Outlander Book Club: Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone Chapter 74 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
Fergus and Roger head out to see Percy Wainwright. As Fergus calls him Beauchamp, Roger asks if this man could be related to Claire. This doesn’t seem to be something that Fergus has considered, and I would love to see him play with that thought, now.
We also get to see Fergus’s way of thinking. He knows that he may not be a printer for much longer. At least, not until the war ends. It’s not safe for him or his family, so he wants to find another option in life. This could be it.
As he hears that the Comte St. Germain may be his father, Fergus recognizes the name Amelie Elise LeVigne Beauchamp. What he didn’t know is that she was his mother. The only reason he was kept by the brothel was that he was pretty enough for it. He points out that as the illegitimate child, what does it matter? Sure, the Comte has been missing for 20 years, but as the illegitimate child, Fergus can’t exactly petition for him to be declared dead and inherit all that wealth.
Percy has brought a lawyer friend, who has a copy of the Comte’s marriage certificate to Amelie. Fergus wouldn’t be illegitimate. Fergus makes it clear that he saw plenty of forged marriage certificates when he was at the brothel.
Of course, Fergus wants to know what Percy will get out of it. Percy wants the Northwest Territories, which is where some land that the Comte owns is. Fergus could sell the land and make it easier for a French invasion. The only way that is any good is if the Americans will the war, and the lawyer points out that that will happen.
Fergus ends up leaving with Roger in tow. Fergus makes it clear that Percy is gay and once sold his body. Now that Percy is too old for that, he’s selling other things. The lawyer friend is evil. Roger makes it clear that he couldn’t even remember what the man looked like. I love that we get to see everything that Fergus takes in.
The end of the chapter sees Fergus make it clear that he and his family will leave with Roger and Brianna. Printing press included.