Chapter VII

One week later

As Lady Brianna Grey stood in her family chapel where one week ago she had left her Randall Fraser epithet behind and had become her lord's lady, said lord stood beside her with his wife's arm safely ensconced in the crook of his elbow as they watched as their son was being baptised and brought into the last stage of his legitimacy in society.

Marsali, as godmother, had custody of the child with Fergus chosen to serve as his guardian alongside her. Brianna had chosen the pair who would be the child's special uncle and aunt. Though neither were related to her by blood, she understood Fergus to be the son of her da's heart as he often called him and Marsali was the daughter who brought him out of the darkness he had sunk into after Claire had fled the field at Culloden. They were part of her Fraser clan by choice, and now they would have their place in the Grey family by choice too.

Father Jude pronounced, as he sprinkled water over the bairn's forehead, "I baptise you, Jeremiah James Andrew Grey in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church, pour upon you the riches of his grace, that within the company of Christ's pilgrim people you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit, and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory."

The whole congregation present then affirmed together the 'Amen' in a harmony of English, Scottish, West Indian accents, along with the beginnings of the American drawl that was coming into being in the colonies. Little Jem Grey's grandparents were in the front pew, both with tears in their eyes, nodding their heads at their only living daughter as she beamed down at them. For Claire, she never imagined she would meet any grandchildren of hers but she was enchanted with her little Jeremiah who had the same happy spirit his mama had had when she was a baby. For Jamie, Brianna's marriage and the baptism of her son into Lord John's family had swelled his heart to the point of bursting. He too had never believed he would meet any grandchildren of his own blood nor see the joy of parental pride reflected in his children's eyes. This day was a blessing for them both.

As the Grey trinity processed from the nave back to the main house where a small reception awaited the party, they appeared to all observers the perfect family setting out in the New World: an eminent father of good stock and income; a beautiful and fecund mother who had managed her new estate better than all around her had anticipated; a healthy, good-natured young heir who was the pride of his parents and grandparents present. Only, beneath that idyllic surface lingered a more troubling possibility and it was particularly felt by Lord and Lady Grey and her parents.

For his part, as John watched Lizzy take Jem in hand, leaving his parents free to socialise with their well-wishers, he wondered at how this little young man had wormed his way so deep into his affections and his life that he could barely stomach the thought of any calamity or incident that might remove him from his care. Despite freely giving Brianna the option to remove herself and Jem to Fraser's Ridge when it would draw no conjecture and was her chosen moment, he now wished with all his heart that his young wife and his adopted boy would remain at Rosscarne for as long as it was theirs. He didn't want to be relegated to a visitor if they left Lynchburg - it simply wouldn't be enough for him now. He was past the point of no return for caring for them and later, when he could get Brianna away from their guests, he was of a mind to request that she stay with him and let the dice fall where they may.

Brianna was well aware of a pair of azure eyes bearing down upon her as she surfed the waves of guests who all wished to offer their congratulations and regards - mostly those who felt they hadn't had their share of her time at the wedding and wished to curry a bit of favour with Lord John's wife. John had been out of sorts in the past couple of days and although Brianna had for six days enjoyed her own room, she knew from the sound of his striding about his own room in the early hours something had been plaguing his sleep and it was something to do with her. Perhaps he regretted his decision to accommodate her and Jem at Rosscarne and they would be required to travel back to Fraser's Ridge. Even though that had been the plan all along, for Brianna to spend the requisite time in Lynchburg to establish her own and Lord John's respectability before moving back to her parents' lodge only to ultimately take Jem back through the stones to her own time, now, now that she had a small taste of life here, she knew that when such a time came, she would be loathe to leave this house and her husband forever. She had found such contentment as she had never known managing Lord John's house and serving on town committees as was expected but mostly being able to devote herself to Jem and William's nurturing and education.

"Well, Jamie," John sighed, approaching his friend and father-in-law, "a good day to be alive."

"Indeed, John," Jamie returned with an amiable smile, "thank ye for all o'it."

"No thanks necessary, my friend. Rosscarne has never seemed so happy and full of life. It started when Brianna came with Jem and it's brought so much joy and laughter to my life and William's. He's coming out of his shell again and he adores his little brother."

"Aye, a woman will do that to ye life. Brianna seems to be fair happy wi' her role as Lady Grey. I'm glad she's wed to a gentleman who likes her and treats her wi' respect. It's a great comfort to me after that business with Roger."

"Yes, a bad business for a man to walk out on his woman and child. However, his loss is certainly my gain, and they have nothing to fear of my ever leaving them. They will have a home and provisions at Rosscarne as long as I live."

