his colleague.

  ****

  Clodden Moor was an expanse of grassland exactly halfway between Drummond Castle and Sutherland Castle. It was a desperate day, horizontal rain lashed at both armies as they stood and looked at each other.

  The Sutherland's had five hundred men, and the Irvine and Muir Clans together, four hundred and fifty. It should have been an even battle, but Laird Sutherland's warriors had much more fighting experience.

  Alexander, his face covered in blue woad, stood in the front line next to Laurie and listened to Laird Muir as he gave his battle address from a white horse. A little further up, Laird Irvine was doing the same to his men, from a black horse. Between them, lines of tartan-clad men, some holding flags, looked on anxiously.

  A hundred meters away, Laird Sutherland sat quietly on his horse and looked down his line of men. He was fully confident that, within the hour, most of his opponents would be dead, and that he would be the proud owner of two new clans. When the warriors on the opposing side roared, he knew that their pre-battle speeches had finished, and he started to address his own men.

  When he was finished, his men roared their approval, and he gave the signal for them to charge. The two sides began to run towards each other through the wind and rain. When they collided, swords, axes, and knives were brought down on their unfortunate victims with a high degree of brutality. After ten minutes the field was littered with dead and half-dead men.

  Laurie shouted to Alexander to watch out, but Alexander wasn't quick enough. The silver sword lashed across his back, cutting a deep wound in his flesh. As he groaned and arched his back, another Sutherland warrior saw that Alexander was injured, and lashed at him with an ax, cutting his leg open. Laurie roared and increased the tempo of his sword work, killing both Alexander's attackers before they could finish him off. As Alexander lay on the ground, bleeding heavily, Laurie waved for his father to ride forward and collect him.

  Laird Muir rode towards them and dismounted. With Laurie's assistance, he slung his son over the horse's back and ordered Laurie to take Alexander to safety. Laurie was reluctant, but Laird Muir insisted. A few moments later Laird Muir was killed by a sword strike to his neck. Despite the loss of Alexander and Laird Muir, the alliance was holding its own in the battle.

  *****

  When the guard opened the dungeon door, he walked over to Eana and prodded her with his foot. She'd been lying in the damp dungeon for two days. Her body, deprived of food, had closed down and sent her into a deep sleep. When he prodded her again, she woke. Looking through half open eyes, she saw a large man in Sutherland Tartan looking down at her, longingly. It was then that she realized her kilt had ridden up around her waist. The guard was clearly no gentleman.

  ''You're to come with me,'' he said as he pulled her to her feet. ''Laird Sutherland is waiting for you. He took her arm and pulled her up, roughly. The straw she had been lying on must have been years old; it was more black than yellow. Her hands were filthy, and her knee was swollen, making it almost impossible for her to stand. As she struggled to her feet, he pulled her harder, amusing himself, causing her more pain that was necessary. She hobbled next to him, his fist entwined in her collar. Mounting the stairs caused her excruciating pain, and soon the guard had had enough. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

  When he dumped her on the floor, she heard a group of men laughing at her. She was in the great hall where it appeared a celebratory meal was being prepared. From the ground, she saw legs, men's legs, in knee-length woolen socks. They grouped around her in a circle, and when she looked up, she saw Laird Sutherland glaring down at her. When he flapped his hand, a younger man bent down and pulled her to her feet.

  ''Look, this will be our after dinner entertainment,'' Sutherland announced. He put his hand around her neck and kissed her cheek. She spat at him, the men laughed. Not enjoying being the butt of their joke, he thrust his hands down her blouse and grabbed a breast, painfully. ''I will be first, and after me, there will be many more.'' He pushed her into the arms of the young man. ''Tie her face down to the table,'' he pointed at a small wooden affair in front of the large banqueting tables. ''I want to look at my dessert while I'm having the main course.'' The men laughed again.

  When the young man had finished tying her to the table, she was spreadeagled and ready for what Sutherland had in mind.

  ******

  A ring of men stood around the bed and listened to the priest as he crossed himself, and began to give Alexander his last rights. Despite his colossal size, the loss of Laird Muir and the imminent loss of his friend was too much for Laurie, and tears streamed over his blood-stained cheeks. When the priest had finished, Laurie took Alexander's hand and knelt down next to him.

