Outlander Book Club: An Echo in the Bone Chapter 88 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with Claire performing Henri-Christian’s surgery. Denny is in awe at Claire’s work and the ether, which John was able to get the items for. There is a problem with light, but Claire is able to do the surgery relatively easily.

After this, we see her move on to Henry Grey. John remains with his nephew to ensure if something goes wrong, Henry has a family member there. Denny explains where he thinks the other ball is, and Claire understands she needs to work carefully. Mercy would like something to do, so Claire tells her how to use the ether.

Now it’s time to get to work. We don’t get to see the full surgery, but we do get to see John in awe of Claire. He already respected her talents, but he gains more respect for her in this part of the books. He sees her fully at work, and it’s the perfect way to show just how amazing she is at her job.

We then cut to William, Dorothea, and Rachel, who are all waiting on the sidelines. William is shocked to hear that the surgery is complete but there were no screams. It shows us what William is used to. Really, it’s what they’re all used to hearing when it comes to surgery.

The conversation moves onto Dorothea and Denny. Dottie hasn’t told her parents yet. She wants to do it as a p.s. in a letter about Henry. She thinks that her parents will ignore the fact that she wants to marry Denny when they hear the good news about Henry. William knows that is not the way her parents will act.

I love that we see Rachel, in her attempt to be honest and caring, is a little tactless. William scolds her for that, and notes that Denny is a talented surgeon. Then he wants to make a comment about Claire’s skills but realizes that she scares him a little. Doesn’t she with everyone?

Toward the end of the chapter, Rollo’s hackles are up. He growls at a man, and William thinks about the man who had been asking for Ian Murray. It’s clear that someone is a threat, and William is uneasy about this man. He has every right to be.

In the end, William realizes that by Dottie potentially marrying Denny, he will be on the opposite side of the war to some of his family. That doesn’t sit well with him.