For Love of a Laird: Irvines of Drum - Book One

Betrothed to the elderly laird of their enemy, disillusionment and duty are all Elizabeth Keith has ever known. She may never know true love, but her people will finally know peace.

However, when tragedy strikes more than once, and Elizabeth is pawned from laird to laird, unexpected desires for one man threaten to compromise her dutiful existence, forcing her to defy the rules.

As the spare to the heir, Robert Irvine understands his obligation to the clan during these volatile times. But, marrying his brother’s beautiful widow is more than he bargained for, and nothing he is prepared for. When all he never wanted becomes all he ever needed, Robert suddenly stands to lose it all.

When war is a constant threat, and a marriage to Elizabeth is the key to peace, Robert will do all he can to secure both, until he discovers she has done something that may destroy them both. 

 Mary Hamilton is no stranger to scandal. As the former Laird of Drum’s lover, she has been on the receiving end of many dark stares. But when he died in battle, leaving her alone and carrying his unborn child, darkness was all she had left. A woman cannot raise a child alone without scorn, but she would prefer to face the judgment of others than marry to save her reputation.

The need for an advantageous marriage is a burden that Sir William Keith, Laird of Dunnottar and Marischal of Scotland, is all too familiar with. If only every prospective bride did not make him wish to jump off the cliffs surrounding his castle. When an invitation arrives to celebrate the Yule with his Sister at Drum Castle, William is eager to accept and escape the constant reminder of his plight… until the reason for his invitation becomes as apparent as the contempt Mary holds for him.

She needs a husband and a father for her child. He needs a wife and an heir. But a marriage of convenience has never felt less convenient as they seem to fight more than they breathe. However, despite William’s resolve to keep his distance, there is a spark in the darkness that surrounds the lass, one that draws him in- like a moth to a flame. But, just like a fire burning out of control, the heat between them may only burn them both in the end. 

 Abandoned as a wee bairn and lovingly raised by the Keiths, Matilda has spent her entire life pondering her identity. When the truth proves more sinister than expected, she is desperate to hide her shameful secret despite the missives that continue to arrive, threatening both Matilda and her kin. Even death is preferable to losing the trust of those she loves, for surely, the Keiths and Irvines will disown her if they discover their enemy’s blood runs through her veins.

Preferring the life of a traveling knight, Reginald Irvine lives for the moment, never focusing on tomorrow. When ordered to discover the contents of Matilda’s mysterious missives, Reginald relishes the task. He will charm the truth out of the lovely lass, then be off on his next journey. But when Matilda pushes him away and finds herself in danger, Reginald determines to protect her at all costs, even if the cost is losing his life… or his heart.

Tired of the threats, Matilda takes matters into her own hands, and Reginald gladly follows. If their plan succeeds, they will save hundreds of lives. If they fail, they have more to lose than just their heads. 

Loving his enemy's daughter means breaking a sacred vow...

Marjorie Douglas is no stranger to scandal. As the daughter of an accused traitor, she’s seen too many dark deeds and lives ruined by her father. No longer the spoiled young heiress she once was, Marjorie wishes only to lead a humble life, giving back to others. Though Marjorie longs for Sir Benjamin Keith, the knight who protected her last summer from her father, she’s faced enough rejection and humiliation to risk being made a fool of ever again, especially to a hardened man who detests her family. But when an invitation to Drum Castle for the Yuletide throws Sir Benjamin directly into her path, and beneath the mistletoe, Marjorie finds that avoiding love may be more challenging than she thought.

Sir Benjamin Keith has earned his scars on the battlefield, but no wound cut him deeper than losing his wife and son to a fire. They say time heals all wounds, but for Benjamin, his vows to love only one woman feel as fresh as the day he spoke them. When Benjamin arrives at Drum Castle with his laird’s entourage for the Yuletide, he is thrust into Marjorie’s presence once again, the one woman who ever tempted him to break his vow. Protecting his heart is as essential as protecting his laird, but Benjamin is on the cusp of losing the most crucial battle of his life: the battle against falling in love with Marjorie Douglas, his enemy’s daughter.

With a dose of Yuletide magic and some help from the Irvine clan, Benjamin and Marjorie may just discover that wounds of the past heal only once hope for the future blossoms, and what they’ve avoided for so long is precisely what they need.