During An Echo in the Bone/Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, Claire marries for the third time. This time it’s to Lord John Grey. Why does that happen in the Outlander books?
While there are spoilers from the books in this post, there’s no guarantee that this storyline will take place in the Outlander TV series. It makes sense for the show to cover it, but that’s going to depend on a number of factors including whether there’s even going to be an eighth season. It happens toward the end of the seventh book and into the eighth.
I’ve seen a lot of people get to An Echo in the Bone recently, and they’re shocked to find out that Claire and Lord John Grey marry. Those who haven’t got there but like to know the spoilers are also shocked.
It’s hard to believe that Claire would marry anyone other than Jamie. It’s also very hard to believe that she would marry Lord John Grey knowing that he’s gay. So, why does it happen in the Outlander books?
Claire and John believe Jamie to be dead in Outlander Book 8
Claire returns to America before Jamie does in the seventh book. Jamie and Jenny head over on a different ship, and it’s one that sinks on the way. Everyone believes that Jamie and Jenny were on board at the time and that they perished at sea.
Under normal circumstances, Claire would have likely returned to Fraser’s Ridge and just dealt with Jamie’s affairs and given herself time to grieve. These weren’t normal circumstances. She was going to be arrested for espionage, and Lord John Grey had to protect her knowing that she wouldn’t be a spy.
He married her to offer her his protection. Yes, they did consummate the marriage, too.
At the start of the eighth book, Jamie reveals that he is alive. He had been on another ship with Jenny. He does find out that Claire and John married, and it ends his friendship with John.
Will all this play out in the series? It would certainly create drama!