Dragonfly in Amber

Le Havre, France. February 1744. Claire and Jamie wake in a boarding house in Le Havre, France. Claire is having morning sickness due to her early pregnancy. Jamie leaves her alone to meet with his cousin, Jared Fraser, a wine merchant. Claire reflects on their time spent at Ste. Anne’s Abby. While there, Alexander, a Jacobite, corresponded with friends of James Stuart and arranged a position for Jamie as a companion to Charles Stuart, James Stuart’s son. Claire and Jamie plan to influence Charles against invading Scotland to prevent the disastrous Jacobite Uprising.

When Jamie returns from his visit with Jared, he is very drunk. The next morning, Jamie takes Claire with him to meet with Jared again. They board Jared’s ship where he announces that he needs someone to take over his wine business in Paris and he wants Jamie to do it. This position will give Jamie the social clout he needs to move in Charles Stuart’s social circles. As they talk, Claire notices a commotion on a nearby ship. She asks what’s happening and learns there is sickness on the ship. As a healer, she wants to go see if she can help, but Jamie warns her not to.