Jamie looked at his son-in-law as he spoke with such emotion about Jem and Brianna. He followed John's blue eyes as they tracked Brianna as she navigated the well-wishers in the room and the affection and even love that they bore her was unmistakable. Even for the differences of appetite that both had, they shared a closeness and Jamie feared the depth that closeness might go to. Jamie had entrusted both of his natural children to John's keeping - one as wife to support and keep, one as heir to guide and protect - and inevitably one would cross through the stones and be the one to abandon her partner, taking Jem with her. John would be left with William and a sore heart. For all his kindness to the Fraser clan and his kinship, Jamie could not let Brianna inflict such a wound when she returned to the future. After the guests had left and before he and others departed for the Ridge, Jamie would tell his daughter she must tell John the truth about her birth and life.

"I ken it, John," Jamie acknowledged, "ye're a man o'honour and you've ever been kind to me and mine. If ye ever need anything from us - from yer family - don't ever hesitate to call on us. Ye're forever welcome at Fraser's Ridge, with or wi'out Bree."

"My thanks, Jamie. Now, I think I shall go join my wife."

Jamie gestured for John to leave him and in the same movement, invited Claire to supplant him. Always aware of each other in any room no matter how great the company, Claire felt the pull of him from across the vast chamber and left Marsali chatting away to one of John's tenants and moved towards Jamie.

"You called?" Claire asked flirtatiously.

"Aye, Sassenach. I wanted ye to see something. Look there. Look at our daughter, our Bree. What do ye see in her on this day, as she stands now?"

Claire wondered at the wistfulness and pensieve tone in Jamie's baritone voice. There was something sad in his entrancing azure eyes as he watched Brianna. She could not quite make it out, but she dutifully followed his gaze and murmured, "I see a confident, intelligent, caring and honest young woman cutting a swath through the high society of Lynchburg. She will make a name for herself, I think, as one of the leading lights of the ton. She will, no doubt, paint Lord John in a favourable light. Make any…implications and rumours about him seem unlikely. He in turn has given her a name and credibility and safety in this country. They are well-suited, even if they are an unlikely match. They almost look…natural together over there."

And with that final observation, Claire understood her husband's reticence. "She will devastate him, won't she? She is bound for the stones and little Jem with her. He is a tender-hearted man and he will miss them keenly."

"You have my point, mo chridhe." Jamie agreed. "I am of the mind that she must tell John the truth of her birth and her fate and soon. He is a man o'the world and wi' a sharp, scholarly mind. It'll not baffle him. If Murtagh could wrap his primitive, ale-addled mind around yer history, I see no reason why John wouldna understand. I cannae allow Bree to destroy him. He must be given a chance to prepare his mind and heart. What say ye, Claire? It's as much yer secret as Bree's."

Claire smiled gently at her muckle-haired husband, who, for all his rugged looks, was so sympathetic. Jamie had felt the pangs of grief when she had passed through the stones and if the gaslit fires of his love had rocked his existence in her wake, then the embers of John's affection for their daughter would cause him a semblance of the same suffering. Jamie knew this and was already taking steps to lessen the blow. "You, Mr. Fraser, are a perfect man. Bree and John are lucky to have your care and protection. As am I."

With willing lips and heart, Jamie then accepted the caress of Claire's familiar lips as they punctuated her words. Once they parted, as unwilling as they were to do so (as always), Jamie said "You must tell her before we leave, Claire, tell Bree to confess all to John."

"I will. I promise."

Later that night, John heard a rapping at his door. "Enter." He barked.

"We've come to say goodnight."

John smiled, "So come in and say it. All of you."

Brianna walked into her husband's bedchamber which adjoined her own as she did most evenings since her wedding, accompanied by William and Jem in her arms. She spent her evenings reading with William before she liked to put Jeremiah to bed. A sort of night-time ritual had descended on the Grey household and it was bringing the newlyweds closer and knitting together their combined family.

"Goodnight, father, I hope you sleep well." William pronounced seriously, shaking his father's hand like the prim and proper young gentleman he wished to be.

"Goodnight, young man," John replied, squeezing his boy's hand and placing a kiss on his brow, "I trust you will pass a restful night yourself."

"Goodnight, milady." William said cordially to his sister, with an awkward smile but a kind spirit.

Brianna copied John's kiss atop William's head and embraced him with her free side, "Goodnight, William. Sleep well."

Once William had closed the door behind him, John held his arms out to his wife. "Give him to me please, Brianna."

