Gabaldon - Lord John and the Brotherhood of The

8/11/2019 Gabaldon - Lord John and the Brotherhood of The

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Page

I As Kinsmen Met

1 All in the Family

2 Not a Betting Man

3 Pet Criminal

4 Chisping

5 Genius an !u"#Genius

II $el%ater

& Brea'age

( Penan)e

* +iolent $ans

III Mi,e -oyalties

. /nnatural A)ts

10 !alle es Armes

11 arnings

12 i)ers an Gentlemen

13 A +isit to Ne%gate

14 Pla)e o ,e)ution

15 A eli)ate rran

1& In hi)h an ngagement Is Bro'en

1( In hi)h a Marriage 6a'es Pla)e7 among ther 6hings

1* Finally

1. Pi)tures at an ,hi"ition


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I+ 6he 8egiment 8ises

20 9e :a)o"ites "y Name

21 Co%ari)e

22 !hame

23 6he 8hinelan

24 !'irmish

25 Betrayal

2& rin'ing %ith a)hshuns

2( 6he $onora"le 6hing

2* $

2. a%n o Battle

+ 8ei;i;us

30 A !pe)ialist in Matters o the $eart

31 Nota Bene

32 6he Path o $onor

33 -ea;ing Party

34 u)hess o Parloe

35 s Notes

the Author

"y iana Ga"alon

"oo' is or Bar"ara !)hnell7ear rien an German ;oi)e

author %oul li'e to than' all the 'in people %ho ha;e gi;en me inormation an help in the

)ourse o this no;el7 parti)ularly?


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@Mr 8i)har :a)o"s7 Kreel lo)al historian7 an his %ie Moni'a7 %ho %al'e the "attleiel at

Kreel s younger sons aresse as s

an or ining Ms 8eynols

@Patri)ia Fuller7 Paulette -angguth7 Pamela Pat)het7 pamelalass7 an ou"tless se;eral other

people not "eginning %ith


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@-aura Bailey7 or insight an a;i)e regaring eighteenth#)entury )lothing an )ustom

@a;i Ni;en7 or his ;ery entertaining an honest auto"iographies7 6he Moon>s a Balloon7 an

Bring on the mpty $orses7 %hi)h in)lue a useul loo' at the so)ial %or'ings o a British

regiment as %ell as helpul inormation regaring ho% to sur;i;e a long ormal inner Also7

George Ma)onal Fraser7 or his Ma)Auslan in the 8ough7 a )olle)tion o stories a"out lie in a

II $ighlan 8egiment

@Isaa) 6rion7 %hose han#ra%n %ater)olor map o the "attle o Creel7 ra%n in 1(5*7 aorns

my %all7 an %hose painsta'ing etails aorn the story

@6he assorte gentlemen an laies %ho %ere 'in enough to rea an )omment on se, s)enes

As a matter o pu"li) interest7 a poll regaring one su)h s)ene )ame "a)' %ith the ollo%ing

results

)ontrast to the maternal ;ariety I merely %onere %here Mother>s ne% a)Juisition might all7

along the spe)trum o )hara)ter=

>s nostrils lare $is o%n reaing tene to "e )onine to 6a)itus an the more etaile Gree' an

8oman histories o military enea;or 6he pra)ti)e o reaing no;els he regare as a orm o moral


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%ea'ness orgi;a"le7 an in a)t7 Juite unerstana"le in their mother7 %ho %as7 ater all7 a %oman

6hat his younger "rother shoul share in this ;i)e %as some%hat less a))epta"le

7 he merely sai7 s?mae a reassuring %eight

s not late yet=

ga;e him a sie%ays loo'7 not a smile?$al %as not in a moo that %oul permit su)h an

e,pression?"ut tinge %ith humor7 nonetheless

s e,perien)e7 mem"ership in the "rotherhoo o the "lae i not ne)essarily impute

pun)tuality?their rien $arry Luarry %as a )olonel an ha"itually late?"ut he noe eJua"ly

$al %as sui)iently on ege alreay Grey in>t %ant to start a oolish argument that might )olor

the imminent meeting %ith their mother>s intene thir hus"an


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%at)hes %ere ienti)al7 gits rom their ather upon the o))asion o ea)h son>s t%elth "irthay 6he

u'e ha ie the ay ater Grey>s t%elth "irthay7 eno%ing this small re)ognition o manhoo

%ith a parti)ular poignan)y Grey re% "reath to say something7 "ut the soun o ;oi)es )ame rom

the )orrior

"een possesse o the same slight stature7 airness7 an tiy mus)ularity %hi)h he ha "eJueathe to

"oth his sons !ir George rather restore one>s aith in the la% o a;erages7 Grey thought7 amuse

"it taller than himsel or $al7 an Juite stout7 the general ha a a)e that %as roun7 )heerul7 an

rosily guileless "eneath a rather sha""y %ig $is eatures %ere nones)ript in the e,treme7 "ar a pair

o %ie "ro%n eyes that ga;e him an air o pleasant e,pe)tation7 as though he )oul thin' o

nothing so elightul as a meeting %ith the person he aresse

"o%e in greeting7 "ut then shoo' hans irmly %ith "oth Greys7 lea;ing -or :ohn %ith animpression o %armth an sin)erity


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s han7 "ut glan)e "riely "a)' at Grey $is eyes %ere also "ro%n7 "ut not at all li'e his

stepather>s7 Grey thought7 the momentary sho)' o re)ognition aing

%ere a sot7 ;i;i "ro%n7 li'e sherry sa)'7 an most e,pressi;e At the moment7 they %ere an)ing

%ith mirth at the situation?an ille %ith the same intensely personal interest Grey ha seen in

them on)e "eore7 at their irst meeting@in the li"rary o -a;ener $ouse

ain%right ha gi;en him his name?an his han?upon that o))asion7 too But Grey ha "een ananonymous stranger then7 an the en)ounter ha "een ne)essarily "rie

%as e,pressing polite %el)ome to the ne%)omer7 though gi;ing him the sort o )oolly proessional

appraisal he %oul use to sum up an oi)er ne% to the regiment

thought ain%right stoo up %ell to su)h s)rutiny he %as %ell#"uilt7 resse neatly an %ith taste7

)lear#s'inne an )lean#eature7 %ith an attitue that spo'e o "oth humor an imagination Both

traits )oul "e angerous in an oi)er7 "ut on a personal le;el@

seeme to "e is)reetly e,er)ising his o%n )uriosity %ith regar to Grey7 li)'ing "rie glan)es his

%ay?an little %oner Grey smile at him7 no% rather enEoying the surprise o this ne%


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the ormer7 e,empliie "y rolling o the eyes an a "rie )lut)hing o the sha""y %ig agonie

apology "y the latter?an apology e,tene %orlessly to Grey7 as Per)y ain%right turne to him

%ith a grima)e

lite one shouler in ismissal $al %as use to it?an it %as his o%n ault7 ater all

s "a)'7

lightly en)ouraging him to%ar the oor s 6hursay 6he Beestea'>s )oo' oes an e,)ellent

ragout o "ee on 6hursays ith oysters=

George %as %ise enough to ma'e no apology or his stepson>s gae7 instea engaging "oth the

Greys in )on;ersation regaring the )ampaigns o the pre;ious autumn Per)y ain%right appeare

a trile lustere7 "ut Jui)'ly regaine his )omposure7 listening %ith e;ery e;ien)e o a"sorption


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s a)e $e smile s heart ga;e a small hop $e ha "een trying to orget the last time he ha seen Per)y ain%right7

sot ar' )urls ishe;ele an his sto)' unone 6oay7 his hair %as "rushe smooth7 "oun anpo%ere li'e Grey>s o%n he %ore a so"er "lue7 an they met as proper gentlemen But the s)ent

o -a;ener $ouse seeme to linger in the air "et%een them?a smell o %ine an leather7 an the

sharp7 eep mus' o mas)uline esire

s asso)iation %ith it 6hat %as enough or no%


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rela,e a "it at the re;elation that !ir George %oul not "e remaining long in nglan Benei)ta>s

money %as her o%n7 an sae7 or the most part?or as sae as la% an $al )oul ma'e it It %as his

mother>s physi)al %elare %ith %hi)h he %as mostly )on)erne at the moment 6hat %as7

presuma"ly7 the point o this lun)heon to ini)ate irmly to !ir George that Benei)ta Grey>s sons

too' a )lose interest in her aairs7 an intene to )ontinue oing so ater her marriage

you on>t suppose he %oul "eat her Grey inJuire silently o his "rother7 "ro%s raise r install

a mistress at :ermyn !treet

aopte a po#a)e e,pression7 ini)ating that Grey %as an inno)ent in the %i)'e %ays o men

Fortunately7 $al himsel %as not so trustingO


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rolle his eyes "riely an a;erte his gae rom his "rother as the ste%ar "rought in a ish o hot

prunes to a))ompany the mutton

George an $al %ent o into an intense is)ussion o the pro"lems o re)ruitment an supply7

lea;ing Grey an Per)y ain%right on)e more to their o%n e;i)es

s ather ha "een a

u'e7 then@


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Per)y>s eyes i,e on his a)e

ran'7 too7 an li)'e his lips 6hey %ere sot an ull7 staine re %ith %ine

s )harm

are a suspi)ious "astar7 you 'no%7 he sai %ith a glan)e at his "rother ater one parti)ularly

pro"ing Juestion

7 an a goo thing7 too7 $al>s ar' loo' at him replie7 "eore turning to Per)y ain%right %ith a

)ourteous rene%al o Grey>s in;itation to ;isit the regimental Juarters

the time the puing arri;e7 though7 )orial relations appeare to ha;e "een esta"lishe on all

ronts !ir George ha replie satisa)torily to all $al>s Juestions7 seeming Juite untrou"le "y the

intrusi;e nature o some o them In a)t7 Grey ha the eeling that !ir George %as pri;ately rather

amuse "y his "rother7 though ta'ing great )are to ensure that $al %as not a%are o it

7 he an Per)y ain%right ha is)o;ere a mutual enthusiasm or horse#ra)ing7 the theater7 an

Fren)h no;elists?a is)ussion o this last su"Ee)t )ausing his "rother to mutter7 s )hill7 an )anles lit

the room A pleasant shi;er ran o%n his "a)' at the soun


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ining it a little tight

loate %arm in the air "et%een them7 heay as the s)ents o )innamon an %ine $al an !ir

George %ere "eginning to ma'e noises ini)ati;e o lea;e#ta'ing7 %ith many e,pressions o mutual

regar

>s long ar' lashes reste or a moment on his )hee'7 an then s%ept up7 so that his eyes met

Grey>s

t suppose it>s really in)est7 an pushe his )hair "a)' to arise

Byr7 Grey>s ;alet7 %as ru""ing at the gol la)e on Grey>s ress uniorm %ith a lump o "rea to

"righten it7 an listening %ith a li;ely interest to Grey>s a))ount o the lun)heon %ith General

