Taming the Scot: The Scot of Honor Series Read online

  Taming the Scot

  The Scot of Honor Series

  Eliza Knight

  Contents

  ABOUT THE BOOK

  More Books by Eliza Knight

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  ABOUT THE BOOK

  Back from the war, Captain Euan Irvine of Scotland, presumed heir to the Baron of Drum and chief of his clan, learns of his grandfather’s death. The will stipulates whichever grandson produces an heir first will be the rightful claimant to his title and properties. Except that this is a race of which Euan wants no part. Marriage and heir-producing is better left to the gentleman in society. He is not distinguished, and he is far from proper. Euan’s a rough-and-tumble warrior still seething with bitterness from the horrors of war and the men he lost. Under pressure from his sisters, Euan reluctantly agrees. When his older sister snidely remarks he should have had a governess to teach him better manners, Euan decides to do just that—hire a governess to help prepare him for marriage and his new role as laird.

  * * *

  Miss Bronwen Holmes is desperate to disappear from her deceased parents’ creditors, who have threatened to abduct her and force her into a fate worse than death. When she reads an advertisement for a governess in the Highlands, she hightails it out of Edinburgh to start a new life. Little did she know that her charge would be a grown man whose steely gaze makes her heart flutter.

  * * *

  It doesn’t take long for Euan to realize that Bronwen is the furthest thing from a governess. She is a lass sorely in need of protection. As she attempts to teach him all the wrong ways of being a gentleman, his desire to keep her safe gives him new hope in life and a drive to prove he’s the rightful Laird of Drum.

  August 2021

  * * *

  COPYRIGHT © 2021 ELIZA KNIGHT

  TAMING THE SCOT © 2021 Eliza Knight. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part or the whole of this book may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted or utilized (other than for reading by the intended reader) in ANY form (now known or hereafter invented) without prior written permission by the author. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal, and punishable by law.

  * * *

  TAMING THE SCOT is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional and or are used fictitiously and solely the product of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, businesses, events or locales is purely coincidental.

  * * *

  Cover Design by Dar Albert

  Edited by Erica Monroe

  * * *

  More Books by Eliza Knight

  Scots of Honor

  Return of the Scot

  The Scot is Hers

  Taming the Scot

  * * *

  Prince Charlie’s Rebels

  The Highlander Who Stole Christmas

  Pretty in Plaid

  * * *

  Prince Charlie’s Angels

  The Rebel Wears Plaid

  Truly Madly Plaid

  You’ve Got Plaid

  * * *

  The Sutherland Legacy

  The Highlander’s Gift

  The Highlander’s Quest

  The Highlander’s Stolen Bride

  The Highlander’s Hellion

  The Highlander’s Secret Vow

  The Highlander’s Enchantment

  * * *

  The Stolen Bride Series

  The Highlander’s Temptation

  The Highlander’s Reward

  The Highlander’s Conquest

  The Highlander’s Lady

  The Highlander’s Warrior Bride

  The Highlander’s Triumph

  The Highlander’s Sin

  Wild Highland Mistletoe (a Stolen Bride winter novella)

  The Highlander’s Charm (a Stolen Bride novella)

  A Kilted Christmas Wish – a contemporary Holiday spin-off

  The Highlander’s Surrender

  The Highlander’s Dare

  * * *

  The Conquered Bride Series

  Conquered by the Highlander

  Seduced by the Laird

  Taken by the Highlander (a Conquered bride novella)

  Claimed by the Warrior

  Stolen by the Laird

  Protected by the Laird (a Conquered bride novella)

  Guarded by the Warrior

  * * *

  The MacDougall Legacy Series

  Laird of Shadows

  Laird of Twilight

  Laird of Darkness

  * * *

  Pirates of Britannia: Devils of the Deep

  Savage of the Sea

  The Sea Devil

  A Pirate’s Bounty

  The Thistles and Roses Series

  Promise of a Knight

  Eternally Bound

  Breath from the Sea

  * * *

  The Highland Bound Series (Erotic time-travel)

  Behind the Plaid

  Bared to the Laird

  Dark Side of the Laird

  Highlander’s Touch

  Highlander Undone

  Highlander Unraveled

  * * *

  Touchstone Series

  Highland Steam

  Highland Brawn

  Highland Tryst

  Highland Heat

  * * *

  Wicked Women

  Her Desperate Gamble

  Seducing the Sheriff

  Kiss Me, Cowboy

  Historical Fiction

  Releasing April 12, 2022

  The Mayfair Bookshop

  * * *

  Releasing 2023

  The Other Astaire

  * * *

  Tales From the Tudor Court

  My Lady Viper

  Prisoner of the Queen

  * * *

  Ancient Historical Fiction

  A Day of Fire: a novel of Pompeii

  A Year of Ravens: a novel of Boudica’s Rebellion

  * * *

  French Revolution

  Ribbons of Scarlet: a novel of the French Revolution

  1

  July 1817

  Drum Castle

  Captain Euan Irvine of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and to his knowledge, the newly titled the Baron of Drum and Chief of the Irvine clan, stared in disbelief at the parchment in his hands. It’d been delivered by his grandfather’s solicitor, and the message still caused him to see red.