  ''Dear friend, take heart, we did not yield to the evil of the Sutherland clan, and we have our lands still. Laird Irvine is alive, and he will assist us to find a new leader.'' He squeezed Alexander's hand more firmly. ''Remember one thing, you were magnificent in battle, we were magnificent in battle, and Sutherland went away empty-handed.''

  He stood up and looked at Alexander. His face was swollen and covered in his own and his enemy's blood. His leg had a terrible gash in it, the bone was visible. Laurie was the only person around the bed to have seen the deep wound in Alexander's back. He knew it was no use hoping.

  One of the men cried out and pointed. Then another and a third. Soon they all jumped back in horror. When Laurie followed their pointing figures, he saw it. Flesh closing over the wound on Alexander’s leg. First the bone disappeared, and then the tissue began to knit together. In a few seconds the skin was closing, and soon afterwards, there was no wound at all.

  ''Turn him over,'' Laurie wanted to look at Alexander's back. They were just in time to see the wound on his back close, no scar visible. ''The Lord is taking him,'' Laurie concluded.

  Alexander coughed and spluttered his way back to consciousness. When he opened his eyes, the men ran out of the room leaving Laurie with a drawn sword, ready to slay whatever evil was at hand.

  ''Laurie.......what happened?''

  ''Jesus mother of Mary, is it you, Alexander?''

  ''Who else?''

  ''But your wounds. You should be dead. I took you half dead from the battlefield and unable to do anything for you, a priest gave you your last rights.''

  ''Well, clearly something very strange has happened,'' Alexander said. He pulled his leg away when Laurie rubbed his hand over the place where the wound had been.

  ''This place was open to the bone, just a minute ago. Don't you have any pain at all?''

  ''I have never felt better.'' He jumped up and began to run on the spot. ''Look, like new.'' Alexander thought for a minute. ''Do you know where Eana is?''

  ''Not exactly, but we think she has been held captive by Sutherland after visiting him in a vain bid to keep the peace.''

  *****

  The great hall at Sutherland Castle was full of warriors quenching their thirst after the battle. When Laird Sutherland spoke to them, it appeared the Sutherland Clan had won the battle. Some of his men looked at each other, rolling their eyes in the knowledge that neither side had won an outright victory, and that, in all probability, there would be another battle soon. They were all drunk, very drunk and very relaxed. Few of them could take their eyes from Eana as her curves strained against the rope which bound her.

  ''In a few moments, men, we will have some fun with this young woman. She's the daughter of Laird Irvine.'' The men booed, and some of them threw bread and wine at her. ''Muir is dead,'' the men cheered. ''And if his son isn't dead, I will be astonished.'' More cheers. He waved and walked from his
place at the center of the banqueting table. When he reached Eana, he ran his hand over her calf and up under her skirt. When she screamed, the men laughed. Several of them began to masturbate at what was about to happen. In one movement, Sutherland ripped her kilt from her, and then her wine-sodden underwear. As her naked bottom became visible, Sutherland pulled his kilt up and got onto the table. He was drunk, but soon he stood above her, gripping his hard penis.

  As he lowered himself onto her, an arrow fizzed across the room. It hit him in the left buttock, burying itself deep into the flabby flesh. He groaned and thrust a hand to the place of impact. Another arrow hit him in the opposite buttock. He fell backwards from the table, landing in a drunken heap. His men stood up and began to stagger towards him, but soon the room was full of Muir and Irvine Clan. Warriors weary after battle, but sober and fighting for a just cause: to rescue the Laird's daughter and the wife of the new Laird Muir.

  The drunken Sutherland warriors stood no chance, and most of them died in the great hall. Alexander thrust his bow and arrows to the ground and ran to the table where his wife lay. As he approached her, he bent down to Laird Sutherland, who was still in agony on the floor. ''Thank you for showing me how important she is to me.'' He took out his dagger and finished Sutherland off with a flourish of his arm.

  He cut the ropes and scooped Eana into his arms, covering her with his tartan cloak. When they were a safe distance from the castle he stopped and sat down under a tree, still cradling her in his strong arms.

  ''What did you do? I was dying?'' he asked.