!tanley an his stepson

Grey smile at 6om7 an pulle his "anyan )lose or %armth espite the ire7 the room %as )ol t thin' he %ill "ring a ;alet %ith him i he oes )ome7 though=


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%as su)h a hopeul tone to this last Juestion that Grey laughe


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Mr ain%right7 though7 %ill you=

ha a suen ;ision o Per)y ain%right7 stret)he soli "esie him in the "e7 an an

e,traorinary sense o %armth pulse through him7 Juite in)ommensurate %ith the heat pro;ie "y

the %arming pan

s eyes?

an the %armth o his tou)h7 %hen they ha sha'en hans in are%ell

notion o Per)y ain%right>s Eoining the regiment %as intriguing Consiere in the so"er light o

ay7 it might also "e angerous

'ne% nothing o the man 6rue7 the a)t that he %as General !tanley>s stepson argue that he must

"e at least is)reet?"ut Grey 'ne% se;eral is)reet ;illains An he must not orget that his irst


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meeting %ith ain%right ha "een at -a;ener $ouse7 a pla)e %hose polishe sura)es hi many

se)rets

ain%right "een %ith anyone on that o))asion Grey ro%ne7 trying to re)all the s)ene7 "ut in a)t7

his attention ha "een so istra)te at the time that he ha noti)e only a e% a)es $e thought that

Per)y ha "een alone7 "ut@yes $e must ha;e "een7 or he ha not only introu)e himsel?he

ha 'isse Grey>s han

> orgotten that7 an his han )lose in;oluntarily7 a small Eolt running up his arm as though he ha

tou)he something hot

li'e to throttle him7 too7= muttere the man "esie him s "a)' Aams>s lap#%ol hat i you thin' o the ne% "rother !hall %e ha;e

him=

as he %as %ith $al>s Jui)'#)hange methos o )on;ersation7 it too' Grey only an instant to )at)h

his "rother>s meaning


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itting7 I thin'7 that he shoul "e an ensign= nsigns %ere the lo%liest o the )ommissione

oi)ers7 at e;eryone>s "e)' an )all

re right7= $al )on)ee put him uner $arry7 o )ourse7 at least to start 9ou

%oul "e %illing to guie him=


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s oi)e resem"le nothing so mu)h

as the en o some large "east o untiy ha"it7 an %hile "oth $al an his elerly )ler'7 Mr Beasley7

)oul lay their hans on anything %ante %ithin an instant7 no one else )oul in so mu)h as a pin

in the general )haos

paper itsel lay among a Juantity o others s)attere on the es'7 istinguishe only "y a ragge

ege7 as though it ha "een torn rom a "oo' Grey pi)'e it up7 glan)e at it )asually7 then

stiene7 eyes glue to the page

s that you ha;e= $e tosse his Juill on the es' an snat)he the

paper impatiently rom Grey $e mae to put it "a)' on the es'7 then )aught sight o the %ors an

roe

glan)e up at him sharply7 "ut ignore his Juestion


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got )ontrol o himsel Grey )oul see his min %or'ing again7 an

rapily

s hans )len)he

in;oluntarily7 %anting to seie it rom estru)tion7 "ut it %as alreay gone7 in' star' or an instant

on the )harring paper "eore it ell to ash 6he une,pe)te sense o loss mae him spea' more

sharply than his %ont


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t shut

it 6hat %as interesting7 Grey thought i $al suppose that Mr Beasley might )reep up to listen

outsie the oor7 i it %ere )lose


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t7= $al sai "riely t inJuire7 uner the )ir)umstan)es=

%as still %at)hing the open oor Grey )ouln>t tell %hether he %as merely on the alert7 or a;oiing

meeting Grey>s eyes $al %as a goo liar %hen he neee to "e7 "ut Grey 'ne% his "rothere,tremely %ell?an $al 'ne% him $e too' a eep "reath7 orering his thoughts 6he smell o

"urnt paper %as sharp in his nose

t "urnt7= Grey sai slo%ly

that %hoe;er too' it has 'ept it until no% ho7 an %hy An %hy oes he?%hoe;er he is?

inorm you no% that he has it An %hy i Mother?=

s anger ae as he sa% that his "rother

%as inee telling the truth $e sa% something else that isJuiete him e,tremely?his "rother %as

arai


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t thin' so?"ut it>s possi"le= 6he soun o ootsteps e)hoe in the hall%ay7


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an $al stoppe spea'ing a"ruptly 6he ootsteps %ere istin)ti;e7 the soun o a hea;y man %ith a

e)ie limp %art !ymington7 the se)on regimental )olonel7 $arry Luarry>s opposite num"er

grima)e an :ohn noe unerstaning Neither one o them esire to spea' %ith !ymington at

the moment 6hey stoo silent7 %aiting !ure enough7 the steps )ame to a halt7 an a ist thunere

on the panels o the oor !ymington %as as "rutal o manner as o appearan)e7 resem"ling nothing

so mu)h as a yspepti) "oar

thunerous assault on the oor7 a moment>s pause7 an !ymington uttere a mule oath an

limpe o

ll "e "a)'7= $al sai7 uner his "reath7 an too' his )loa' rom its peg "y the oor s %e>ll tal' on the %ay=

thrust his arms into his great)oat an a moment later they ha es)ape into the street7 $al ha;ing

instru)te Mr Beasley to tell Colonel !ymington that -or Melton ha gone to Bath

s o%n thoughts %ere a Eum"le7 ;eering rom anti)ipation an )uriosity at the thought o Per)y

ain%right to )on)ern at his "rother>s o";ious agitation ;er all o it7 though7 %as the image o

the page he ha hel so "riely in his hans

or)e all other thought rom his min7 )on)entrating on remem"ering7 )ommitting the %ors he

ha rea to memory $e still elt the sho)' o $al>s thro%ing the paper into the ire7 an )oul not

"ear the thought that those %ors o his ather>s7 peestrian as they might "e7 shoul "e lost to him

6he u'e>s Eournals %ere no se)ret7 an yet he ha rea them se)retly7 a"stra)ting one at a time an

smuggling ea)h ;olume to his room7 returning them to their shel7 )areul that no one shoul see


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)oul not ha;e sai %hy it seeme important to 'eep this postmortem relationship %ith his ather

pri;ate nly that it ha "een

ha more or less su))eee in i,ing at least the su"stan)e o the ;anishe page in memory7 %hen

$al inally hun)he his shoulers an spo'e a"ruptly


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the time o his eath7 mae "y mem"ers o the !o)iety?su)h a))usations %ere )ommon7 thro%n at

almost e;ery man o any ;isi"ility )onne)te %ith the !outh !ea Bu""le 6he s)anal %as "lame

on )ompanies o soomites>?though Go 'no%s it %as "lame on e;ery other group7 interest7 or

person anyone )oul thin' o7 as %ell But the !o)iety %as prominent at the time7 an soomiti)al

)onspira)ies %ere their parti)ular o"session=


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re% the e;ening air eep into his lungs 6he last o his eensi;e anger )hille7 lea;ing him )ol It

%as a personal matter?"ut not ire)tly personal $al>s )on)ern %as or the general7 o )ourse?an

or their amily7 lest the ol rumors "e resurre)te in light o resh s)anal7 stimulate "y their

mother>s ne% marriage

s hea lite7 an he "le% out a long %hite "reath

s7 illuminating %hat appeare to "e the "oy

o a man lying on the pa;ement "y the oor As they approa)he the "uiling7 Grey sa% a hea pop

out o the )lu">s open oor7 sur;ey the "oy7 then pop "a)' in7 only to "e su))eee "y a ierent

hea7 %hi)h repeate this pro)eure

s7 as %ell7 "ut selom patronie the )lu"7 ining the )oy

sha""iness an e,)ellent oo o the Beestea' more appealing

sJuinte at the "oy7 an shoo' his hea


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s arm t put it in the "oo' yetO=

t let him lie here7 ea or not7= $al sai impatiently ll


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"e pi)'e )lean=

o"ligingly "elte o%n the street to the Fount o isom7 %here he oun t%o mem"ers o the

at)h ortiying themsel;es against the %eather 8elu)tantly gulping their mulle )ier7 they

hule themsel;es grum"ling into )oats an hats an )ame "a)' %ith him to hite>s7 %here he

oun his "rother staning guar o;er the "oy7 leaning on his s%or

s ste%ar7 ho;ere in anti)ipation

promptly ;anishe7 an the )all o7


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-ongstreet grima)e7 she his )oat7 an "egan to roll up his slee;es

ll see 9ou lot7 get out o it $olmes?et)h me a "o%l rom the 'it)hen7 i you %oul

"e so goo= $e pulle a )ollapsi"le leam rom his po)'et an li)'e it open %ith a pra)ti)e air

$olmes hesitate

t going to o anything@messy7 are you e>;e only Eust ha that settee reupholstere=

ga;e the ste%ar a humorless grin

m going to "lee him7 yes?"ut I>ll enea;or not to stain your amas' Bo%lO=

7 "eing nearest an not gi;en to sJueamishness7 helpe to lit the man?%ho %as "oth tall an stout

?an remo;e his outer )lothes 6he man>s eyelis li)'ere or a moment7 an his lips mo;e7 "ut

he relapse "a)' into un)ons)iousness7 not stirring e;en %hen -ongstreet too' hol o his "are

arm an )ut into the lesh "elo% the el"o%

pattere into the "o%l7 an one o the onloo'ers %ent Jui)'ly outsie7 %hen)e the soun o

;omiting %as hear through the still#open oor Mr $olmes )ast a loo' o espair at the "loo

spattering the )arpet7 an %ent out to rener ai

t suppose you )arry ammonia) salts on your person7 o you= -ongstreet as'e Grey7

ro%ning at the un)ons)ious man s enamele snu"o,7 %hi)h7 %hen opene7

pro;e to )ontain not snu "ut a small )or'e ;ial )ontaining sal ;olatile

-ongstreet a))epte this %ith a no o than's7 pulle the )or'7 an passe the "ottle )losely

"eneath the man>s nostrils


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resol;e ne;er to appear at su)h a isa;antage again7 an ha ta'en to )arrying salts?though to

the "est o Grey>s 'no%lege7 his "rother ha ne;er a)tually resorte to them $e %as reasona"ly

sure that $al %oul preer this pre)aution not to "e pu"li) 'no%lege7 ho%e;er

s a)e ha suenly )on;ulse

thereater %ere so intent as to allo% no urther )on;ersation ith )ontinue appli)ation o salts7

)loths %rung out in %arm %ater an applie to the lim"s7 an?as returning )ons)iousness allo%e

?Eui)ious inusions o "rany7 the gentleman %as graually returne to a state o )ons)iousness7

though he remaine una"le to spea'7 an merely ro%ne in a pule %ay %hen spo'en to


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s state

o animation

lippe "a)' through the pages7 long#ingere an s%it7 inally is)o;ering %hat he %ante %ith a

small grunt o satisa)tion

s %ager Nathaniel 6%el;etrees7 Captain7 32n Footthis

%ere t%o more names7 )arelessly s)ra%le Arthur il"raham7 MPA))epte George

-ongstreet%or'e his tongue in an eort to regain enough sali;a to spea'7 an me)hani)ally note

the ate o the %ager * :uly7 1(41 A month ater his ather>s eath 6here %as no ini)ation that the

