An Echo in the Bone

John Grey writes to Norrington that Percy Beauchamp is involved with a company called Rodrigue Hortalez et Cie and asks Norrington to investigate. John writes Hal that he has confirmed Percy Beauchamp lives with his wife Cecile and her brother the Baron Amandine at their estate, Trois Fleches (“Three Arrows”). John has no further information about Denys Randall-Isaacs or Captain Richardson. Hal’s letter in response explains that Denys is John Randall’s son by Mary Hawkins. John Randall was a significant antagonist to Jamie and Claire before the battle of Culloden, though Hal does not know this. Mary Hawkins remarried Robert Isaacs after John Randall’s death, and Denys is known to have political aims. Hal asks who the “third arrow” could be, in addition to the Baron Amandine and his sister Cecile.

In London, March 1977, John meets with his acquaintance Harry Quarry, hoping to learn more about Richardson. Harry Quarry agrees to report any findings to Hal, as John will sail to America with Dottie soon. Suddenly aware of his own mortality, John fears “that he might not be there to protect William, while he was still needed” (487).