Dragonfly in Amber

For more than a month, Jamie spends time with Simon, waiting for him to decide. Simon’s son, and Jamie’s half-uncle, Young Simon, is eager to go to war, but this does not persuade the older man. One thing that delays Simon is the fact that his seer refuses to tell him what she sees in his future. Claire meets the woman and learns that she sees Simon with the shadow of an ax over him. The seer tells Simon and it further delays his decision. One night at dinner, Claire notices that Simon is ill and diagnoses him with prostatitis. Simon takes advantage of this diagnosis to send his troops to Charles with Young Simon in command, an act that allows him to appear in favor of Charles should they win, which can gain an earldom, or to give him an out should England prevail where he can blame his apparent support on his son.

Jamie and Claire ride part of the way to Edinburgh with Young Simon and the troops. Jamie notices that there are fewer horses and men than Simon promised. When Jamie goes to ask Young Simon about it, he finds that Simon has placed his own troop on his rolls. This, Jamie assumes, is Simon’s attempt to take back Lallybroch at the end of the war when he becomes an earl by claiming it was his land all along. Once they arrive at Lallybroch, Jamie learns that none of his men have come home even though he sent them home when he left Edinburgh.

Jamie learns his men were caught leaving Edinburgh and were put in jail for desertion. Young Simon agrees to go with Jamie to see Charles at Stirling Castle and recommends that Jamie take Dougal MacKenzie with him because Dougal is Charles’s golden child now because he gave Charles 10,000 pounds when he arrived. Claire surmises that the money is cash that Geillis Duncan stole before her death and gave to her lover, Dougal.

While Jamie and his uncles go to Sterling Castle, Claire visits the men from Lallybroch. Claire pawns her pearls to buy provisions for the men. Claire runs into Mary Hawkins outside and learns that she is in Edinburgh visiting Alexander Randall. Claire sees Alexander and is saddened to realize he is close to death. When Claire returns to her room, she finds Murtagh handing out weapons she collected to the newly freed men from Lallybroch. She decides to lead them to Falkirk so she can give Jamie information Alexander’s brother, Jack, has given her.

The battle of Falkirk begins. Claire refuses to go back to Edinburgh, so Jamie urges her to take refuge in a church. Claire does, bringing her horse inside to keep the English from finding her. However, a troop of Scots finds her, including Dougal MacKenzie. Claire tries to help a man who has been injured in battle but knows that his wound is fatal. Jamie arrives, coming through a window and telling them there are Englishmen outside. The wounded man asks Dougal to kill him since he is dying a painful death. Dougal does, allowing Claire to hold him in his grief. The next morning, the English call for them to give themselves up. Dougal suggests they give Claire up, claiming she is an English prisoner. He says it is the only way they might go free. Jamie agrees, promising to come find Claire as soon as possible.

Claire travels with a group of English soldiers, eventually learning she will be sent south. When asked why, she is told because she is associated with Red Jamie Fraser, a fact she tried to keep secret. When they arrive in Tavistock, Claire is taken to a private home where she is surprised to find Mary Hawkins in residence. It is her father’s home, and staying with them is the Duke of Sandringham, Mary’s godfather. The duke confesses to being behind all the attempts to kill Jamie and Claire in Paris. He claims Mary’s rape was unintentional and inconvenient for him. He says it was because he wanted to stop Jamie’s relationship with Charles Stuart. Claire cannot decide if the duke is a Jacobite or if he is playing a long-term game to benefit himself.

While speaking to the duke, Claire spots a spy who she knows works for the Highland army. He signals to her that he will get her help. Claire is hopeful, even as the duke locks her up in a bedroom. However, her hope dies when she sees the spy caught. Mary comes to her later in the night and tells her that the spy was hung. Early in the morning, Jamie comes and takes Claire away, reluctantly taking Mary as well. Jamie kills the man who led the gang that raped Mary after Mary identifies him. They escape the house and take the spy’s body to his wife. While there, Murtagh reveals that he has killed the Duke of Sandringham as he pledged to Jamie that he would do upon learning the duke ordered the attack on Claire and Mary.

Back in Edinburgh, Jamie and Claire serve as witnesses to the marriage of Mary Hawkins and Jack Randall at the request of Alexander Randall. Mary is pregnant with Alexander’s child. Jamie willingly escorts Jack back to his apartment afterward. Claire expresses pleasure in knowing that Frank’s ancestor will be born, causing frustration for Jamie.

As Jamie, Claire, and the Lallybroch troop follow the retreat of the Highland army, they learn that Charles has taken charge of the army and that they are nearing Culloden. They arrive at Culloden House and find it deserted; all the animals gone. The army is starving and eating all they can find. Claire tells Jamie that the battle will happen the next day. She says the only way to stop it is to kill Charles Stuart. They discuss it, and Jamie decides he cannot allow it. Dougal unwittingly overhears them. He bursts into the room and threatens Claire. Jamie protects her and there is a scuffle. Dougal is killed. Jamie takes Claire away, but first sends a paper to his sister that gives Lallybroch to Little Jamie. Jamie then takes Claire to Craigh na Dun. He tells her that he will lead his men away from Culloden and allow himself to die in battle. Claire begs to stay with him, but he tells her he knows she is pregnant and asks her to live for the child. They mark each other with a knife, leaving wounds that will one day be scars. They hear English troops approaching. Jamie urges Claire to go.