Outlander Book Club: Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade Chapter 17

Lord John Grey ends up delivering a baby in Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade Chapter 17. All of this happens at a wedding.

It’s time for John’s mother to marry Percy’s father. There are some moments of intimate thoughts from John, giving us more of an insight into his desires. I remember so many people saying “John wouldn’t act like that” throughout Outlander Season 4, and I just kept thinking, he is still human. This book confirms that.

This is a man known for scandal. He was exiled to Scotland because of the threat of scandal. However, he does try to keep his mind on the right things.

Breaking down Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade Chapter 17

The chapter starts with the wedding of Benedicta and Sir George. The two are going ahead with it, after Benedicta initially calling it off. Fortunately, word had not spread of her calling it off, thanks to John and George managing to convince her otherwise.

Throughout the wedding, John finds himself thinking of Percy. They are meeting that night, and John has some inappropriate thoughts of him considering he is in church.

As he tries to put his thoughts back on the church, John realizes that Olivia is behind a pillar. He tries to get Percy’s attention to check on his cousin, but that fails. So, John is able to sneak out to get to Olivia, finding out that she is in labor. She refuses to alert anyone too much, making sure the wedding goes ahead.

John tries to get the attention of the servers by throwing candy wrappers. Percy’s attention is caught, and the two of them end up helping Olivia birth her baby. It’s a boy, and the three discuss names.

Olivia thinks about naming the baby after both John and Percy, as well as her husband Malcolm. However, Percy ends up recommending the name Oliver. That leads to Olivia thinking of the name Cromwell, and that shall be his name.

I use of the name Cromwell is so ironic considering how John and his family are Royalists. Oliver Cromwell led the Roundheads against King Charles I in the Civil War that led to a Parliamentarian state for a while after the execution of King Charles I. His son, Charles II, eventually got the throne back.

Could this chapter be used in a TV adaptation?

I do think that we would need to see the wedding go ahead if there is an adaptation of Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade. This is just so important for Benedicta to show that she will not be swayed not to marry a man she wants to marry.

That would mean the birth has to happen. It’s a bit of drama in what could be a relatively boring moment in the episode. Plus, we have the Cromwell moment, which I just find so ironic. The adaptation wouldn’t just focus on the main mystery—which hasn’t even become as huge as the other mysteries in previous books—so we would need some other type of drama, and this certainly offers that.

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