Chapter 41

Jamie dropped hard into the creaky chair, the letter drifting from his hand down to the desk. Gently fanning out the remaining papers that had accompanied Ned's letter, he easily spied Daniea's delicate handwriting dashed amongst Ned's harsh wording.

"My Lord? It is dinner, will you be joining?" Fergus called from outside the door.

Jamie managed a grunt in response, but he didn't leave for the dining room. Instead he quickly dressed and made his way to the family graveyard in dire need of guidance he would not receive.

Ian spotted him from the window and to his surprise was soon joined by Jenny. He watched on as it appeared that they were having a very heated discussion but by the time they came to the dining room, they finally calmed around each other.

Jamie remained at the dining table long after everyone retired, weary to return to his bedroom. Finally after Ian checked in on him for the fifth time he forced himself to confront the problem of his own making. Clutching her wedding ring in his fist, he sorted through the papers till he found her testimony.

I, Daniea Jane Branna Fraser of sound mind and body.

Hereby agree to my husband, James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser's wishes to dissolve our marriage on the grounds of his perpetual unhappiness. He agreed to our marriage in a time of duress and was ill informed that I was not the proper lady he believed me to be; and therefore the marriage was never successfully consumated. On these grounds, I ask that he be released from his bindings to me with the hope that he is allowed permission to remarry whenever he so chooses. I take sole responsibility for the failure of this pairing and therefore want nothing in return for my cooperation.

~ Daniea Fraser

Tremors wracked Jamie's body as he clutched her testimony tightly in his fist.

Fighting for breath, he steadied himself just long enough to drag the remaining papers and pen towards him. His hand shook uncontrollably as he furiously scribbled his signature upon the marked areas on the annulment documents across from finalizing his decision before he could risk any more cowardly behavior where she was involved.

As he shoved away the godforsaken script from his sight he could hear Daniea's screams and flashbacks of her entombed in flames stifled his mind; ultimately causing him to collapse into a rigid heap on the ground.

He tried to force away the memories by shoving his palms savagely against his tearing eyes. Yet they only played over and over and over again until they began to drive him mad.

Jamie curled into the fetal possession upon the cold stone floor, trying to believe that the earth shattering pain within his imploding chest was a sign.

A sign from the almighty that he had made the right decision in breaking his ties with his temptress; but instead he only loathed himself more than he ever dared hating Taran or even Randall.

He awoke late the next morning. Utterly exhausted and fatigued after spending the remainder of the night sobbing on the floor, clinging to Daniea's ring for dear life.

He remained silent, a portrait of a broken man, as he made his rounds about Lallybroch. Ian tried to inquire but was only met with a growl and the order to leave him be. While Jenny chose to ignore his grotesque behavior and carry on as if he simply woke up with a headache from too much whiskey.

Tired of her brother's attitude and overall melancholiness Jenny decided to take matters into her own hands. The next day while Jamie was out in the pasture working with the horses, she decided to invite over one of her good friends from the village. Ignorant to his sister's ongoings, Jamie didn't suspect a thing until a sweet voice introduced herself as he entered the dining room for dinner.

"M'Laird." The young woman crooned as she curtsied upon his entrance.

"Brother may I introduce my good friend Mistress Sorcha MacNiven." Jenny smiled as she signalled for the group to sit. Jamie's eyes darted over the visiting woman. Her bright sandy blonde hair stood stark against her bluebell dotted dress, complimented only by her exceptionally sun kissed skin.

Jamie mustered a coy smile as he noticed her deep honey hued eyes for the split second before she lowered her gaze with a deep blush.

"Mistress." He bowed his head before pulling out her chair for her. "Thankyou fer gracing us with yer presence this evening."

The girl, younger in appearance than Jenny, blushed even harder at the Laird's full attention.

"It is I who is grateful to be invited, M'Laird." She managed to squeak before dinner was served all around them.

Ian tried his best to keep his face flat, but he did let it show to Jenny that he disagreed with this bombardment directed towards Jamie.

"Jamie, Sorcha here is too shy to tell ye but she is a bonnie cook and seamstress. Just the other day I beseeched her to stitch ye up a new kilt so ye can get rid of that torn one ye are always sporting about in." Jenny stated with a saccharine smile.

Jamie began to snap back but bit his tongue being in the presence of one of his tenants.

"Did ye say something brother?" Jenny quipped as she drank from her glass.

"That would be wonderful." He answered with his most generous smirk. Sorcha barely held in her girlish squeal as she gawked at the highlander before her.

"When would a good time be for James to come be fitted?" Jenny inquired.

"Oh, I will make myself available anytime for M'Laird." She chirped, startled by the turn of conversation.

" Dinna fash yerself with rearranging yer schedule fer me, I would be most happy to pay ye a visit at yer convenience mistress."

"Ye are too kind M'Laird, I have all afternoon available the next two days if that would be agreeable."

"Then I shall visit ye tomorrow then." Jamie grinned before taking another long dram of whiskey.

Sorcha nodded excitedly as the conversation continued on. Ian and Jenny noting the stolen looks the lass would revel in as she peered at Jamie from across the table. By the end of the meal everyone basked in the warmth provided from the cask of wine and whiskey they shared. Sorcha's cheeks now rosey with a lingering blush as she bid her farewells.

Jenny grabbed Jamie's arm as he headed upstairs, hoping to chat for a minute but he savagely yanked his arm away and bared his teeth at his sister.

"Don't fer one damned moment, think that I am ignorant to yer dealings. I will not have any part of it Jenny."

She huffed after his display of aggression, her arms crossed in protest as he stomped up the stairs.

Once out of earshot, "We shall see about that brother…" She murmured to herself, " We. Shall See."

Trudging through his bedroom door he made his way to pour himself a night cap. His eyes casually glancing over his desk, which was when he noticed all the papers and correspondences that were there prior to dinner were now missing.

"Mrs. Crook!" Jamie howled down the hall.

A minute later the woman arrived, jittery at the unusual summons.

"Mrs. Crook where are all the letters that were here?"

"Oh is that all? I took them to the courier to be dispatched as we do every Tuesday M'Laird." She smiled, hoping to please her laird.

"Has he left already?"

"Aye, he departed hours ago sir."

Jamie could only nod and signalled for Mrs. Crook to leave.

He slumped down upon the bed, running his fingers through his hair as he tried to calm his breathing. He should have been more careful, he thought to himself. Not only did the letters to his tenants get sent out but the annulment papers were now dispatched back to Ned, fully signed as well.