%ager ha e;er "een settle

t 'no%= -ongstreet %as regaring him %ith something li'e sympathy7 mi,e %ith

)uriosity


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sie s )hee's at that $e ha ha nothing to rin'7 "ut elt a rushing in his ears7 together

%ith that pe)uliar sense o eta)hment that sometimes )ame upon him ater too mu)h %ine7 as

though he %ere not responsi"le or the a)tions o his "oy

s eath7 Grey ha "een shippe o promptly to some o his mother>s

istant relati;es in A"ereen $e ha spent t%o grim years in that gray stone )ity7 uring %hi)h time

he ha seen his "rother only on)e

%hen he ha )ome "a)' to nglan7 $al ha "een ;irtually a stranger7 so preo))upie %ith the

"usiness o re )onstituting the regiment that he ha no time to spare or either riens or amily An


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then@%ell7 then he himsel ha met $e)tor7 an in the )ata)lysms o personal is)o;ery that

ollo%e that e;ent ha ha no attention to spare or anyone else7 either

"rothers ha only )ome to 'no% ea)h other again %hen Grey too' up his )ommission %ith the

regiment7 an is)o;ere that he share the amily taste an talent or soliering Certainly $al ha

not orgotten the %ager7 "ut as it ha plainly ne;er "een settle7 it %as )on)ei;a"le that it might not

ha;e o))urre to him to spea' o it7 years ater the a)t

7 %hat %as galling him %as not that $al ha ne;er mentione the %ager7 "ut the a)t that his "rother

ha ne;er tol him openly that he "elie;e their ather ha not "een a traitor Grey ha li;e on the

ta)it assumption that this %as the )ase7 "ut the matter ha ne;er "een mentione "et%een them?

an a )asual o"ser;er %oul ha;e ra%n Juite a ierent impression rom $al>s a)tions7 ta'ing

these as the eorts o a man to li;e o%n shame an s)anal7 repuiating his patrimony in the

pro)ess

a)t7 Grey amitte to himsel7 he ha only assume that $al share his aith in their ather "e)ausehe )oul not "ear to thin' other%ise I he %ere honest %ith himsel7 he must amit no% that i $al

ha not spo'en to him o the matter7 it %as as mu)h "e)ause he ha ne;er "rought it up as "e)ause

$al ha a;oie is)ussion $e ha "een arai to hear %hat he eare %as the truth that $al 'ne%

something unpleasant an )ertain a"out the u'e that he i not7 "ut ha spare him that 'no%lege

out o 'inness

it %as goo to is)o;er the truth o $al>s eelings no%7 any sense o relie he might ha;e elt in the

is)o;ery %as o"s)ure "y outrage 6he a)t that he 'ne% the outrage to "e largely unEustiie only

mae it %orse

o all %as a sense o sel#isgust7 a eeling that he ha %ronge $al?i only in his thoughts?an

anger at the sense that he ha "een "etraye into )ommitting inEusti)e

got up7 restless7 an stroe roun the room7 )areul to step sotly $is mother>s room lay "elo% his

)ouln>t e;en ha;e it out %ith $al7 as that %oul in;ol;e his amitting to ou"ts that he preerre to

'eep "urie7 parti)ularly no% that they ha "een ispro;e At least7 his ou"ts regaring $al ha

"een ispro;e As to his ather@%hat the e;il i that page rom the missing Eournal mean ho

ha let it An %hy ha his mother tol $al the u'e ha "urnt the Eournal7 %hen )learly he ha

not

glan)e at the loor "eneath his eet7 e"ating the %isom o going o%n an rousing his mother in

orer to as' her But $al ha %ishe to spea' to her alone Grey suppose that %as his right !till7 i

either one o them thought he %oul "e o""e o no% %ith urther e;asions or easy

reassuran)es@$e realie that he %as )len)hing his ists7 an opene them


36/377

goo reason nly eeling the nee to tou)h it

lai a han gently on the )o;er 8ough#tanne leather7 the pages se%n in It %as li'e all the u'e>s

Eournals7 mae to %ithstan tra;el an the ;i)issitues o )ampaign

@%at)he the Perseis all "eore the a%n t%ilight this morning7 %ith + an :ohn e lay upon

the la%n7 an )ounte more than si,ty meteors %ithin the spa)e o an hour7 at least a oen ;ery

"right7 %ith a ;isi"le tinge o "lue or green

repeate the senten)e to himsel7 ma'ing sure he ha it %or or %or 6hat %as the only senten)e

on the page $al ha "urne that mentione himsel "y name a nugget o gol

han>t remem"ere that night at all7 until the )asual re)or "rought it "a)' )ool amp rom the

la%n seeping through his )lothes7 e,)itement o;er)oming the pull o sleep an the longing or his

%arm "e 6hen the


37/377

the morning7 though7 a letter )ame

pronoun)e %ith her o%n a;an)ing pregnan)y 6hough Grey suppose that the ne%s that Gene;a

unsany ha perishe in gi;ing "irth %as "oun to ha;e a mor"i ee)t on a young %oman in

similar )onition

)oughe7 %ishing to istra)t his )ousin?an to 'eep his o%n eelings at "ay or the moment

s ;i;i imagination an outspo'en


38/377

emotions %ere perhaps "eginning to %ear upon his mother7 %ho %as 'in "ut not parti)ularly

patient


39/377

miair

7 ho% %as he to ans%er su)h a Juestion $e )hose the only possi"le a;enue7 that o stri)t a)tuality


40/377

s personal animus to%ar the :a)o"ites@he i not 'no% %hether li;ia ha e;er

"een tol anything pro"a"ly not It ha all happene long "eore she %as "orn7 an neither his

mother nor $al e;er spo'e o it7 he 'ne% rom e,perien)e ell7 it %as no "usiness o Grey>s toinorm li;ia o the gory etails o the amily s)anal $is mother an "rother %ere "oth

etermine to let the past "ury its ea7 an surely@


41/377

stoppe eating7 an e,traorinary apprehension ma'ing the hair pri)'le on his nape

!urely not But it ha "een the mention o Fraser an the %or


42/377

she turne an %as gone again 6horoughly unsettle7 he pi)'e up his )up7 oun the tea ha gone

)ol7 an ran' it Eust the same4

%as )hisping7 that am"iguous sort o pre)ipitation7 hal sno%7 not Juite rile Misshapen la'esell slo% an s)attere7 spirale through gray air an "rushe his a)e7 tiny )ol tou)hes so leeting

as not e;en to lea;e a sense o %etness in their %a'e ry tears7 he thought Appropriate to his sense

o istant mourning

pause at the ege o $aymar'et7 %aiting his )han)e to oge through the trai) o )a"s7 )arriages7

horses7 an han)arts It %as a long %al' he might ha;e rien7 )alle or a )hair7 or ta'en his

mother>s )arriage7 "ut he ha elt restless7 %anting air an mo;ement an the pro,imity o people

%ith %hom he nee not tal' Neeing time to prepare7 "eore he met Per)y ain%right again

%as sho)'e7 o )ourse $e ha 'no%n Gene;a sin)e her "irth A lo;ely girl7 %ith great )harm omanner an a light in her eyes !ome%hat spoilt7 though attra)ti;ely so7 an re)'less to a egree

!uper" on a horse $e %oul not ha;e "een surprise in the slightest to hear that she ha "ro'en her

ne)' in some hunting a))ient7 or ie in leaping a horse a)ross some angerous )hasm 6he sheer

orinariness o eath in )hil"irth@that seeme someho% %rong7 o"s)urely un%orthy o her

still remem"ere the o))asion %hen she ha gone riing %ith him7 )hallenge him to a ra)e7 an

%hen he e)line7 ha )almly unpinne her hat7 leane o;er7 an sma)'e his horse on the rump

%ith it7 then 'i)'e her o%n mount an gallope o7 lea;ing him to su"ue a pani)'e si,teen#han

geling7 then to pursue her at "rea'ne)' pa)e o;er the ro)'y ells a"o;e $el%ater $e %as a goo

horseman?"ut he> ne;er )aught her

though still )hallenge "y the memory7 he plunge into the street an ashe a)ross the )o""les7

u)'ing uner the startle nose o a hurtling )a" horse7 an arri;e at the other sie7 heart pouning

an the )a""ie>s )urses ringing in his ears

turne o%n !t Martin>s -ane7 eeling the "loo thrum in his ears an ingers7 %ith that hal#

shameul sense o pleasure in "eing ali;e that %as sometimes the response to ne%s o eath7 or the

sight o it

)oul not yet thin' o her as ea Perhaps he %oul not until he rea)he $el%ater7 an oun

himsel amongst her amily7 %al'ing through the pla)es that ha 'no%n her $e trie to en;ision

her7 "ut oun that her a)e ha ae rom his memory7 though he 'ept a strong sense o her orm7

lithe in a "ro%n ha"it7 )hestnut#haire an Jui)' as a o,

suenly7 he %onere %hether he )oul re)all Per)y ain%right>s a)e $e ha spent all o a t%o#

hour lun)heon the ay "eore yesteray in gaing at it7 "ut %as suenly unsure An mu)h o the

se)on hour in imagining the orm that lay "eneath the neat "lue suit he %as more sure o that7 an

his heart spe up in anti)ipation

he sa% in his min>s eye7 though7 %as another a)e7 another orm7 ;i;i as lame among the amp

greens an grays o the ells $e sa% it7 the long7 suspi)ious nose7 the narro%e eyes hostile as a

leopar>s7 as though the man himsel stoo "eore him7 an the pleasant thrum o his "loo )hange


43/377

at on)e to something eeper an more ;is)eral

realie no% that the ;ision ha sprung up in him at on)e7 the moment his mother ha spo'en the

%ors7 s a)e seeme to spring smiling out o the

imness7 ;i;i as though he sat "y a )anle lame7 an the isJuieting %raith o :amie Fraser

isappeare at on)e rom Grey>s min


44/377

t mention that7 an neither i he

as'e the usual so)ial Juestions no%?i ain%right go oten to -ay :onas>s salons Grey ha

not yet ha the pleasure $o% i Mr ain%right in the )ompany there7 "y )omparison %ith

other su)h gatherings?mean%hile thin'ing that the late -ay !tanley must ha;e "een ;ery

"eautiul inee7 Euging "y her son

I ou"t e,tremely that I am the irst man to ha;e noti)e that7 he thought Is there anyone@

he hesitate7 Per)y ga;e him a ire)t loo' an put the Juestion that %as in the oreront o his o%n

min


45/377

elt a slight easing7 or the as'ing o the Juestion ans%ere it7 so ar as he %as himsel )on)erne i

ain%right %ere in the ha"it o reJuenting -a;ener $ouse7 he %oul 'no% that Grey %as not

ran' o his )oee in a gulp an rose7 rea)hing or his )loa' %ith one han7 e;en as he set o%n

his )up %ith the other

%alls o the Bal"oa %ere plastere %ith tri;ia or the eii)ation o patronsante noti)es7 these

a;ertising a nee or e;erything rom si, tonnes o pig lea or a shiploa o Negroes7 to a

