Nina, could you explain this a bit more? I'm intrigued.

This is just supposition, Yolie. However, sometimes one meets someone and knows that person will be important. I felt this way when I met my husband. I wonder if Claire felt this way? Maybe this is why she extends the extra care to McTavish? This is not love at first sight, but a desire to know more of another.

Jamie and Claire do spend a good amount of time together and Jamie does have a special magnetism. He wanted her from the start. He does seem rather hard to resist. Maybe Claire felt more for him before their marriage, but couldn't admit it to herself because of her loyalty to Frank.

Pauline brought up here an observation about Mistress FitzGibbons maybe noticing an attraction between the two of them when they first come to the castle.

I think this is a sign I spend too much time thinking about Jamie and Claire, Yolie.

This was a true "a-ha" moment for me. I am so glad that you explained this, now the nursery scene makes much more sense to me.
BTW...I love the conversation that you created between Frank and Claire: "...So how ya doin'?"

Does St. Finbar have a role somewhere in Outlander or DiA? I've read the Saints Thread and haven't seen anything, and hoped I'm come across it while re-kilting, but no such luck.

Thanks for the explanation Nina. And no way is this a sign that you spend too much time thinking about Jamie and Claire. That is not possible. Hehehe. I feel the same way about Jamie and Claire's magnetism. I like how you worded it and I have to agree with you.


Sawney! Congratulations on going blue!

Thank-you Yolie! Who'd a thought that being blue would feel so good?!
Oh! Great chapter summary BTW!

Back to the chapter discussion...

Why didn't Claire call Frank and have HIM get the furnace fixed? Then she could have concentrated on the baby, housework, and preparing for dinner guests. Isn't that a man's sort of task in about 1950?

I was a bit appalled that Frank left Brianna alone for the neighbor to listen for her while he hunted for Claire - not knowing how long that would take (unless he also anticipated her normal schedule on Friday night). The houses (maybe row houses?) were sufficiently separated that they had separate furnaces. How much could the neighbor have heard or responded to Brianna's needs from next door, especially, with the temporary furnace fix? (Did Frank even know about that yet?)

Apparently Frank attends the same church, St. Finbar's, every Sunday. If Father Beggs were really curious about Claire, why didn't he visit with her during her regular Perpetual Adoration? I know, just let that go.

I do agree that this time of meditation likely left Claire more receptive to Frank's attention.

I would like to offer that as for the pump action in the nursery, Claire had her comfortable chair there for nursing, as well as the pump, and was probably planning to spend a little time with Brianna after being out for the evening (and let Frank fall asleep?). As for Brianna, she was asleep for the night. Claire could not interest her in the other side. Brianna was probably exhausted from the tough day that SHE had. Now Momma and Daddy were home, the home was warm again, and she was fed - she was fast asleep.

So, I do not find the mmmph scene in the nursery so improbable, especially after a long (?) abstinence and a little encouragement.

What I do find improbable, is Claire discussing these details with Roger! (Or did I misread and were these thoughts only in her head?) Notice that the above scene was in Brianna's absence. Brianna returns after the mmmph scene with the purchases for Fiona and the fruits of her research.

Repoman, I have missed you! You make great points as usual. It would seem strange for Claire to share those details with Roger, now that you mention it. It need to go back and rekilt that section.

Heck... I like it when my husband takes care of these things in 2011, even without a newborn baby. What does it say about Frank's character and/or the Frank/Claire relationship that he *didn't* take care of fixing the furnace?


Thank you for expressing my same pique at Frank for leaving Brianna at home alone. The little one was only 3 months for heaven's sake! Yes, the neighbor could probably hear just fine through the walls; yes, Brianna was sound asleep; and yes, the neighbor was maternal enough Brianna was safe, but...


The thoughts were only in Claire's head. She and Roger are discussing her re-appearance when she remembers the early days, then comes back to the present when Roger hands her a glass of whisky, obviously seeing her in some emotional distress (p 20-24, dialogue only):

Roger: "Did he believe you?"
Claire: 'No. Not at first. He thought I was mad; even had me vetted by a psychiatrist.'
Roger: 'Later, then? What did he think?'
Claire: 'I don't know.'

**Claire remembers the early days **
*Roger hand Claire a glass of whisky.*

Roger: 'Fiona's grannie always said whisky is good for what ails ye.'
Claire: 'I've seen worse remedies.'
Claire: 'I tried to send him away, you know. Frank. I knew he couldn't feel the same for me....'

Laura,

Thank you for correcting me. I am relieved that Claire had more propriety than in my impression. I think that the title (Full Disclosure) contributed to my misunderstanding. Well, that's my excuse.

In that case, Claire really didn't explain much to Roger though, did she? He must have been at a loss while Claire was musing, or was he busy with research? Roger was asking if Frank ever believed Claire's story. Her simple response was "I don't know." She is also leaving the reader puzzled. Will the puzzle be solved later?

Some of Claire's musings, well edited, would have been nice for Claire to share with Brianna as a measure of her mother's love. am I digressing?

So, did Frank ever find out about the furnace problem. Maybe, when the bill came due? We really do not see much of the relationship between Frank and Claire, as illustrated by our confusion in this discussion.

As for Roger's research, has anyone out there read Linklater's The Prince in the Heather? My limited inquiry indicates that it is fairly rare. Would you recommend the effort to obtain this work as background reading for OBC members?

repoman wrote:
Why didn't Claire call Frank and have HIM get the furnace fixed? Then she could have concentrated on the baby, housework, and preparing for dinner guests. Isn't that a man's sort of task in about 1950?


My guess is that it probably didn't occur to her to ask him to do it. She's used to handling things herself and would have considered it "her job" to handle the home front. Frank did offer to go to the market for her and she turned him down.

The whole scene brought back such memories of having newborns and how the day just slips away. You're exhausted & hormonal, you feel like you're not maintaining your home to standards, you often look and feel terrible, you're nervous about how you are as a new mother (particularly if they're sick or colicky) and feeling like you got nothing done by the end of the day. Claire had a rough pregnancy and probably a tough delivery. Add in her grief about Jamie and it's a wonder that she didn't shoot Frank when he made his comment about her not doing anything all day! Clueless man. All in all, probably not the best decision to have the dinner party. (although it would have been fun to be a fly on the wall as Frank tries to explain the situation to his boss and his wife. Suitable penance I think...

I think Diana says that he did cheat in the Outlandish Companion. Yes, there's plenty of blame to go round, but he kept on having affairs. It's not like Claire was withholding sex from him. I get the feeling that it's not in his nature to be faithful (to anyone) and was trying to punish her. I do give Frank props for taking Bree as his own, but it ends there. I guess it's also because even before she goes through the stones, the glimpse we get of him is a person who is totally self absorbed and sort of treats his wife with a condescending regard that someone would give a child. We also have hints he wasn't faithful then either. It's also cruel of him to take her to these staff events and basically parade his hoes in front of her.

Daphnerose: