Lord John Grey continues the search into Percy Wainwright in Outlander Book 7, Chapter 32
John continues to look into what Wainwright wants in Outlander Book 7, Chapter 32. All this leads to John thinking about his own mortality.
This chapter is mostly set up through letters. John is writing to Hal, and Hal is writing to John. Everything is about John’s search into Percy Wainwright and what the man wants. It’s clear that this mystery is something John is not letting go.
And it’s for good reason. John is worried about two men connected to William: Richardson and Denys Randall-Isaacs. What do these two men want, and how are they connected to Percy? We’ve been wondering the same thing for a while now.
In the end, John thinks about the mortality of Hal, Harry Quarry, and himself. Does this foreshadow a few things to come? Maybe it’s foreshadowing danger coming to those around him. I’ll get to my thoughts on that in the foreshadowing section.
As to whether this chapter will be used or not depends on the time available. How much of the Wainwright plot will be used in Outlander Season 7? I’ll get to my thoughts on that in the adaptation section.
Let’s dive into An Echo in the Bone Chapter 32.
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter begins with John writing a letter to Hal and Norrington. There’s a mention of names that have all come up at some point throughout the book so far. While some of these names are fictional, others are real from history, and I continue to love how Diana Gabaldon combines everything.
John seems to be getting closer to deciphering all of Percy’s connections. Beaumarchais would usually see John, but he refused to see John on this occasion. What does that mean? Is there a connection? John certainly thinks so.
In the letter to Hal, John writes about where Percy is staying. It’s at the Trois Flèches, which translates to “three arrows.” Who are the three arrows for? Who could be the three arrows? Is this connected to Percy and Beauchamp? What about Fergus?
John does write that he is suspicious of Richardson and Denys Randall-Isaacs. This isn’t surprising considering we have our own suspicions. In fact, William also has his own suspicions. Hal has his own name drops and suspicions. They are Germain, Burgoyne, Carleton, and Howe. Those names have come up for us, too. Something in Hal’s letter though makes it clear that nobody really knows much of Richardson. Was he better than Howe?
All of this leads to John thinking of his mortality. It all starts with him thinking of Harry Quarry and Hal’s mortalities, two men John once thought of as immortal. Then John thinks of his own aging. He feels it in twinges in his knees or a stiffening of his thumb. It’s interesting that these thoughts come now.
John starts to worry that he won’t be around for William in the future. What happens when John dies? What will William do?
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
I do think this chapter foreshadows some things to come for John and William. John fears his mortality and what will happen to William, but we know that William doesn’t have much to worry about. There is another man out there who will be able to help—and not just Hal.
It’s all about Jamie. There’s a sort of hint that John doesn’t need to fear for William because William is about to learn the truth about Jamie being his father. This is going to lead to other problems further down.
I also think with the mention of Beauchamp, we continue with this connection to Claire. This is eventually going to come up, even though it hasn’t just yet.
Then there are the suspicions around Richardson. He’s a much bigger problem than he initially seems right now.
Adapting An Echo in the Bone chapter
The big question is whether this storyline will be used in Outlander Season 7. This all comes down to whether there’s enough time for it all. These chapters can’t be used if there isn’t enough time for John’s search into what Percy wants. Then we need the whole storyline involving Beauchamp and this mysterious French nobleman, who everyone has assumed would be Comte St. Germain for so long.
The show needs time to really delve into this. This would make a great spin-off series with John’s investigations. It would allow time to develop Fergus’s character better, especially as we all want to know who his family in France is. I do think a spin-off is the only way to give the show enough time to delve into it all since there’s just too much elsewhere to fit in for Outlander Season 7, and there’s no confirmation there will be a beyond just yet.
What did you spot while reading An Echo in the Bone Chapter 32? Let us know in the comments below.
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