)ompany ire)tor o goo name an soli inan)es %ho might assume the leaership o a legling

irm engaging in the sale o gentlemen>s ne)essaries?%hether these might in)lue snu"o,es7

sto)'ings7 or )onoms %as not mae )lear

)asually at the ne% )rop o postings as they mae their %ay to the oor7 though7 Grey>s eye )aught a


46/377

amiliar name in the healine o a resh "roasheet A6$ I!C+87 rea the large type

stoppe short7 the name Foul'es leaping out o the smaller ne%sprint at him

to see %hether anything o %hat $al ha tol him ha mae it into the pu"li) press $e tosse a

sil;er ha>penny to the proprietor an too' the "roasheet7 oling it an stuing it into his po)'et

6ime enough or su)h things later

7 the )hisping ha stoppe7 "ut the s'y hung lo% an hea;y7 an there %as a sense o stillness in theair7 the earth a%aiting more sno% Alone7 a%ay rom the "u o the )oeehouse7 there %as a

suen small sense o intima)y "et%een them


47/377

'no%n that !till7 he %oul ha;e preerre to 'eep this irst meeting or

themsel;es7 %ith no intrusions rom either past or present


48/377


49/377


50/377

s sense o

a;enture7 %hi)h %as a)ute= $e )ouln>t help a "rie smile at thought o some o those a;entures

t at all sure that he %ishe to o that?his oer o a )arriage ha "een "ase as mu)h on a

suen esire to a"anon the )on;ersation or the moment as on a esire to sa;e Mr ain%right


51/377

rom a )hille li;er But he> meant it ain%right ha a right to 'no%7 an might "etter hear the

etails rom him than rom someone %ho hel the late u'e in less esteem

to e,ploit pu"li) eeling a"out the !outh !ea Bu""le "y staging a !tuart in;asion an ethroning the'ing7 in >22 Banishe7 though7 not e,e)ute=


52/377

path ha le them to $ye Par'7 or the most ire)t %ay to -ay :onas>s house lay straight a)ross it

6hey %ere no% %ell %ithin the par'7 an Grey gesture to the %ie spa)es all aroun them7 empty

an esolate

227 $is MaEesty in pani) orere ten thousan troops to -onon7

to saeguar the )ity 6hey %ere Juartere here?in the par' My ather tol me o it he sai the

smo'e o their ires %as thi)'er than the morning og7 an the sten)h %as ines)ri"a"le

Con;enient7 though the amily house stans on the ege o the par'?Eust "eyon those trees= $e

gesture to%ar it7 %ith a "rie smile at the memory7 then %ent on

s heir An it )ame to nothing in the en Corn"ury %as not e;en imprisone?merely

let o meling in politi)s= $e smile again7 though %ithout humor

>s lo%er teeth %ere i,e in his upper lip $e shoo' his hea slo%ly

t tell me Corn"ury %as also an intimate o your ather>s=


53/377


54/377

s o%n reputation any goo to ha;e his goson>s ather pu"li)ly enoun)e as a traitor Not

at su)h a eli)ate point in his o%n aairs

"ear a tainte title7 an has e;er sin)e reuse to use it $e i %ish to renoun)e it )ompletely7 "ut

)oul not "y la%=

ga;e a short laugh

Prin)e>s arri;al in the $ighlans

s ol regiment7 spent a ortune in

re)onstituting it7 an mar)he o to the $ighlans in the ser;i)e o the 'ing 6he 'ing %as in no

position to reuse su)h ser;i)e7 any more than his ather ha "een %hen my ather i the same

thing thirty years "eore=

sai nothing o the immensity o $al>s eort At the time7 he ha "een "arely iteen an ignorant7

not only o the true imensions o the s)anal7 "ut o his "rother>s response to it nly no%7 loo'ing

"a)'7 )oul he appre)iate the tremenous energy an almost mania)al single#mineness that ha

ena"le $al to o %hat he> one

7 grimly intent upon restoring the amily>s lost honor7 ha met the $ighlaners?an eeat?%ith

Cope at Prestonpans ent on to hol his o%n in the less e)isi;e "attle at Fal'ir'?an then at

Culloen@

>s ;oi)e rie in his throat7 an he pause7 mouth %or'ing to in a little sali;a


55/377

sight o -ay :onas>s house he )oul see guests )oming in ones an t%os7 "eing %el)ome at the

oor "y the "utler

unspo'en )onsent7 they stoppe7 a little %ay o%n the street ain%right turne to a)e him7 his

eyes still %arm7 "ut serious

)olor %as high7 an %hile he hane his )loa' to the "utler %ith aplom"7 he loo'e Jui)'ly roun

the ra%ing room to %hi)h they %ere ta'en7 as though sear)hing or a)Juaintan)e7 then glan)e

"a)' at Grey un)ertainly $is a)e "rightene7 though7 as he spotte their hostess7 an he hastene

or%ar7 Grey in his %a'e

"o%e to -ay :onas7 an introu)e Grey to her she greete them 'inly7 "ut %ith that air o

istra)tion that attens a hostess in sear)h o more#istinguishe guests 6hey 'isse her han in

turn an retire to the rin's ta"le

t o this oten7 o you= Grey murmure to Per)y


56/377

to meet Colonel Luarry But -ay :onas apologie most gra)eully7 as'e my name?she 'ne% the

general7 o )ourse?an ene "y in;iting me to her salon7 %ith any rien I might )hoose to "ring

!he sai=?Per)y "lushe7 a;oiing Grey>s eye?


57/377

rigate= or a %oman o easy ;irtue

t go into an al)o;e %ith her7= Grey murmure "a)'7 alreay noing an smiling at the

approa)hing lay ll ha;e her han in your "ree)hes "eore you )an say?-ay Be;erleyO 9ourser;ant7 maam?may I present you my ne% step"rother7 Per)i;al ain%right=

the hint o hesitation in Per)y>s eye7 he graspe -ay Be;erley>s trailing han an 'isse it7 thus

signaling to Per)y that7 yes7 she %as marrie7 reputation not%ithstaning7 then gra)eully

relinJuishe the appenage to ain%right or the "esto%al o his o%n homage

s han irmly trappe "et%een her el"o%

an her yello% sil' "oi)e7 an %as to%ing him purposeully to%ar the rereshment ta"le7 still

tal'ing

)ast Grey a %ie#eye loo'7 an Grey s'et)he a small salute in return7 suppressing a smile At least

ain%right ha "een %arne An i he too' )are to 'eep -ay Be;erley out in the pu"li) ;ie%7 she

%oul "e goo )ompany Alreay she ha ra%n him into the )ir)le aroun the guest o honor7

%hi)h she )let li'e the 8e !ea7 an %as introu)ing him to the Fren)h philosopher

rela,e a "it7 seeing that Per)y seeme a"le to hol his o%n7 an eli"erately turne his "a)'7 not to

em"arrass his ne% relation %ith unue s)rutiny


58/377

pun)h !arines on toast r ha you in min something more in the %ay o apes7 i;ory7 an

pea)o)'s=

seen the "oo'7 o )ourse7 "ut ha

one no more than lip through an illustrate )opy7 loo'ing or the pi)tures?%hi)h %ere

inierently e,e)ute Perhaps the te,t %as "etter


59/377

most ortunately I sa% you= !he loo'e o;er her shouler at the group "y the %ino%7 then "a)' at

Grey


60/377


61/377

s stepson?%as a minister o some

'in Family poor as )hur)h mi)e7 I gather 6he general has settle a small sum upon him7 "ut he

has no property=

humme again7 "ut %ith less appro;al


62/377

room "ue %ith )on;ersation an the e,)itement o a su))essul salon7 "ut a rea' o soun

"rought him ierot>s ;oi)e )learly?nasal7 li'e all Fren)hmen7 "ut ri)h an pleasant $e seeme to

"e spea'ing o his %ie

only material o a spiritually upliting sort?)ommentaries upon the Bi"le7 the %or's o?hahaO?

Bur'e an the li'e=

num"er o his listeners laughe %ith him7 though mun Bur'e %as popular

I )an o"tain 6he ;alue o the lesson is there"y ou"le7 as she not only hears the stories7 "ut then

reports e;ery etail again in horror to her riensO=

gust o laughter resulte rom that7 o"liging Grey to signal his esire to the ser;ant at the

rereshment ta"le7 %ho noe unerstaning an ga;e him a sil;er )up o pun)h an a small plate

o sa;ories Balan)ing these %ith the "oo' o poetry7 he mae his %ay "a)' a)ross the room7 only to

in -u)ina :orey alreay supplie %ith rereshment "y a ne% es)ort7 %hom he re)ognie as an

inluential Mem"er o Parliament

li)'e a glan)e at him o;er the MP>s shouler7 an mae a slight gesture %ith her an7 %hi)h he

interprete as a signal that she %as engage in )oniential transa)tion $e noe unerstaning

an retreate to a )on;enient %ino% lege7 %here he sat in the shelter o the amas' raperies an

)onsume the sa;ories himsel %ith enEoyment7 mean%hile o"ser;ing the e"" an lo% o so)iety

ha not "een in the -onon tie or some time7 an oun it pleasant to sit an hear the grossest

tri;ialities mingle %ith the lotiest o philosophi)al ieas7 an to %at)h the so)ial )ommer)e "eing

)onu)te uner his nose?mat)hes mae an unmae7 "usiness )onne,ions orge an un)ouple7

a;ors gi;en7 a)'no%lege7 an trae An politi)s7 o )ourse?al%ays politi)s?tal'e to eath

amist e,pressions o outrage or appro"ation7 epening upon the )ompany

yet he 'ne% there %as real po%er here7 )oul eel the pulse o it thro""ing "eneath the )hatter an

)lothes For most o those present7 su)h salons %ere %hat they seeme a sour)e o entertainment at%orst7 at "est a )han)e to "e seen7 perhaps to "e ta'en up an mae the ;ogue o the moment But in

the Juiet )orners7 things %ere sai that ha the potential to alter li;es?perhaps to ae)t the )ourse

o history

it in su)h pla)es that his o%n parents> ates ha "een seale It %as at an e;ening musi)ale that his

mother7 a young %io%7 ha "een introu)e to his ather7 he 'ne% hy ha he "een there Gerar

Grey ha no ear or musi) $a he )ome or the sa'e o politi)s an met lo;e una%are r ha his

mother "een part o it7 e;en then

> hear the story o his parents> meeting oten as a )hil it ha "een at her "rother>s house $ismother ha three "rothers7 an a great Juantity o ill#eine )ousins7 hal )ousins7 an persons %ho

%ere no "loo relation "ut hel the status o "rothers7 ha;ing "een ostere "y the amily in that


