Claire POV:
Finlay and I make time by never stopping, not through the night nor even to relieve our bladders, I feel unbelievably sorry for the poor horse underneath us. We met up with Dougal and the rest of the men but I see Jamie is not among them.
I go up to Murtaugh, "Where is he?"
Murtaugh takes me aside where Ned joins us and they fill me in on what is going on but I'm not given much to process everything before Dougal grabs me and starts dragging me up on another horse to take me the rest of the way to the garrison.
3rd Person POV:
Claire arrives to Jamie's rescue and enters the garrison into a house full of English officers, all in full regalia and wigs. After a procession of formal introductions she is shown into the dinning room where there is a lavish well-laden table set before her. Her stomach sinks a little thinking about how the true owner's of this house are probably going hungry somewhere while her countrymen are occupying it to their content.
Sir Oliver Lord Thomas stands from the head of the table and warmly welcomes her.
"Come in! Come in! Please this is a most enjoyable treat to have you here, it has been far too long since I last gazed upon a lovely English rose." He compliments her showing her to the opposite end of the table and even pulling her chair out for her.
"I must confess I am endlessly excited to hear your tale." He says taking his seat again at the head of the table.
"I assure you it's nothing so interesting." Claire said trying to curb his expectations.
"Oh nonesnese, a lovely English lady winding up engaged to a savage highlander, I love a good story, I've not heard a good one since I first set foot upon this blasted turf and this one seems like quite the tale. Please I'm sure your famished, enjoy the venison while you regale us with your story, only the very best quality I assure you."
Claire nodded and par took in a glass of wine and some food.
She tried to keep the story as close to the truth as possible in case they had asked Jamie already and were testing to see if their tale's matched.
"I left England to hide in Scotland from my husband, he was a brutal man who would surely have killed me if I stayed. It was my belief he would never think to look for me this far north. I was able to find work among Beatons as an apprentice healer. Being English I sometimes couldn't help myself from traveling to see to our own wounded soldiers now that I had knowledge to help ease their suffering if I had heard word of a scrimmage. It was on such a trip I accidentally came to learn of my husband's passing, it was a shock... just hearing is name again shook me to my core, it took a while to even comprehend what the rest of it had been.
I must have stumbled out into the wilderness trying to get some air to calm my nerves, it was then I had been set upon my a brute of a man who thought he could force himself upon me. Thankfully a member of clan MacKenzie had been nearby, Murtaugh, he wasn't exactly gentle himself but he saw me to safety away from my more imminent peril.
Next thing I knew I was at a tavern with more member of the clan, I was dazed trying to come to grips with my husband's death and then my attack, I only got a hold of myself when I noticed one of their men was badly injured. I got to work and recalled all I had learned and in doing so regained my composure. The man I helped that night was in fact Jamie.
I was brought back to MacKenzie lands at Leoch were I became their new healer. And it seemed every day almost Jamie had a new injury, finally it occurred to me this was on purpose so he might spend more time with me. I hadn't been single in such a long time I almost missed the signs he was interested in me in that way.
Obviously despite what my husband did to me it was still too soon to think about moving on but we began a friendship, a friendship that has meant a great deal to me.
I won't lie and say I never thought of returning home of leaving these lands for a safer life but when I left Frank and began working I was overcome with a sense of purpose, it probably isn't the most lady like thing to admit but I believe I'd miss healing dreadfully if I returned home and left Scotland. Here there is a certain freedom I have found even though it comes at a price of danger and uncertainty I am unwilling to give it up.
Jamie has been worried about me staying at Leoch, it's not that he wishes me to leave but he worries about not always being around to protect me if someone of lesser morals then him was offended by my Englishness. He asked before leaving with the rent party that I accept his proposal of marriage so that I may stay here as a Scot and be afforded a certain amount of protection under his name.
I'm sure you find me a very strange woman, perhaps even an offensive one but I accepted believing Jamie to be the most decent of men and I profess to all of you here I would be honored to become his wife."
Silence befell the room once Claire was finished with her story, it was very uncomfortable and she badly wished to have some sort of clue as to what the men were feeling towards her and her story.
Finally Sir Oliver Lord Thomas spoke, "Well," He said raising his glass, "It seems we have a wedding to plan."
It was a whirlwind of activities as Claire was swept away to be cleaned and dressed while the lieutenant's put Dougal and his men to work readying the front room for the ceremony.
Jamie POV:
Thaur seemed tae be lots ay commotion happenin' abune me but aye cooldnae be sure if 'at was a good ur a poor sign.
Aye heard footsteps comin closer an' readied myself fer a fight if need be before aye recognized mah godfaither's face.
"Murtaugh! Thank the heaven's mate what hell is happening up there?"
"The Sassernach has come through, you'll be getting out of here but you'll be doin it as a married man I'm afraid."
I couldn't help the little smile that came across my face, did that mean Claire was really going to be meh wife? I never could have dreamed myself so lucky.
I straightened my mouth quickly when I saw my Godfather's expression, he wasn't quite as happy as I.
"Let's just get it over with, we're gonna need to clean ye up some first tho."
Claire POV:
Was I really about to do this? The whole thing did seem to be a bit of a farce, like a play we were putting on to entertain the men, my mind flashed to USO performers, I'd of corse much rather do a Andrew's Sisters rendition then get mock married. But Jamie needed my help and if felt like the right thing to do.
A servant was helping me get dressed, it was a gaudy and elaborate costume that I'm sure made me look ridiculous but it was all for show, at least that's what I kept telling myself.
**Knock**Knock**
"Are you ready then, Mistress Beachaump?" A voice from behind the door wanted to know.
"Yes, I shall be along presently."
On with the show, I guess.