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 must she arrange for the Duke's accidental death? Anne Greene delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage , won the New England Reader Choice award, the Laurel Wreath Award, and the Heart of Excellence Award. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement releases soon. A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. In 2014, her World War II novel, Angel With Steel Wings , about WASPs, women test pilots will release. She makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. In 1990, Anne graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Literary Studies from the University of Texas. View Anne’s other books, her blog, travel pictures, and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Anne loves to speak to book clubs, libraries, and conferences. Her love of sailing, horseback riding, history, and art, as well as her Citizens Plano Policy Academy training, and military life sometime figure in her books. She judges the Rita, Golden Heart, Book of the Year, and many other contests. A Critique and Writing Craft group meets at her home on Monday nights. Her highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.PelicanBookGroup.com. Or at http://www.Amazon.com. Marriage by Arrangement By Anne Greene Pelican Ventures, LLC Copyright © 2013 Anne Greene All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-61116-290-5 CHAPTER 1 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." "No, it's not too late for you to flee. You must, because 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 many 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. "Ask yourself why such a grand noble would stoop to marry a Scottish lass whose Papa is but a Baron? Why did he not choose the daughter of an English duke or a marquess or even an earl and receive ever so much more dowry and prestige?" Megan tilted her head and lifted elegant brows. 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 towards 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 goose bumps shivered down 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 towards 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