John wastes no time in getting answers from Malcolm Stubbs in Lord John and the Custom of the Army Section 4. We also get some more answers about the death of John and Hal’s father.
In Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, we finally learn that Hal and John’s father didn’t kill himself. However, it took time to find out what really happened, and there wasn’t really any official closure. That has finally come in this chapter.
Then there’s the fact that John is a smart man. He knew who the baby’s father was in that house, and he is not happy.
Breaking down Lord John and the Custom of the Army Section 4
We pick up with John and Manoke initially enjoying some time fishing. They also have an intimate moment, which certainly suggests that the kiss wasn’t a dream after all.
Back at camp, John learns that the court martial will need to wait. There is a task at hand, and Wolfe wants John to join some Highlanders to take Quebec.
Before that happens, John wants to find Malcolm Stubbs, who was on a secret mission to scout a location. Now he’s back, and John decides to confront him about the baby that he has seen. He is angry that Malcolm would betray Olivia in this way.
Malcolm points out that there is a custom of the Army when it comes to sieges and the sacking of towns. John isn’t willing to accept that as an excuse, and Malcolm goes on to share that men cope with the situation in different ways. Some turn to drink and others to women. Malcolm won’t go to a prostitute, but he does want to sleep in the arms of a woman.
John wants to know what Malcolm is going to do, but Malcolm isn’t sure about that just yet. He does want the miniature of Olivia and their baby, which did survive the fire after all.
Two days later, there are more troops arriving to deal with the Siege of Quebec. John also gets a heavy parcel from Hal. The weight is from a gold paperweight that has the sapphire from Ardsmuir in it.
John also learns that Adams, who we met in Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, has finally confessed. It turned out that John and Hal’s father knew all about the Jacobite ring, but he did nothing until it came to the warrant for his own arrest. He summoned Adams, who came with a pistol. Both men fired, the Duke was shot, and Adams fled the scene. John thinks back to the peach tree smell of the time.
Could this chapter be used in a TV series adaptation?
There is one part of this story that needs to be included, and it’s all about the ending. We need to see the confession. This doesn’t mean that Lord John and the Custom of the Army would ever need to be adapted, though. If there was a Lord John Grey series, the ending of this section could be used in the adaptation of The Brotherhood of the Blade. That would make more sense to wrap up that storyline.
The part with Malcolm Stubbs is important if the Cinnamon storyline was going to be used. If it isn’t used, then there’s no need for it. After all, why open that can of worms if it leads to nothing?
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