63/377

pe)uliar )ustom o the !)ottish aristo)ra)y

un)le %as ea no%7 another li;ing in e,ile in Fran)e 6he thir ha retreate to his Borer ortress7

ar rom the pu"li) eye !ome )ousins ha sur;i;e the s)anal7 others ha not Politi)s %as a ris'y

game7 an the sta'es %ere high?sometimes mortal

elt the shi;er o a goose )rossing his gra;e7 an shoo' it o7 Juaing the pun)h in one s%allo% $e

han>t thought o these things in years7 eli"erately But it %as his amily history Per)y shoul "e

tol7 as mu)h or his o%n saety as anything else7 i he %as to mo;e in so)iety?an plainly he

%ishe to I there %as a pu"li) )onne,ion "et%een himsel an Grey@!ome people ha long

memories

s)anne the a)es o the )ro%7 "ut lu)'ily sa% no one against %hom Per)y nee "e %arne Eust yet

rom his hiing pla)e7 he nearly )ollie %ith ierot7 heaing purposeully or the pissoirs "ehin

the s)reen at the en o the room

s arms to 'eep their eet7 smile an spo'e

together7 then laughe

philosopher>s a)e gleame %ith s%eat7 an he moppe )arelessly at his orehea %ith a slee;e

Grey pulle his han'er)hie rom his po)'et to oer it7 an elt something all at his eet

s ire)tion7 an he realie that Per)y ain%right ha )ome up

"esie him7 loo'ing )urious


64/377

though Juite ignorant o the )ause

)oul not in )ountenan)e Eoin M ierot to e,plain7 not %ith all eyes i,e upon that en o the

room?ierot %as no% louly e)laiming one o the ;erses7 e;iently or the eii)ation o

another gentleman %hose hea Grey "riely glimpse a"o;e the ege o the s)reen 8ipples o

outright laughter %ere running through the room7 an Grey )aught sight o -u)ina :orey7 open

an presse o;er her mouth7 eyes %ie in %hat might "e hilarity or horror $e in>t %ish to in out

%hi)h

s go= $e seie Per)y "y the arm7 an %ith the "arest o "o%s to -ay :onas7 they mae a

hurrie es)ape

7 it ha "egun to sno% in earnest 6hey stoppe7 "reathless7 to struggle into their great)oats an

)loa's in the shelter o the trees at the ege o $ye Par'

s a)e all


65/377

s amily7 an

%hom he hope might "e a rien not some attra)ti;e7 anonymous "oy %hom he %oul ne;er see

again $e %ishe ;ery mu)h to o the thing?"ut e;en more7 to o it properly

s una;aila"ility meant that his o%n e;ening %as ree

hi)h in turn meant that he )oul go an "ear $al no%7 rather than in the morning7 an thus not

elay his eparture or $el%ater I the sno% 'ept pelting o%n li'e this7 he might not ma'e it out

o -onon in any )ase

turne into the par'7 hea "ent against the "lo%ing sno% -ay :onas>s house lay near the parae


66/377

groun7 Eust past the Gros;enor Gate7 %hile the Greys> amily manor7 Argus $ouse7 %as nearly

iagonal rom it7 on the ege o the par' near the "arra)'s It %as nearly a mile a)ross open groun7

%ithout the shelter o "uilings to "rea' the %in7 "ut aster than going roun "y the roa An his

"loo %as sui)iently %arm %ith %ine an e,)itement as to sa;e him reeing to eath

memory o the pleasure o Per)y ain%right>s )ompany?an spe)ulations "ase on the

urtheran)e o their a)Juaintan)e?%ere nearly enough to istra)t him rom the prospe)t o the

impening )on;ersation %ith $al?"ut not Juite

the ol s)anals leaing to his ather>s eath or Per)y ha "een painul7 "ut in the %ay that lan)ing

an a"s)ess is painul he elt surprisingly the "etter or it nly %ith the lan)ing i he realie ho%

eeply an ho% long the thing ha estere in him

eeling o relie no% em"olene him $e %as no longer a t%el;e#year#ol "oy7 ater all7 to "e

prote)te or lie to or his o%n goo hate;er se)ret %as sti)'ing in $al>s )ra% no%7 he )oul

"looy %ell )ough it up

s)ent o smo'e )ut through the air7 a)ri an heartening %ith its promise o heat !urprise7 he

loo'e or the sour)e7 an mae out a aint glo% in the gathering ar' 6here %ere e% people in the

par'?most o the poor %ho s)rape a li;ing "egging or stealing near the par' ha gone to shelter in

alley%ays an night )ellars7 )ro%ing into ilthy "ooing 'ens or garrets i they ha a penny to

spare7 huling in )hur)h por)hes or uner %alls i they ha not But %ho in his right min %oul

)amp in the open uring a sno%storm

altere his path enough to in;estigate7 an oun the glo% )ame rom a )lay irepot "urning in the

lee o a )rue lean#to7 proppe against a tree 6he lean#to %as eserte?%as7 in a)t7 too small toshelter anything larger than a og $e ha no more than an instant to thin' this o7 %hen instin)t

mae him turn an loo' "ehin

%ere t%o o them7 one %ith a )lu"7 the other unarme

shapes7 "la)' an ragge7 hun)he uner split "urlap sa)'s that )o;ere heas an shoulers7 hiing

their a)es

t %orn a s%or to the salon $e i ha;e his a))ustome agger7 though7 %orn "eneath his

%aist)oat


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agger %as not the %eapon o )hoi)e %hen a)ing someone arme %ith a )lu"7 "ut it %as %hat he

ha $e "a)'e slo%ly7 Ea""ing the "lae at them7 hoping to a)Juire enough istan)e to turn an run

"eore they )harge him

his surprise7 they seeme turne to stone at his %ors

s him7 so >tisO= one o them hisse to the other t see the "uilings through the trees7 ar' as it %as "y no% At a guess7

the >$igginses ha )ome to i)e an rin' %ith riens Juartere there?or to atten some so)ial

e;ent su)h as a )o)'ight?an realiing a suen nee or )ash7 ha impro;ise in their usual

slipsho "ut imaginati;e manner

his hea7 he 'i)'e the irepot o;er an s)attere the glo%ing )oals7 %hi)h hisse re an ie in

the sno% $e> eal %ith the >$igginses in the morning

the time he rea)he the !erpentine roa7 he %as thi)'ly plastere %ith sno%7 his "loo ha )hille

appre)ia"ly7 an he %as "eginning to regret not ha;ing pi)'e the irepot up an ta'en it %ith him7

the etriment to his appearan)e not%ithstaning espite his glo;es7 his ingers ha gone num"7 as

ha his a)e7 an the stiness o his )hee's remine him o the man lying on the pa;ement outsie

hite>s the night "eore

royal s%an#'eepers ha remo;e the s%ans or the %inter7 an the la'e %as roen7 "ut not so har

that he %oul trust his %eight to it Co;ere %ith sno%7 sot pat)hes %oul "e in;isi"le7 an all he

neee no% %as to )rash through the i)e an "e su"merge in reeing %ater an e)aying

u)'%ee !ighing7 he turne let to ma'e his %ay roun the la'e

7 perhaps he %oul remem"er to as' $al %hether the man>s ientity an ate ha "een etermine7

on)e the other matter %as settle An %hile he %as as'ing@the e;ents o the aternoon ha almost


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mae him orget his mother>s o "eha;ior at "rea'ast In the sho)' o learning o Gene;a>s eath7

he ha not at on)e thought o )onne)ting her rea)tion to the mention o :amie Fraser %ith the

appearan)e o the Eournal page in $al>s oi)e7 "ut rom his present perspe)ti;e7 it seeme not only

li'ely7 "ut pro"a"le

$al spo'en to her alreay7 then I he ha )ome to :ermyn !treet7 he ha one so ;ery

surreptitiously7 either late the night "eore or ;ery early in the morning No Not late7 or Grey7

ste%ing "y his %ino%7 %oul ha;e seen him An not early his mother ha "een in her %rapper at

"rea'ast7 "lin'ing an ya%ning as %as her morning ha"it7 )learly resh rom her "e

thought stru)' him perhaps his mother ha also re)ei;e a page rom his ather>s missing Eournal

Perhaps in the morning post $e slo%e a little7 "oots "eginning to )run)h in the in)h o sno% that

no% )o;ere the groun $a she opene another letter7 ater the one rom -ay unsany $e

)oul not remem"er his attention ha "een o)use on li;ia

thought o another page ille him %ith simultaneous alarm an e,)itement It %oul a))ount or hismother>s suen agitation7 an her ;iolent rea)tion to the mention o his :a)o"ite prisoner An i

su)h a thing ha arri;e this morning7 $al li'ely in>t 'no% a"out it yet

surge o "loo "urnt his roen )hee's $e "rushe a%ay the la'es that )lung melting to his lashes7

an stroe through the eepening sno% %ith rene%e etermination

%as the more startle an is)omite to "e greete at the oor "y $al>s "utler %ith the ne%s that

his "rother ha gone to Bath

li'e=


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%as elaye or a "it7 though7 in a;or o a ;isit to the nursery !i,#year#ol BenEamin an i;e#

year#ol Aam %ere so rau)ously please to see their un)le that three#year#ol $enry %as rouse

rom sleep an shrie'e to Eoin the un $al an hour o playing 'nights an ragon?Grey %as

allo%e to "e the ragon7 %hi)h let him roar an "reathe ire7 "ut )ompelle him to ie

ignominiously on the hearthrug7 sta""e through the heart %ith a ruler?let him in mu)h "etter

temper7 "ut monstrously hungry

s nees7 she in>t trou"le him %ith )on;ersation until he ha inishe the ish

pie7 a plate o )ol ham %ith pi)'le onions an gher'ins7 some e,)ellent )heese7 an a large

helping o trea)le puing7 ollo%e "y )oee


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t hear any e)ent gossip in %ee's7 an he hies the

ne%spapers?earing7 no ou"t7 that I %ill rea some luri )onessional rom 6y"urn $ill7 an the

)hil "e "orn %ith a noose roun its ne)'=

laughe?though %ith the "elate memory o the "roasheet in his )oat po)'et7 elt that his "rother

might "e %ell a;ise in the matter o ne%spapers7 at least $e o"ligingly re)ounte his e,perien)es

at -ay :onas>s salon7 though7 in)luing the in)ient o the !u"#Genius>s "oo' o ;erse7 %hi)h

mae Minnie laugh so har that she )ho'e on her )oee an %as o"lige to "e poune on the

"a)' "y the "utler

t in7 an I %as "ore7 so

in;ite her to stay to tea=

s lay= Grey repeate in surprise


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t she>s his mistress7= she sai ran'ly7 then laughe at his e,pression t tell me you

are sho)'e7 :ohn=

%as7 "ut not entirely or the reasons she suppose


72/377

t e;en 'no% %here he is7 poor thing= Minnie>s %ie7 air "ro% )rin'le in pity


73/377

he let at last7 she stoo a#tiptoe at the oor to 'iss his )hee'7 then loo'e up at him %ith

una))ustome gra;eness

t "ear another man to %orry a"out?going o to the ens o the earth to

"e )ut to pie)es or ie o lu, an plague7 %ret)he )reatures that you are= !he %as still smiling7