  Betrayal had never tasted so bitter.

  He closed his eyes a minute, shutting out the study that had once belonged to his father. Letting the wood-paneled walls, the shelves of books, the windows with their heavy tartan drapes, all of it disappear.

  His faithful dog, Owen, let out a low noise that was half-whimper, half-growl. The elderly hound, who was now more a house pet than a hunter, was attuned to his master’s emotions and often checked in on Euan, perhaps still worried he’d disappear again as he had when sent off to France to fight in the Peninsular War.

  “This is horse shite,” he growled to the ceiling, willing his grandfather back from the grave to answer for his deceit.

  Euan pounded a fist into his desk, and Owen leapt from his cozy spot with more agility than usual
and barked as if he agreed.

  The desire to ball up the parchment and toss it into the banked fire of his hearth, watching as the tiny embers ignited and burned the anger away was strong. “That bloody bastard.”

  A tentative knock sounded on his study door, and the eldest of his six sisters, Maggie, poked her head around. Owen trotted toward her, nudging her hand with his nose. When they’d been younger, Maggie had exhibited some of their mother, Lady Clara’s, looks and as they’d aged, she’d turned into the spitting image of her. Long golden locks that she kept in a plait down her back most of the time, and eyes as blue as his own. There was a faint dusting of freckles over her nose from walks in the sun sans bonnet, much to her former governess’s chagrin. Euan sported the same sprinkle, as did all their siblings.

  Maggie’s presence usually calmed him, but knowing what the letter contained, he felt nowhere near calm then.

  “What’s happened?” Maggie’s frequently upturned mouth was cast down, and she gazed at him with worry in her eyes.

  Euan had restrained himself from tossing the grizzled solicitor from their castle as the man had apologized for being the bearer of such bad news. As they’d marched to the large front entrance, he’d seen his sisters poking their heads out from the upstairs landing. He’d not wanted to shock them with any violence, but also, he was a strict believer in the old adage: no harm to the messenger.

  Maggie shut the door and approached his desk with Owen on her heels. Being the closest in age and left to fend for themselves when Euan was only fourteen, he and Maggie had often worked together with the running of the household and lands. They’d endured a nightmare with their Uncle Will, who had overstepped his bounds and tried to steal from the estate, a move that landed him in prison. After that, Euan had declared he was man enough to take on the duties inherited by his father and the care of his six sisters.

  “Grandda has left us one more beautiful legacy.” His tone was filled with sarcasm, and Maggie knew it. He was seething, and his teeth were clamped so tightly he was likely to chip a tooth.

  Maggie grimaced and let out a groan. Owen let out his own groan, commiserating with them both. Sometimes, Euan swore, that hound was a human.

  There was a noise outside the door, and they both focused on it. Euan was certain if he were to look through the keyhole, he’d see the blue of one of his sister’s eyes.

  “They are all going to listen in, are they no’?” he asked, knowing the answer.

  Maggie grinned. “If they did no’, I’d send for the doctor, for only an ailment would keep them from nosing about where they do no’ belong.”

  That fact belonged to the two of them as well. Having to rely so heavily on each other since they were adolescents, there were little, if any, secrets between them.

  Maggie marched straight for his desk and sat down on the side of it, lifting the parchment from where he’d slammed it down. She scanned it, her eyes widening as she read. He could pick out each part by the wider her eyes grew. From the grave, their grandfather was stipulating a drastic change to the inheritance of the barony and the lands he’d been promised his entire life. Barons in Scotland were not peerage titles, and not subject to primogeniture as they were in England. Blast his grandfather for taking advantage of that fact. The man had been legally within his rights to decide who inherited his titles and properties.

  Until this moment, he’d thought himself the Baron of Drum, the Chief of the entire Irvine clan that spanned holdings across Scotland, for it had been his to inherit when their grandfather passed. But now, the written words of a man already dead were rescinding that.

  For now, he retained his position of Laird of Drum, but even that was in jeopardy.

  “This has to be false. A forgery of some kind. Made by Uncle Will to get back at us.”

  Said Uncle Will—their father’s twin brother—was a criminal, and Euan wouldn’t put it past him to be involved in this scheme, especially given the recipient, should Euan fail, was their cousin, Will’s son Hector. There had always been a lot of animosity between the brothers, a relationship opposite to what Euan had with his six sisters.

