Claire has
arrived at Castle Leoch, the ancestral home of the MacKenzies (not that anyone has
bothered to tell her where they were going or explain to her that her primary captor, Dougal, is the brother of
the laird, Colum). As Dougal’s group
arrives, the men scatter, leaving Claire gazing around the castle courtyard
which she recognizes from her visit with Frank, a few days earlier, although in
the 20th century, it is a ruin. It is beautiful and will doubtless attract American visitors now.
A plump and
jolly lady, clearly the housekeeper, greets the returning warriors, insults one
of the louts affectionately, and is perplexed by Claire’s unexpected and disreputable appearance. Jamie
introduces Claire to Mistress FitzGibbons who warms to Claire when she realizes
Claire is a healer. “Are you a Beaton?”
she asks, referring to a clan known for such skills. Claire agrees warily and
follows Mrs. Fitz and Jamie into the castle and is given what passes for first aid supplies in the 18th century (Mrs. Fitz also promises to find something that is a “bit more” appropriate for Claire to
wear, leaving no doubt of her opinion of the skimpy white dress). Claire and Jamie are left most
unsuitably without a chaperone (Claire probably has no reputation left anyway
after several nights with Dougal and his merry men) but her mind is on other
things – she is having flashbacks to her earlier visit when she and Roger
wondered what this dark dungeon-like room was used for (and came up with a diversion not in the book).