"ut he hear the tremor in her ;oi)e7 an tou)he her shouler gently

t tol him yet=


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$al ha sai he %oul spea' %ith their mother a"out the page i she ha re)ei;e another7 she

%oul presuma"ly tell him An Grey ha e;ery intention o spea'ing %ith the )ountess himsel

upon his return rom $el%ater

%as putting o%n his Juill %hen he re)olle)te the matter o the >$igginses7 an %ith a sigh7 too'

it up again7 this time to %rite a "rie note to Captain ilmot7 uner %hose authority the

>$igginses theoreti)ally ell?though in a)t7 he %as pri;ately in)line to )onsier them more a

or)e o nature than properly is)ipline parts o a military engine

s stoppe sno%ing7 me lorO= 6om Byr>s ;oi)e )ame aintly to him7 an he glan)e asie7 to see

his ;alet>s lo%er hal protruing rom the open %ino% A )ol rat %oun its %ay a"out his an'les

li'e a ghostly )at7 "ut the %in ha ie ;iently the storm ha passe

)ame to stan "ehin 6om7 %ho pulle his hea in7 re#)hee'e rom the )ol ;erything outsie%as still7 pure an pea)eul in a "lan'et o %hite $e s)oope a "it o resh sno% rom the

%ino%sill %ith his inger an ate it7 enEoying the granular eel o it on his tongue as it melte7 an

the aint taste o soot an metal that it seeme to )arry 6here %as no more than an in)h or t%o upon

the sill7 an the s'y %as no% )lear7 a )ol eep ;iolet7 ull o stars

ll "e "oun7= 6om sai %ith satisa)tion s is)are great)oat7 )oat7 an %aist)oat7 an %as

turning out the po)'ets in his usual methoi)al ashion7 putting loose )oins into Grey>s po)'et"oo'7

tossing )rumple han'er)hies into a pile o irty linen7 setting asie loose "uttons to "e se%n on7

an loo'ing as'an)e at ;arious o the other items )ontaine therein

s a prit)hel7= Grey sai helpully7 seeing 6om>s "ro%s go up o;er a small pointe metal

implement


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%as only t%o or three in)hes7 "ro'en rom the pointe en

ro%ne7 trying to thin' %here on earth he ha a)Juire the ragment It %as true he ha a ha"it o

stuing things un)ons)iously into his po)'ets7 as %ell as a ha"it o pi)'ing up small o"Ee)ts an

turning them o;er in his ingers %hile tal'ing to people 6he result "eing that he not inreJuently

)ame home %ith the pro)ees o ina;ertent petty thet in his po)'ets7 an %as o"lige to return the

items ;ia 6om

e,amine a small pe""leli'e o"Ee)t )riti)ally7 snie it7 an etermining it to "e a lump o sugar

rom the Bal"oa7 thritily ate it "eore pi)'ing another o"Ee)t out o a hanul o sJuashe papers

un>s -or Melton>s7= he sai7 holing up a Masoni) ring

"een %ith him toay=

t )ommon7 an su)h persons as he 'ne% o that "ent generally isplaye a se,ual

inis)rimina)y that seeme at os %ith the notion o su)h a settle relationship as the %or


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see his ;alet ho;ering7 arms ille %ith irty linen an hea;y#eye7 o";iously longing or his "e

s

Eournal rom his es' s )ir)umstan)es $arry 'ne% e;eryone7 an li'e Minnie An $arry %as a

sui)iently intimate rien that he )oul %rite "luntly o the matter7 %ithout ni)eties or

)ir)umspe)tions

me %or o your is)o;eries as %ell7 i you %ill7 he %rote7 an ae the ire)tion or $el%ater

he presse the hal#moon signet he %ore on his right han into the sealing %a,7 he noti)e that

$al>s Masoni) ring an the "ro'en prit)hel still lay on his es' $e pi)'e up the ring an rolle it

ily "et%een his palms7 trying to thin' i there %ere any urther missi;es that might )ome "et%een

himsel an "e

momentary urge to %rite to Per)y ain%right li)'ere in his "rain?only a line7 to e,press regretor his a"sen)e7 a rene%e esire to meet upon his return?"ut the )hur)h "ells %ere tolling the

hour o minight7 an his min ha gro%n so atigue that he ou"te his a"ility to put o%n e;en

su)h a "rie sentiment )oherently

hans rela,e7 an the Masoni) ring rolle into his let palm7 )lin'ing against his o%n ring

$e)tor>s sapphire

share Grey>s ner;ous ha"it o iling %ith things as he tal'e7 "ut %as most gi;en to ta'ing his

rings on an o?this %asn>t the irst time he> lost one Grey7 in )ontrast7 ne;er remo;e his rings7

sa;e to %ash

turne his )lose han7 so the sapphire glinte in the )anlelight7 a sot7 true "lue 6he )olor o

$e)tor>s eyes

you min he thought suenly A"out Per)y It %as impulse he e,pe)te no reply7 an re)ei;e

none

an then he %ishe arently that he ha aith in a mer)iul Go an an aterlie in %hi)h the ea

might li;e on?:amie Fraser ha su)h aith "urne %ith it7 in a %ay that e,)ite "oth Grey>s

)uriosity an his en;y But Grey %as a rationalist $e a))epte the e,isten)e o Go7 "ut ha no

)on;i)tion o the nature o su)h a "eing7 an no sense that his )reator too' a personal interest in

him :ust as %ell7 )onsiering


77/377

li)'e $al>s ring ily onto his o%n mile inger?%here it sli o%n7 hanging loosely roun his

'nu)'le

ro%ne at it or a moment7 eeling something o"s)urely %rong7 "ut not realiing %hat 6hen his

han )urle tight in rele,

"rother>s hans %ere the same sie as his o%n they routinely too' ea)h other>s glo;es in mista'e

$al %ore his ring on his o%n mile inger rgo7 it %asn>t $al>s ring

too' it o an turne it o;er7 sJuinting in the )anlelight7 "ut there %as no ins)ription %ithin7 no

mar' o o%nership $e %as not a Freemason himsel7 "ut ha many riens %ho %ere this %as a

)ommon style o ring


78/377

upon him7 a strange )ontent

he ha loo'e into those eyes7 "een a)'no%lege "y them?then he )oul return to the house7 go

a"out his "usiness7 ma'e )on;ersation %ith other people It %as as though he %as an,ious7 lest the

%orl ha;e )hange in his a"sen)e7 then reassure that it ha not :amie Fraser still stoo at its

)enter

it "e that %ay again It shouln>t "e Ater all7 there %as Per)y ain%right no%7 to i;ert his

attention7 engage his interest An yet@he noe to 6om7 an turne his horse>s hea into the

%ining roa that le up%ar to $el%ater7 eeling an a)hing in his )hest7 as though the )ol air

presse upon it

shouln>t "e7 he repeate silently to himsel

yet@

unsany ha "een iminishe "y his aughter>s eath 6he eath o his son uring the 8ising ha

age him suenly7 runnels appearing in the lesh o his a)e li'e ry ;alleys )ar;e "y unshe

tears 9et the ol no"leman ha stoo li'e a ro)' then7 strength or his %ie an aughters

@unsany stoo to greet Grey7 %ho %as so mu)h alarme "y his appearan)e that he roppe his

hat on the loor o the li"rary an hurrie to em"ra)e his rien7 mo;e as mu)h "y ear that

unsany %oul )rumple an all as "y share grie

ol man>s %ig "rushe his )hee'7 rough an unpo%ere surely unsany ha "een taller7 "eore

6he earl>s arms %ere still irm they )lut)he Grey %ith esperate strength7 an he elt a eep

su"terranean Jui;er run through the esi))ate "oy presse to his

s hat )rushe in his hans an istress at his employer>s )onition plain on his a)e

s ee"le protest that it %as "arely noon


79/377

s "oy

s "etter= $e pulle another )hair up to the hearth an sat o%n7 ru""ing his hans %ith

ae)te "ris'ness7 mean%hile %onering %hat on earth to say

sa;e him the trou"le

s sie?yet as they spo'e7 he "e)ame a%are that the esolate eel o the room

%as not ue entirely to the meager ire It %as )lean an orerly7 "ut its usual %arm appeal?ue

largely to the "its o )lutter an )areless ornament that -ay unsany stre%e in her %a'e?ha

Juite gone


80/377

s han %ith

gentle insisten)e 6he ol man stoo "lin'ing at it7 as though he ha ne;er seen su)h a thing "eore

$e i not loo' at his %ie or aughter

"e)ame a%are7 in the mist o this tumult7 that -or unsany>s es)ription o his %ie ha "een

neither amiring nor metaphori)al he ha "een stating a physi)al a)t -ay unsany %as a ro)'

!he a))epte his em"ra)e7 "ut i not yiel to it


81/377

s %elare ha not "een her )hie

)on)ern 9es7 something %as Juite %rong here7 "eyon the tragey o Gene;a>s eath

is all my ault7 -or unsany ha "lurte

"egan to unerstan his o%n role here $e %as neutral groun7 no#man>s#lan r e;eryone>s

i not appear at tea7 later

)ome= !he i her "est to smile at him7 "ut it %as a ghastly attempt

m sure that on)e the uneral is o;er@= !he traile o an her a)e seeme to )ollapse upon

itsel7 as though the thought o the uneral oppresse her physi)ally

"egan to ha;e an o eeling7 as the e;ening re% in 6he unsanys ha al%ays "een a )lose an

ae)tionate amily7 an he %as not surprise that they shoul "e eeply ae)te "y Gene;a>s eath

$e ha 'no%n them in su)h ali)tion "eore7 %hen Goron ie But on that o))asion7 their grie

ha "een share7 the mem"ers o the amily ra%ing together7 supporting ea)h other in their

mourning

no% $e sat "et%een his host an hostess at the tea ta"le7 an might as %ell ha;e sat on the eJuator7

"et%een t%o roen poles o i)e an sno% Both spo'e pleasantly an %ith great )ourtesy?to him

at)hing )areully7 he thought that the )onstraint "et%een them %as )ompose o a sense o "lame

on her part7 )learly guilt on his?"ut %hy

ha "een )ol7 he thought7 sin)e the moment o his arri;al 6here %as a goo ire7 o )ourse7 hot tea7

)oee7 toaste "rea?"ut the )hill o the ay7 the house7 an the )ompany mortiie his "ones


82/377

that %oul not a"ie his return $e too' the ole paper rom -ay unsany7 e,pe)ting to see

either $al>s Eaggely impatient lettering7 or his mother>s untiy s)ra%l?no one in the amily %rote

