Free Regency Romance: The Rake's Fake Marriage (Historical Arranged Marriage Romance) (19th Century Victorian Romance) by Sarah Thorn Page A

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