Outlander Book Club: An Echo in the Bone Chapter 1 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with William and Brianna meeting in Wilmington. We get to hear William’s thoughts on the matter, but it’s clear that he doesn’t suspect anything just yet. Lord John Grey doesn’t seem too concerned about Willie meeting Bree just yet, although it could be a concern later.

John notes that it’s the only time the two siblings will get to meet. What does he know about where Bree is off to? He doesn’t know about time travel, so I’m not sure why he would even think that Bree and William couldn’t cross paths ever again.

For William, this chapter is about giving him a storyline for An Echo in the Bone. He’s offered the chance to be a messenger since he knows the Virginia terrain. If he happens to hear of any intelligence to pass along to the Crown, then that would be beneficial. William decides to take up the offer.

As for John, we learn that he got the boat for Bree to shoot Bonnet. John notes that Bonnet had a look of gratefulness when it came to his death, but it’s clear that he didn’t know that Bonnet’s fear was death by drowning.

He gets to his room, where a French man of the name Mr. Beauchamp is waiting. Beauchamp and John have a history, but they’ve never really met. That is until John realizes that Beauchamp is Percy Wainwright, and they definitely have history.

We know of the history from the Lord John Grey books, but you don’t need to read them to appreciate their past. It’s clear that the two were lovers at some point. Beauchamp has married Cecile Beauchamp and uses that family name from time to time, but that’s not the matter of conversation. He brings up an offer to the British government, but then there seems to be a veiled threat against Jamie and William. John makes it clear that Percy needs to stay away from him and his son. It’s clear this isn’t the last of Percy Wainwright.