Thanks for massaging my ego but they're not stupid for saying no, they just didn't like it or didn't think it was for them, which is a common response to pitches. I may pitch again in the future, who knows.

Thanks! Walter Scott is a fascinating figure because his particular brand of Scottishness in his work fits a lot of the tropes you see in stuff like Outlander, Highlander romances, the noble hero, etc. His work was also wildly popular. George IV loved his books so much that he wanted Scott to organise a visit to Scotland for him, which ended up essentially being like a shortbread tin. Tartanry!