%ith any gra)e at all?"ut the ire)tion %as in an unamiliar han7 roun an )lear

seal %as plain he "ro'e it7 ro%ning?an then elt an e,traorinary %armth lo% through him7

rea)hing e;en his )hille toes

%as no salutation 6he note %as "rieha %ishe to sen you a sonnet7 "ut I am no poet7 an %oul

not "orro% someone else>s %ors?not e;en the ;erses o your rien the !u"#Genius7 ille %ith

meaning as they areI %ish you %ell in your erran o )ompassion I hope it may "e Jui)'ly

ulille7 an your Eourney home a))omplishe e;en more Jui)'lyI )annot stop thin'ing o

youstare at this in astonishment7 "ro'en only %hen -or unsany "ent7 grunting slightly7 to pi)'

up something rom the )arpet near his eet

s oer to see him to his room ater tea he 'ne% the house %ell $is path too'

him past the nursery7 though7 an he %as surprise to see the oor staning open7 a strong rat

"lo%ing out o it that stirre the rapes on the %ino% on the other sie o the hall%ay

in7 he at irst thought the room empty 6he oor to an inner room7 ou"tless %here the )hil an his


83/377

nurse slept7 %as shut the outer room still sho%e its history as s)hoolroom to the unsany )hilren

A long7 s)arre ta"le stoo against one %all7 shel;es ull o ragge7 mu)h#lo;e "oo's against

another7 an ae maps o the %orl7 nglan7 an her )olonies luttere imly in the light o a

guttering rush ip per)he "esie the oor 6he %ino% on the ar sie o the room %as open7 pale

)urtains "illo%ing7 an he hurrie to )lose it

gust o %in )arrie the )urtains sie%ays or an instant7 though7 an he sa% the slight igure

staning in the %ino%7 her hair an s'irts as%irl in the %in


84/377

"elo% his )hin


85/377

an I>ll tea)h you to shoot )lay pigeons 6hey "rea' ;ery ni)ely=

%ipe a han "eneath her nose7 li'e a small )hil $e ishe a han'er)hie out o his slee;e an

hane it to her


86/377

o%n

amily s)anal $o% long ha 6om 'no%n a"out it he %onere

t7 no= !o that %as %hat %as "ehin at least some o the unsanys> agitation s eath?or rather7 he )oul No one ha spo'en o

the late earl7 or his untimely an )oin)iental emise All the tal' %as o Gene;a none o theunsany househol ha mentione the earl or his uneral at all7 an he ha un)ons)iously assume

that it ha alreay ta'en pla)e


87/377


88/377

t matter %hat $e )lose his eyes an sJueee it as har as he )oul7 until

the "ones o his 'nu)'les poppe

s

gory es)ription o Gene;a>s eath to her ather>s run'en sel#reproa)hes7 in %hi)h he "lame

himsel repeately or e;erything rom arranging the marriage to allo%ing Gene;a too mu)h

reeom

room %as the same they al%ays ga;e him 6he Blue 8oom7 it %as )alle7 or the patterne sil'

paper on the %alls7 repeate s)enes o ut)h lie7 elt "lue on a )ream "a)'groun Mas)uline in

aspe)t7 its urnishings lu,urious7 its hearth generous7 it %as one o the most )omorta"le rooms in

the house An yet he elt )hille an restless7 at os %ith his surrounings

%as tire to the point o e,haustion7 "ut oun himsel una"le to rela, into the )omorts o the

eather "e7 espite the %ine an the lateness o the hour 6om ha let a Eug o hot mil' on the

ta"le7 %rappe in a to%el $e smile a little at that7 tou)he "y 6om>s thoughtulness?though he

han>t run' %arm mil' in t%enty years an in>t eel sui)iently esperate as to start no%

lay o%n on the "e again7 hoping that re)um"en)y might lea to a graual rela,ation7 "ut in>t

put out the )anle For some time7 he %at)he the glo% rom the ire animate the s)enes on the


89/377

%allpaper7 his han lat on the empty spa)e "esie him $o% many times ha he seen those )alm

"lue s)enes $e ha "een a regular ;isitor at $el%ater sin)e the early ays o his )ommission7 %hen

the unsanys> son7 Goron7 ha in;ite him to stay Goron ha "een 'ille in the :a)o"ite 8ising7

an the unsanys7 in their grie7 ha aopte Grey as a sort o oster son No% they ha lost a

aughter7 as %ell

ol ha Gene;a "een7 the irst time he ha )ome Four Fi;e

s my a;orite I )an imagine sailing o%n the ut)h )anals7 seeing all the

%inmills turn=

>s a %inmill7 sir 6he %hispere %ors %ere only in his min7 "ut his arm "ent7 )urling in memory

aroun a little girl %ho> )rept into his room in the mile o the night7 rightene "y a nightmare

s one on the %all?o you see

it=

he hear no ans%er only the Juiet pop an hiss o amp in the "urning peat $is arm rela,e7 an

he smoothe the )o;erlet gently %ith his han7 as though it %ere a small girl>s ishe;ele7 sil'y

hair7 to "e tu)'e "a)' %ithin her night)ap

staye thus or some time7 thoughts riting7 staring at the li)'ering "lue shapes on the %all

Be)ame a%are that he %as still stro'ing the )o;erlet7 slo%ly7 "ut that the image in his min %as no

longer that o a )hil>s hair !ot7 "ut )oarser !pringy )urls ar' An an imagine sense o

%armth rom the s'in "eneath


90/377

might is)o;er something "et%een them But %hat that something might "e7 or )ome to "e7 he ha

no notion I it happene at all7 though7 he en;isione it happening in -onon -onon %as a

separate %orl7 almost as though he %ere a ierent person there

i7 on the other han7 'no% ;ery %ell %hat his eelings %ere or :amie Fraser An "eing at

$el%ater7 no more than a hunre yars rom Fraser>s physi)al presen)e7 %as sui)iently

istur"ing in itsel $e ha the irrational eeling that to ta'e su)h pleasure in Per)y>s note %as in

some %ay a "etrayal?"ut o %hat7 or Go>s sa'e

"y impulse7 he re% "a)' the hea;y "lue#;el;et rapes at the %ino% It %as a )louy night7 a thi)'

rain still alling7 "ut the s'y hel a aint sullen glo%7 the iuse light o a hien moon $e )oul

see the im outline o the sta"le roo through the strea's o rain on the %ino%pane

s %ors rang a"ruptly in his ear7 an he shoo' his hea7 as though to isloge an annoying

mosJuito

%hat7 or Go>s sa'e7 ha his mother meant "y that Plainly7 she meant Fraser it %as mention o the

man an his :a)o"ite )onne,ions that ha rightene?yes7 rightene?her hy hat on earth

i she thin' he might as' o Fraser r learn rom him

regaring his ather>s eath 6hose %ors )ame )ol7 rom the ar' re)esses o his o%n min $e

sho;e them rele,i;ely a%ay $is ather ha "een ea or nearly se;enteen years $e thought no%

an then o his ather7 "ut ne;er o his eath An in>t mean to thin' o it no%

mortal thoughts7 though7 remine him suenly again o Gene;a here %as she tonight Not in a

spiritual sense?he truste ;aguely that she must "e in hea;en7 though he ha no )on)rete notion o

the pla)e?"ut in the physi)al

uneral %oul "e tomorro% $er "oy@$e glan)e uneasily at the "la)' night outsie his %ino%7

as though she might "e loating there7 pale a)e staring in at him7 her )hestnut hair paste to her

s'ull "y the pouring rain

pulle the )urtains irmly shut !he %oul "e in her )oin7 reay or the pro)ession to the )hur)h in

the morning as she some%here in the house !urely she i not lie in some hogg house or

esolate she on the grouns

)hapel )ourse 6he thought )ame to him at on)e $e ha ne;er "een in the )hapel at $el%ater itate rom a mu)h earlier )entury7 %hen the +is)ounts o the ast%ater ha "een Catholi)7 an it

ha "een isuse or years $e 'ne% %here it %as7 though Gene;a hersel ha sho%n him7 %a;ing


91/377

a )areless han to%ar the small stone )ham"er that )lung "arna)leli'e to the %est sie o the

house

s the ol )hapel7= she ha sai


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glo% to light his path !omething mo;e in the shao%s an he stoppe short

eyes glo%e or an instant an isappeare as the )at?it %as only a )at?t%ine past his eet an

;anishe7 silent as smo'e as that Gene;a>s )at !he ha ha a 'itten on)e7 he 'ne% oul she

not ha;e ta'en it to llesmere Perhaps her mother ha "rought it "a)' Perhaps@perhaps he %as

trying to o))upy his min %ith pointless triles in orer to a;oi thin'ing o Gene;a ea7 e;en as

he mae his %ay to%ar her "ier

still "eating li'e a rum7 he %onere %hat he thought he %as oing7 "ut he ha )ome thus ar to

turn "a)' no% %oul seem an a"anonment o her $e )lose his eyes or an instant7 reesta"lishing

the map o the house he %as "uiling in his hea7 then opene them an set o again %ith purpose

more turnings "rought him a"ruptly to %hat seeme an outer %all o the house7 its li)hene "lo)'s

pier)e "y an ar)he lintel o honey#)olore stone

%as )learly the )hapel>s entran)e the igures o saints an angels %ere )ar;e into the ar)h 6heyha es)ape the mutilations o Crom%ell>s ;anals in the last )entury?he mae out the igure o

%hat must "e Mi)hael the ar)hangel in the )enter o the ar)h7 laming s%or hel alot Belo% him7

Aam an ;e )o%ere "ehin )rue ig lea;es7 ;e>s hans )rosse moestly o;er her generous

"reasts Not saints7 ater all n the other sie o the ar)h7 a serpent hung in looping )oils rom the

"ran)hes o an apple tree7 loo'ing smugly amuse

Mi)hael een us 6he %ors )ame to him suenly7 though he %as neither Catholi) nor e;en

religious It %as a )ommon saying among the !)ottish prisoners at Arsmuir7 though $e ha hear

it in the Gaeli)7 many times7 an inally ha as'e :amie Fraser or the nglish meaning7 one night

%hen they ha ine together

he ha oun the right pla)e A small oil lamp "urne in the passage7 thro%ing the ar)hangel>s

;isage into stern relie7 an the li)'er o )anlelight %as ;isi"le through the )ra)' "et%een the

%ooen oors uner the ar)h%ay onering ane% Eust %hat he %as oing here7 he hesitate or a

moment7 then shrugge an murmure


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%as something pe)uliar a"out that remar'7 Grey note %ith interest 6here %as a %ealth o eeling

in that statement7 s eeling or his ea %ie7 he %oul suppose@"ut %hy in

Go>s name %oul he )ome at night to pray "y Gene;a>s )oin7 i not?"ut no 6hat s "reathing7 aintly

hoarse7 )ongeste My Go7 ha he "een %eeping $e ismisse the thought the %eather %as

enough to gi;e anyone the )atarrh7 let alone anyone ma enough to lie hal na'e on reeing

stones


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lea;e her in your hans >til a%n

