walk on the wildsyde

The devil’s own luck...

Hamilton Anderson is the luckiest fellow in Scotland, or so people say. Everything he touches turns to gold. Having been given the running of the herring boat business his father had begun decades before, Hamilton continues the earl’s work with gusto, creating a shipping business that exports Scottish herring, whisky, and wool to a voracious market before trying his hand at running a distillery. There’s no shortage of whisky in Wick, but Hamilton’s is the finest, and much in demand. The only fly in his ointment is the Reverend Robert Halliday, who seems intent on spoiling Hamilton’s fun.

To bear and forbear...

Miss Clara Halliday considers herself a sensible and strong-willed young woman with a good deal of fortitude - a necessary attribute if one is to endure her father’s sermons every Sunday. While she believes she is as godly and Christian as the next young lady, her rather prosaic attitude to life stands her in good stead when her father takes her to live in Wick, which from his description seems to be a veritable Sodom and Gomorrah. There she inevitably crosses paths with the man her father has condemned as Satan in the flesh and, much to her dismay, finds herself unwillingly charmed by the wicked man.

Not that she’s about to let him know that.

A terrible temptation...

Of all the daft things Hamilton has done in his life, getting involved with a vicar’s daughter is not one of them, until now. Yet being scolded and lectured by Clara Halliday is Hamilton’s new favourite pastime, with the possible exception of teasing her and making her blush. Yet the Reverend Halliday is out to destroy Hamilton with a temperance movement, which is not everything it seems to be. As feelings run high, Hamilton realises he’s not playing games anymore.

Yet, try as he might, proving to the lovely Clara he’s not the devil he’s been painted is becoming increasingly complicated.