One of my favourite pieces of research for this book was on the role of the Scottish soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. As the Wars are an important piece of Lachlan’s back story, I wanted to dig into what it might have been like for him.
Highlanders were associated only with rebellion at the beginning of the Wars, but eventually their bravery and fierce fighting style—particularly that of the Forty-Second and Ninety-Second Regiments—earned them respect within the military. Bagpipes and kilts had been banned by the Dress Act of 1746, but the ban was lifted and, while kilts were not everyday dress at that point, they became a symbol of Scottish pride and were worn by Scottish soldiers during the Wars.
It is said that they rode into Waterloo to the sound of bagpipes, shouting, ‘Scotland for ever!’
I knew that would be exactly Lachlan’s sentiment—so, although kilts were not in fashion during Lachlan and Penny’s time, I felt it was reasonable that Lachlan would wear one, as any man wears his military uniform even when he’s finished his service.
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Rebel Heiress and the Knight by Melissa Oliver.