Fraser himsel meant to 'eep %at)h all night7 prostrate "eore her )oin Plainly he meant Grey to

stay through the remaining hours o )ol ar' Grey shite uneasily on the har %oo7 a%are that

he )oul not no% "ring himsel to lea;e

shi;ere7 then %rappe his )loa' more tightly7 resigne 6he )hill o the slate loor %as seeping

through his slippers his eet ha gone num" alreay $e thought o Fraser in his shirt7 an shi;ere

again at the thought o pressing his o%n "are lesh against the i)y slates

7 Fraser ha sai It s)ar)ely seeme respe)tul7 su)h an e,traorinary a)t hat7 he %onere7

%oul ha;e happene7 ha he a)tually steppe on the man $e still hel that o;er%helming

impression o Fraser>s presen)e7 to%ering7 )ol as stone7 an pushe asie a leeting thought o

%hat that roen lesh might eel li'e7 ha he tou)he it 8estless7 he stoo an %ent or%ar7 ra%n

li'e a moth to the glimmering %hite o the )oin

li'e something rom the Mile Ages7 he thought7 an snorte7 "reath %hite in the ar' air 6hose

Catholi) "uggers %ho %al'e "areoot through Paris or lagellate themsel;es to "looy shres as

an a)t o penan)e

a)t o penan)e

elt the %ors rop into pla)e in his min7 li'e the tum"lers o a lo)' 8e)alle his sense o the

unsanys7 that some eep uneasiness tinge their grie

t gone to his ather>s uneral?in>t 'no% i there ha "een one

spite o the %eather7 the )hur)h %as ull 6he unsanys %ere li'e "y their tenants7 rienly %ith

most o the )ountry gentry7 an 'in to their ser;ants e;eryone %ishe to )omort the amily in itsgrie Besies7 it %as the )ountry7 an entertainment %as rare no one %oul miss a goo uneral7

e;en i they %ere o"lige to tramp through %aist#eep sno% to atten it


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glan)e o;er his shouler7 to see %hether the tall igure o :amie Fraser loome among the )ro% o

grooms an )ham"ermais %ho stoo at the "a)' o the )hur)h7 "ut there %as no sign o the !)ot

Fraser %as7 o )ourse7 or"ien to lea;e the "ounaries o $el%ater7 "ut surely he %oul ha;e "een

gi;en lea;e to atten the uneral %ith the other ser;ants?i he %ishe to

still elt the )hill o his night %at)h in the )hapel in his "ones7 "ut this eepene as he hear the

rustle o anti)ipation at the oor7 an turne %ith e;eryone else to see the )oin o -uo;i)7 eighth

arl o llesmere7 "eing "rought in

mae no attempt not to stare ;eryone %as staring 6he minister ha )ome orth7 an %as %aiting7

stone#a)e7 at the altar7 %here Gene;a>s )oin alreay stoo Grey himsel ha helpe to )arry that7

reaully )ons)ious o the silent %eight %ithin

%as )ausing his "ones to reee %ithin him no%7 though7 %as the sight o :amie Fraser7 tall an

grim7 ser;ing as pall"earer %ith i;e other stury manser;ants

ha gi;en him )oat an "ree)hes o a )heap "la)' %orste7 ;ery ill#itting $e shoul ha;e loo'e

rii)ulous7 "ony %rists protruing rom the too#short slee;es7 an e;ery seam straine to "ursting

As it %as7 he remine Grey o a es)ription he ha rea in emonologie7 a nasty little treatise

is)o;ere in the )ourse o resear)hes unerta'en ater his e,perien)e %ith the $ellire Clu"

men set o%n the earl>s )oin an retreate to a "en)h set uner the gallery Grey %as not surprise

in the least to see Fraser sitting alone at one en7 the other men "un)he un)ons)iously together7 as

ar a%ay rom him as they )oul get

;i)ar )leare his throat %ith an ominous rum"le7 the )ongregation rose7 lustere an murmuring7an the ser;i)e "egan Grey hear not a %or7 his responses entirely me)hani)al

he "e right $e %ent "a)' an orth on the matter7 unsure n the one han7 the thought that ha

)ome to him in the ar'ness o the )hapel seeme in)rei"le A )omplete elusion7 "orn o grie7

atigue7 an sho)' n the other@there %as -ay unsany>s "eha;ior Grie#stri)'en7 )ertainly7 "ut

grie )o;ering a ro)'li'e etermination etermination to put the past "ehin her an raise her

gran)hil r etermination to perpetrate a aring e)eption in orer to prote)t him

-or unsany7 the target o his o%n "lame?an his %ie>s For arranging the marriage %ith

llesmere7 he> sai@"ut also or allo%ing Gene;a too mu)h reeom hat the e;il ha he sai7

mum"ling in his )ups !omething a"out her horse7 spening hours roaming the )ountrysie7 alone

on her horse Not alone7 surely In the )ompany o her groom7 sai a )yni)al ;oi)e in his min

then there %as sai groom himsel7 an that remar'a"le en)ounter in the mile o the night ;en

though Grey ha not slept7 it still seeme the prou)t o a ream $e turne eli"erately in his seat

an loo'e at Fraser Nothing %hate;er sho%e on the !)ot>s a)e $e might ha;e "een loo'ing

"a)' at Grey?or at something a thousan miles "eyon him

%as seate ne,t to Grey7 her small7 )ol7 "la)'#glo;e han hel in his or support !he %as no

longer %eeping he thought she ha simply passe the point o "eing a"le to

a one o the unsany amily ha so mu)h as glan)e at Fraser7 though most o the )ongregation ha

ga%'e openly7 an many %ere still arting loo's at him %here he sat on the "en)h7 upright an


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mena)ing as a )orpse )anle

7 there %as e;ien)e But his 'no%lege o :ames Fraser %as e;ien)e7 as %ell?an he oun it

in)on)ei;a"le that Fraser )oul or %oul ha;e seu)e a young girl7 no matter %hat the

)ir)umstan)es -et alone the aughter o his employer

eyes settle on the pair o )oins at the ront o the )hur)h7 ienti)al "eneath their %hite shrous

!o tragi)7 so@solily marital

7 an you "looy 'ne% Gene;a7 too7 he thought

rain ha turne to sno% It %ouln>t sti)'7 soen as the groun %as7 "ut the %in ro;e it against

the %ino%s7 "ursts o har7 ry pellets that stru)' the glass li'e "ir shot

upon sno%la'e7 silently a))umulating into a rit o %hat seeme li'e )ertainty?"ut7 he remine

himsel7 )oul as easily "e pure illusion

%as light#heae rom la)' o sleep7 an the sno%#ar'ene %ino%s lent the )hur)h a mournul

imness $e> sat through the prea%n hours in the reeing )hapel7 %at)hing the li)'er o the

)anle lames7 an thin'ing

his reusal to "elie;e it purely the prou)t o his o%n prie7 his o%n guilt Not only his "elie in

:amie Fraser>s honor7 a reusal to "elie;e he )oul "e so mista'en in the man?"ut the 'no%lege

that i it %ere true7 he himsel must "ear a goo part o the "lame $e ha introu)e Fraser into the

unsany househol7 his o%n honor surety or Fraser>s

han>t eaten this morning7 too )hille an e,hauste to thin' o oo ater his ;igil in the )hapel

s a)e

remaine "lan' as granite7 "ut he sa% the "ig hans )url slo%ly7 gathering a"ri) an lesh together7

ingers igging so har into the mus)le o his thigh that they must lea;e "ruises

it Gene;a he mourne?or his ea %ie 6he trou"le %ith unerals %as that they remine one o

loss $e ha not seen his ather>s uneral7 an yet ha ne;er sat through one %ithout thought o his

ather7 the %oun o his loss healing7 gro%ing smaller through the years7 "ut al%ays reopene

i e;er I sa% a man "leeing internally@ he thought7 %at)hing Fraser


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mae his %ay to the sta"les

ha seen the other t%o grooms helping to "ring roun horses an harness teams or those near"y

uneral guests %ho %ere eparting toay7 "ut there ha "een no sign o Fraser Not surprising -or

unsany preerre s )oin7 "ut most i not

realie that he %as unsany>s ser;ant7 rather than that o the arl o llesmere?an e%7 so ar as

he 'ne%7 ha realie that the man %as !)ottish7 let alone a parole :a)o"ite

enough7 he is)o;ere Fraser in the sta"le "lo)'7 pit)hing ee or the stalle horses7 an )ame up

"esie him

s a)e )losely7 in the glo% o the single lantern7 an sa% the %ie mouth

tighten a little Fraser only noe7 though7 an ug his or' into the %aiting moun o hay


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neatly into one manger7 an mo;e to pi)' up another


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)ompelle to s%ear an oath o loyalty to King George %hen he %as gi;en his lie ollo%ing

Culloen7 "ut Grey 'ne% "etter than to try an appeal to that

s heart %as hammering against his ri"s7 "ut he stro;e to mat)h

Fraser>s e;en tone

the "ones o the ea=


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elt a sense o rea )ome o;er him that paralye his lim"s an rie his tongue An yet it must

"e as'e


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!tuarts an remaine un'no%n?he %as a ;erra )le;er man=

s a)e It loo'e li'e a puing7 slightly %et an glistening It ha eyes7 to "e sure?an he

thought them "lue7 "ut his )ousin li;ia ha inorme him that all )hilren>s eyes %ere "lue at"irth Its other eatures appeare negligi"le at "est


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%oolly )ap ha strings7 tie "eneath the inant>s )hin7 an he nuge these %ith a thum"7 thin'ing

that he might "e a"le to pry them up o;er the )hin an thus isloge the )ap or a moment

seeme to annoy the inant7 though he )ontorte his a)e7 %ent re7 an emitte a high#pit)he

shrie'7 %hi)h )ause Nanny lspeth to snat)h him prote)ti;ely rom Grey>s arms !he patte the

little "a)' soothingly7 gi;ing Grey a loo' o mar'e isappro;al

s u"ious )are

again

too' a irm hol on the inant7 ma'ing sot %histling noises through his teeth that usually %or'e

on strange ogs $e strolle to an ro a)ross the room7 Eoggling it gently7 mean%hile maneu;ering

the little )reature as uno"trusi;ely as possi"le7 so as to get the light "ehin it

thought there %as a reish tinge to the hair?"ut )oul not s%ear to it


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s name

.

A)ts

returne rom the star' silen)e o the ells to a -onon in erment

$al ha prei)te7 the printers ha got hol o Foul'es>s Fren)h amily )onne,ions an unearthe

the hints o unsa;ory )onspira)y Foul'es>s %ie ha le the )ountry an %as presuma"ly in

Fran)e another )onspirator7 a la%yer name :eors7 ha "een arreste an %as to "e trie along

%ith Captain Bates an $arrison t%ay on a ;ariety o )harges ranging rom le% )onu)t to

soomy7 )onspira)y to )ommit unnatural a)ts7 an7 as a einite aterthought7 )onspira)y to

assassinate ;arious Eusti)es an ministers?presuma"ly those %ho ha "een most outspo'en a"out

the nee to )rush this a"omina"le ;i)e


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I ta'e lea;e to ou"t that it all %ent to Fran)e=


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%hose %hirring ha attra)te

Documents

Gabaldon - Lord John and the Brotherhood of The