Easily, Brianna passed over their son and went to the armchair that sat by the fire for her use. She watched as John bounced the baby around as he paced the room soothingly completely at ease. This night was different to the others that had passed before. On this night, she regarded her husband as a victim to her destiny. She saw the weakness to him she posed. From her promise to remain in Lynchburg on their wedding night, after he had truly revealed himself to her, she had bestowed hope and family on the man. Her mother had made her see earlier that to rip it all away would be to inflict a fatal blow on the man who had offered succor and station to her when she needed it yet taken nothing by force or asked anything she would not freely give in return. Her mother claimed that just before she had passed through the stones in Scotland and when they found the pool with the same properties, she heard the portal sing to her, calling and beckoning her back to their time. Brianna hadn't felt any such pull since she arrived in the 18th century, but if she ever did and wished - or had - to return, she didn't want her leaving to shatter her husband.

John put his son in the crib having successfully lulled him to sleep on his shoulder. "Do you mind leaving him in here with me tonight? Seems a shame to risk waking him."

"No, of course not," Brianna smiled, covering her interrupted ruminations with a taut smile, "and if you don't mind, I'd like to stay for a while longer. I have something I need to tell you."

Turning back from the crib, John stared at his wife wide-eyed. He had thought they had shared a pleasant, enjoyable day of celebration, but from the pulled, forced expression on Brianna's face she was not under the same impression. "Very well, my dear. Say your piece."

"Alright. I need you to hear me out, John, and this might take a while," she gestured for him to take the vacant seat in front of hers, "so I need your patience and for you to keep an open mind. What I'll say first is that I've never lied to you and everything I said on our wedding night was true: I'm staying here with you and Jem and William and I want to be your wife. If today showed me anything it's that I want to and can help you build something here that makes people's lives better and will be instrumental for the country. Remember that. It'll help."

John waved his hand, belying his agitation. "This is all well and good, Brianna, but I do wish you would get on with what you have to say. Enough building up to it. I'm a grown man, I promise I will hear you and whatever it is we can deal with it - as you say - as husband and wife."

Brianna smiled and launched into her tale. She began with Claire - everything began with her mother, after all - and how she came to be in Jacobite Scotland. She explained that Claire was a woman out of time and had the curse of knowing the historical events that would shape the people she had come to love in the past. When Jamie realised Claire was carrying his child and Culloden was pressing, she returned back to the future to give birth to and raise their daughter."

"So when were - no, are you to be born?" John asked, astounded.

"That's the funny thing. I was conceived in 1746 but I was born…in 1948."

"Incredible." John whispered. "Go on, Brianna."

With a relieved smile, Brianna narrated her meeting Roger and the search for Jamie in historical documents until they found a chance that he was alive and well working as Alexander Malcolm. Then it was farewell to Claire as she returned through the stones to reunite with the love of her life. Brianna could not bring herself to tell John that her parents' death was set in print and all they didn't know was the year it would come to pass. She did say that she felt compelled to join her parents and tracked them to America. There she was found by Roger and then set upon by Bonnet."

"You know most of the rest that matters, John, but what you don't know is that Roger didn't go back to his home in this time. He went back through the stones. Now, I want you to know that I have no intentions in the foreseeable future to return to the 20th century but if that day does come, I physically won't be able to resist it, Or so I'm led to believe. I need you to understand that. I need you to know it's not because I haven't grown to care for you or I want to leave you."

"This is all…extraordinary. It's like a fairytale. I'm half tempted to have you burned for witchery. If I believed in such things. But then again, your story puts paid to everything I thought I believed in. You must know so much. You know how the country will be in two hundred years. Your power as my wife here is momentous. You know what will befall us and the country in the centuries to come - you and Claire know how events will unfold. The War of Regulation, who…"

"I can't tell you, John. I can't do anything to change historical events. Mama and da found that out when they tried to prevent Culloden. It's not possible. If I tell you, and I want to because I don't want secrets between us, you mustn't tell anyone information that would change the course of events."

"Of course. I would never betray your confidence, or that of your family, to gain influence and mould the future. I do want to know though, does anyone besides your parents know?" John announced, leaning back into the comfort of the chair.

"My da's godfather, Murtagh, knows, and there was a woman my mama knew who was another time traveller called Geilis. You met her briefly, I think, in the Caribbean. She's dead now. No one else knows. Not even Fergus and Marsali."

John nodded, willing his mind to process the new information. "Very well. The hour has grown late now, dear, and we've both had a long day. Would you be so good as to let me sleep on your tale in the knowledge that I believe you and my affection towards you remains unchanged? We can speak more in the morning and I should like to speak to Jamie and Claire as well."

"Of course, John. You can have as much time as you need. I know it's a lot to take in and I think you've borne it all quite marvellously. Go to bed and I'll see you in the morning."

With a gentle, tender peck on his brow as she had given William, Brianna left her husband's bedroom for the adjoining one that was in her keeping and fell into bed. She was ignorant that next door in her wake, Lord John was examining the fire from his seat, unable to make it to the bed and would sleep fitfully there the night dreaming of a disappearing wife and child.