A/N: I have never attempted writing the Scottish Brogue before, so bare with me and if you have any suggestions to help please leave comments so I can improve.
After the war there wasn't as much for Frank to do at MI6 and what he was still doing was now under much stricter supervision and scrutiny. He was growing restless and frustrated. They had suggested he take time off, but when MI6 suggests something it isn't really a suggestion. He decided to use this time to reconnect with his wife, the war had put some crazy ideas in her head and she was acting much too liberated for him. He told her they would be having a second honeymoon in Inverness, there he also hoped to spend some time with an old family friend, Reverend Wakefield, he had sought counsel from him before and had never been steered wrong. Yes he was feeling very good about his next steps post war, everything would find balance again it was just going to take some time.
Claire on the other hand didn't have such a positive outlook on the future. The small spark she had managed to reignite while serving during the war was dying out again. She feared this time if Frank managed to completely extinguish it she would never get it back again.
There had to be some way to get away from him, maybe while he was busy with the Reverend she could steel away into the Scottish wilderness and live amongst the wolves, surely they would be kinder and more civilized than Frank.
Claire POV:
We had arrived at Inverness two days ago. I had made up my mind I would be leaving Frank, likely I would fail and he would have me locked away in some insane asylum for disobedient wives but I knew if I didn't at least take the chance I would always wonder what if.
The Reverend and his adopted son were perfectly nice, I found it difficult to see what had connected the Wakefield's with my husband. But I suppose I know better than anyone how deceiving appearances can be. Still it was hard to imagine the Reverend truly knowing Frank's character and still calling him a friend, but Frank was good at that... appearing to different people in different ways to get exactly what he wanted. A quality I naively used to find charming and a mark of intelligence I now understood to be a sign of a deranged psychopath.
I decided to excuse myself for some fresh air, Frank told me not to go far and I had to bite my tongue and reply, "of corse not dear, I'll be right outside."
I stepped outside, finding the chill in the air refreshing. I used to hate being alone, it left me feeling like a balloon that could at any moment be swept away and forgotten about seconds later. Now I treasured the times I could be just by myself, no facade, no pain, just silence.
"There certainly more than jus' a wee nip in th' air, aye?" I turned around to see I had been joined by Mrs. Graham, the Reverend's housekeeper.
"Oh, yes, I suppose there is." I said politely. She dug around in her pockets for something and then fished out a carton of cigarettes offering one to me. I shook my head no and declined, staring out into the thrush Scottish countryside again.
"Weel, it shall certainly make tonecht much mair uncomfortable." she remarked.
"What's tonight?" I asked, more out of politeness then genuine curiosity.
"Bit of ay Druid ritual."
"Druid?" I asked finding myself more interested now, I never would have taken Mrs. Graham as a pagan.
"Up at Craig na dun, some call it fairy hill, say those rocks can transport th' lonely hearted ben time. An' if nothin' else it is fin just tae dance around under th' moon naked as a wee bairn." She said dissolving into giggles.
If I hadn't been able to smell the tobacco I would have sworn those were a different kind of cigarette Mrs. Graham was partaking in.
That night as I prayed Frank would come to bed too tired to attempt anything I found myself thinking of this fairy hill Mrs. Graham had mentioned. I knew it was all make believe but it was nice to think about, being able to go through time, to a place your problems... specifically your problems in the shape of your bastard husband could not follow you was definitely appealing, and if the price for a ticket was simply dancing around naked I certainly wouldn't mind giving it a try.