  Euan let out a growl, matched by his hound, and stomped to the window to stare out at the landscape he’d been gazing at since he was old enough to notice it was there. Owen trotted along beside him, putting his paws up on the windowsill to stare out.

  Drum Castle had been Euan’s childhood home, his inheritance. He knew the people of this land as well as he knew his sisters. Since he was fourteen, he’d been their laird. Toiled with them, supported them. And they, likewise, had supported him. He couldn’t imagine not being there for them. But if what his grandfather suggested came to fruition, then Euan would be cast aside.

  The lands belonging to the Chief of Clan Irvine had been split between their father and Uncle Will—being born twins. So when their da had passed on unexpectedly, Drum Castle went to Euan, and Bonshaw Tower was to go to their cousin Hector, who was Will’s son. And the vilest of human beings as far as Euan was concerned. He was known to associate with the worst of Edinburgh’s criminal underbelly, which was why Euan chose not to have anything to do with Hector.

  But now…

  It is here upon my deathbed that I decree with soundness of mind that the title of Chief of Irvine, Baron of Drum and Baron of Bonshaw, and all the lands and properties therein shall go to the grandson who first produces a legitimate heir within the bounds of a loving marriage.

  “I am sure Uncle Will had something do with it, but I assure ye that it is no forgery, even if it has all the manner of one.” Euan ran his hands through his hair when he really wanted to drive his fist through the wall. “The solicitor was present and several witnesses, none of which were our immoral uncle.”

  Maggie let out a long sigh, saying so much in that one exhale of breath. She set the parchment down and approached Euan at the window, kissing Owen on the head. “Well, we’d best get ye a bride.”

  Euan scoffed. This was impossible. “Did ye no’ read the last part? ‘Within the bounds of a loving marriage.’ I’ve no’ been in love a day in my life, and a piece of paper forcing me to do so is no’ going to change that.”

  Maggie patted him on the shoulder in the exact manner he’d just watched her pat the dog. “Ye’ve plenty of lasses who love ye.”

  “They love my co—” He stopped himself just shy of being vulgar, remembering who he was talking to. “They love my coffers,” he corrected, which was also probably true. He’d a long line of lovers eager to leap into his bed and be gifted with his generous…talents, along with a bauble or two.

  Maggie smirked. “I’m certain they do. But ye’re handsome, and ye’re verra charming. Ye used to charm the bread out of the baker’s hand with a smile.”

  Euan grinned, remembering that. When they’d been unsure how to keep the estate going, at times they’d had to resort to some trickery to keep their bellies full. Because of their sacrifices, they’d rebuilt the clan from the bottom up, and everyone was thriving.

  But marriage had never been an institution he wanted to enter. Heir-producing was best left to the gentleman of society. He had six sisters to care for, and he expected that his lands and title would pass to one of their sons. Besides, if he were busy trying to impregnate his “bride,” how could he go about all of the duties that everyone depended on him for?

  Impossible. He couldn’t risk his sisters’ safety and that of the clan to follow through on this maniacal scheme. Then again, if he didn’t, he’d lose everything anyway.

  “This is no’ a race I want to enter.” Euan leaned his forehead against the glass, the coolness of it only slightly reassuring.

  How the hell was he supposed to get a lass to fall in love with him? That was a jest. Euan was not distinguished, and he was far from proper. He was recognized as a rough-and-tumble warrior, a landlord who would leap into the middle of a mud pit and haul out a wailing outlaw who’d stolen a pig. Often times when the sun went down, he would still brood over t
he horrors of war and the men he’d lost, even after a few years had passed.

  And those years that he’d been forced away to war in France, Maggie had done a fine job taking care of things at home, but he’d made a vow he’d never leave those duties in her hands again. It wasn’t her responsibility, and it wasn’t fair to heap it on her. And this season, he’d promised to find her a husband. It was time she went off on her own and didn’t have to help care for their five younger sisters. She deserved some happiness in her life.

  “Euan, I know more than anyone else that ye do no’ want to do this, and I hate to say it, but ye have to.” All the sarcasm and teasing had left Maggie’s face now, and in her eyes was a hint of pleading. “We need ye to.”

  The door to his study burst open, and his five other sisters barged in. Amabel, Lillie, Skye, Esme and Raine. All beautiful and all mischievous.

  “Ye canna let Hector take this place. What will happen to us?” the youngest, Raine, asked, while tugging on her chocolate-colored locks and blinking her wide blue eyes up at him. She was only thirteen and it would be years until she would begin searching for a husband. If he didn’t do this, her prospects for a happy and fulfilling union would be null.