MARRIAGE BY ARRANGEMENT
by Anne Greene
Marriage By Arrangement take place in 1746 in Lowland Scotland just as the Battle of Culloden ends. This battle changed the Highlands forever. The English won the battle using overwhelming odds against an exhausted and under-armed group of Highlanders bent on returning their King to the throne to replace the hated German King. The date and events are true. The characters, except for the Duke of Cumberland and King George, are fictional.
England planned to destroy the Scottish Clan system and rid the Highlands of Scots. England viewed Highlanders as uneducated barbarians. England saw their allies, the Lowland Scots as educated and civilized, but still far below them in social status. An English Duke marrying a Lowland daughter of an Earl was unheard of, however wealthy she was. But none of the English gentry allowed their daughters to wed this particular English Duke. The Duke needed an heir.
Rumors about the Duke said he’d squandered all his inheritance, retaining only his many land holdings and homes as well as the Dukedom and title he would bestow on a son. He was rumored to be a gambler and behaved oddly at social events. He was no longer accepted in finer English homes. Though he was handsome and had a fine physique, women feared him. The English gentry considered the Duke too dangerous to marry their daughters. The Duke needs an heir.
Lady Cailin, known as the Golden Goddess of Castle Drummond, sweetly obeyed her father’s betrothal of her to the Duke. Marrying the Duke gave her family, their castle, and their holdings protection from both the English and the Scots during the bloody war and slaughtering aftermath. Neither Cailin nor her family knew the Duke, though they too had heard the dark rumors. Cailin believes her love will encircle the Duke and bring his love in return. Above all she desires her marriage to be happy.
A MARRIAGE COVENANT
Why does a handsome, powerful noble of the highest rank in England stoop to marry a mere Lady of Lowland Scotland?
A GREAT SECRET
Are the whispered stories about him true? With his shadowy past and strange behavior what awful secret does he hide? Each change of clothes transforms him into a different man.
AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
Can Lady Cailin keep her vow to make her marriage happy and successful, unlike that of her parents, or to save her unborn child, must she arrange for the Duke’s accidental death?
ENJOY AN EXCERPT
Castle Drummond, home of Lord and Lady MacMurry, near the Village of Kirkmichael in Lowland Scotland -– April 19, 1746
“I won’t run.” A shudder skipped down Lady Cailin MacMurry’s spine, and she stared at her younger sister. “I’m committed.”
“It’s not too late. I heard another scandalous rumor about Duke Avondale.” Lady Megan MacMurry grasped Cailin’s arm.
“I won’t listen to gossip.” Cailin pulled away from her sister and lifted her wedding bouquet to inhale the white rose fragrance. If only the sweet scent could overcome Megan’s words, and her own misgivings. Though most arranged marriages turned out badly, surely God would give her a loving one. After all, since her earliest years, she’d prayed for a happily-ever-after love.
Why indeed? Cailin clutched her enormous diamond engagement necklace. The thing felt heavy with responsibility.
“The man’s an English duke. He owns palaces all over England.” Megan planted her hands on her slender, mossy-green silk covered hips. “Every noble lass in the land should be offering to give her right arm to be in your shoes. And yet they are not.”
New knots formed in the nape of Cailin’s neck. She held her finger to her lips. “Too late to turn back now. The wedding chorus has begun.” She forced her feet to take the first step and then began the slow glide from the stone castle’s rear archway through the garden toward the rose arbor.
With a jerk, Megan lifted and straightened Cailin’s cumbersome satin train. “In truth, beyond his wealth and titles, our family knows little about the English Duke.” She gathered up her own long skirts, and ran ahead to lead Cailin down the flower-strewn path.
Seven bridesmaids stopped giggling and chatting and moved to their places in front of Megan to head the procession.
Beneath her veil, Cailin smoothed her frown.
Papa had chosen to take this path in light of the violent upheaval following England’s latest battle with the Highlanders. Her marriage to the Duke would shelter her family with his great cloak of protection. Neither the English nor the Scots would dare invade a castle guarded by the powerful Duke’s Coat of Arms.
More goosebump fingers shivered her spine. Surely jealousy fueled the flagrant tittle-tattle. She pulled in a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and took measured steps in time to the music toward the loch gleaming in the late afternoon sunlight. She would not let whispers spoil her wedding. She laid her hand lightly on her father’s offered arm.
Their procession passed the scores of guests assembled on both sides of the flowered path. Ahead her groom stood beneath the rose bower, sunlight from the loch gleaming on him, the pastor, and his groomsman.
Her heart fluttered.
The Duke looked the perfect picture of manhood. He towered above his shorter groomsman and the pastor. Sun glinting off his iceberg blue satin coat, heavily laced with gold, almost blinded her. His chocolate eyes gazed past the dazzling crowd of guests and focused on her. Beneath those beckoning eyes, the straight bridge of his nose above softly smiling lips formed the most handsome face she’d ever seen. Her pulse quickened. Butterflies flitted from her stomach to her heart and back.
ANNE GREENEdelights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her Scottish historical novels, Masquerade Marriage and Marriage By Arrangement, won prestigious book awards. The sequel, finalled in a number of contests. A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. Look for Anne’s new World War II historical romance, Angel With Steel Wings, early in 2015. The first book in Anne’s lady detective series, Holly Garden, PI, Red is for Rookie, débuts later in 2015. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to awesome new worlds and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. She loves to talk with her readers. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.Amazon.com. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. View Anne’s books, travel pictures and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com.
Learn more about Anne as well as gain tips on writing award-winning novels at http://www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com.
