Okay, 82% of my DNA is made up of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Scotland is one of the biggest chunks of that. One of my great grandfathers was John MacComie (Iain Mor), 7th Chief of Clan MacThomas. The Clan MacThomas was described in a roll of the clans, in the Acts of Parliament of 1587 and 1595, and they were known to the government in Edinburgh as Macthomas. The seventh chief was John Mccomie (Iain Mòr) who has passed into the folklore of Perthshire. Tax collectors, particularly those of the Earl of Atholl seem to have been offensive to him. The Earl employed a champion swordsman from Italy to slay Mccomie but the swordsman was himself slain by Mccomie.
When I traveled to Disney World with my son and his family several years back, I was quite disappointed for I only saw my favorite Disney princess once. That is Merida from “Brave.” One of things I like about Merida is she chooses her own path to travel, and she does not require a prince to save her. Yada, Yada! The film was released in 2012, but no one then was complaining about the prince not saving Snow White. Yet, that is another story for current times, not the purpose of this post.
In the film, when the clans arrive to bring their suitors from which Merida is to choose, I automatically scream “Macintosh” along with the voice over from Craig Ferguson. My granddaughters always looked at me curiously, but only recently have I explained that my 9th Great-Grandfather on my father’s side is the 7th Chieftain of the clan, John Mccomie (Iain Mòr), who I have mentioned above. You see, the reason I screamed “Mackintosh,” was the fact that the progenitor of the Clan MacThomas was Thomas, who was a Scottish Gaelic speaking Highlander. He was known as Tomaidh Mòr and it is from him that the clan takes its name. He was a grandson of William Mackintosh, 7th chief of Clan Mackintosh and 8th chief of the Chattan Confederation. [Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 258–259.]
If you seen the film, Merida chases the Will-o’-the-Wisp to the cabin where she receives a secret potion. But what exactly is a Will-o’-the-Wisp and what does all this talk of Scotland have to do with “Lyon’s Obsession“?
In folklore, a will-o’-the-wisp, will-o’-wisp, or ignis fatuus (Latin for ‘foolish flame’), generally found over bogs, swamps or marshes. [Phipson, T. L. (October 1868). “Will-o’-the-wisp”. Belgravia. Vol. 6. London: Robson and Son. p. 392.]
The phenomenon is known in the United Kingdom by a variety of names, including jack-o’-lantern,friar’s lantern, and hinkypunk, and is said to mislead and/or guide travellers by resembling a flickering lamp or lantern. [Trevelyan, Marie (1909). Folk-Lore and Folk-Stories of Wales. London: Elliot Stock. p. 178.] Equivalents of the will-o’-the-wisps appear in European folklore by various names, e.g., ignis fatuus in Latin, feu follet in French, Irrlicht or Irrwisch in Germany. Equivalents occur in traditions of cultures worldwide. In North America the phenomenon is known as the Paulding Light in Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the Spooklight in Southwestern Missouri and Northeastern Oklahoma, and St. Louis Light in Saskatchewan. In Arab folklore it is known as Abu Fanous.
In folklore, will-o’-the-wisps are typically attributed as ghosts, fairies or elemental spirits meant to reveal a path or direction. These wisps are portrayed as dancing or flowing in a static form, until noticed or followed, in which case they visually fade or disappear. Modern science can explain how these images are formed, but that is not the purpose of this post.
Short Excerpt from Lyon’s Obsession:
Alexander had always been a man who liked perfect order in his world. His childhood had been so chaotic that once he had come under Lord Duncan’s steady hand and had learned something of “order,” Xander had discovered he enjoyed the feeling of knowing what to expect. However, his attachment to Theodora was everything but “orderly.”
He instinctively moved closer to her. Beaufort occasionally called Dora c lúacán, meaning “a sprite.” According to his friend, the cluricaune is one of three different solitary fairies in Ireland, the other two being a “far darrig” and the other a leprechaun. In Scotland, some would call Theodora a will-o’-the-wisp because a wisp is often misleading or elusive.
Like the will-’o-the-wisp, Theodora had been dropped into Alexander’s life. He had once promised to find his mother and share her with Theodora, who had lost Lady Elsbeth when she was quite young.
Without his cognizance of the situation, Dora had been dropped into his life when he had been brought under her father’s roof, and she had changed Alexander forever. Hard to admit, but, sometimes, he desired her so much it hurt. Other times, she made him quite livid with anger.
Lyon’s Obsession: The Lyon’s Den Connected World
Short on temper. Long on pride. True to his word.
Lady Theodora Duncan, daughter and only child of Lord Macdonald Duncan, reluctantly embarks on a London season in hopes of making a suitable match. She had always thought she would marry Lord Alexander Dutton, 12th Earl Marksman. After all, they had been raised together in her father’s house since Duncan became Marksman’s guardian when his lordship was but twelve. Her father’s estate marches along with Marksman’s, and they had shared multiple words of devotion, as well as stolen moments and heated kisses. Yet…
Lord Alexander Dutton always planned to marry Lady Theodora Duncan, but not until he finds his family. His father, long before Robert Dutton became the heir to the Marksman’s peerage, had sold Alexander’s mother and younger sister to the captain of a sailing ship. Alexander has searched for them for some ten years, spending thousands of the Marksman fortune in his desire to reclaim them. He cannot think truly to know happiness until he can share his title and his wealth with them. Assuredly, Theodora understands why he has not made an offer of marriage. Yet, if she does, then why does he constantly find her on the arm of a Sardinian count? He never expected Theodora’s abandonment, but Alexander is finally so close to knowing his real family again.
Must he risk one dream to know another?
Tropes you’ll love:
✔️ Friends to lovers
✔️ Soul mates
✔️ Secret identity
✔️ Fish out of water
✔️ Unrequited love
✔️ Dark secret
✔️ Emotional scars
✔️ Marriage pact
✔️ Innocent cohabitation
✔️ Love interest vs. Missing family
✔️ Honorable marriage
✔️ Marriage pact
✔️ Emotional scars
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Every Woman Dreams... 