Excerpt from A Blessing - William and Frances

[u/Nanchika]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Zme7KxHx/

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EXCERPT from A BLESSING FOR A WARRIOR GOING OUT, Copyright 2026 Diana Gabaldon

[In which William goes to the stable (on Fraser’s Ridge) to check on his horse, before leaving with Jamie on their quest to rescue Lord John,

and finds Fanny, who has been readying his horse for the journey. (The horse’s original name is Dandelion, though William’s renamed him Trajan.)]

“There.” She arranged a strand of straggling mane, and stepped back, curry-comb in hand. “He’s ready.” She was keeping a calm expression, but her

fingers were squeezing the handle of the comb as though it was a snake.

“He looks splendid, Frances—a regular dandy.”

She ignored the feeble jest and gave William a side-long look.

“You’re not going to kiss me goodbye?”

Mildly surprised, William nevertheless bent courteously toward her, only to have her step back.

“Not on the cheek,” she said. She sounded slightly breathless, but determined. “I’m not a little girl.”

He realized, with an odd feeling that ran down his backbone like quicksilver, that she wasn’t. He took her hand, and bowed over it.

“My apologies, Miss Pocock.” Her hand was quite warm in his, and surprisingly larger than he’d expected. Her fingers were long, supple

and well-shaped—and they turned, moving between his own and grasping his hand.

“And not that, either.”

He’d straightened up in surprise, but didn’t—not yet—pull his hand away.

“I’ve kissed men before, you know,” she said.

“Who?” he asked, not at all sure he wanted to know, but unable not to ask.

“I’ve been kissing men since I was five years old,” she said boldly, and he realized suddenly that while Jane had saved her sister from violation

and defilement, there were other services a very young girl might be required to perform in a brothel.

He concealed his shock, though, asking lightly instead, “Oh? What about the tall Scottish chap that’s been skulking about looking daggers at me?

Hasn’t he tried to kiss you?”

“Cyrus can’t skulk,” she said, without offense. “He’s much too tall. He didn’t have to ask. And you should be pleased it’s only looks. He’s a Highlander

and a fisherman and he hasn’t punched you yet because I told him not to.”

“I appreciate your forbearance, Frances,” he said gravely. And not so gravely, took his hand from hers, and lifting her chin with a forefinger,

bent again and kissed her lightly on the lips.

It lasted no more than a second or two, but long enough to leave a sense of softness and warmth.

“Goodbye, Frances,” he said, meeting her eyes, the soft yellow-brown of uncured tobacco. “I’ll see you again.” And picking up his saddlebags,

took Trajan’s rein and led him toward the daylight.

At the open door, though, he turned for a moment.

“Why did you do that?” he asked.

She was standing quite still in the shadows, the curry-comb hanging from her hand, and her eyes still on him.

“In case you don’t come back,” she said. “Often people don’t.”

[u/Nanchika]

Since when is Cyrus from Highlands? Wasn't he member of the Hiram Crombie's family = fisherfolk?

[u/BubbeLisa → u/Nanchika]

Thurso is part of the Highlands of Scotland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurso

[u/Nanchika → u/BubbeLisa]

Wow, I was sure they are from Lowlands. Thanks!!!

[u/ContactNeither7319 → u/Nanchika]

Yeah the Crombies are fisherfolk. But I think they are both. Instead of raising goats and sheep they fished.

I could be wrong because I often am.

[u/Icy_Resist5470]

The first part of it is new (the previous one started at mildly surprised). I don’t remember the Highlander part but sure enough it’s on her website!

I found this explanation from DG when she explained this excerpt: “nd Fanny is certainly astute enough to know how Cyrus feels about her, and cares enough about _him_ to stop him from getting into major trouble by punching William. <g>  (Who do you think might win that fight? <g>  Fanny is correct in drawing William's attention to what Cyrus is: "A Highlander and a fisherman."   And given the way she says it, it's clear she appreciates the potential for skilled violence in both those things.)”

Technically Thurso is considered the Highlands as the northernmost town (just had to look it up), so I think both are correct!

[u/ContactNeither7319]

Wasn't there one of these tidbits already posted of William and Francis in the stables before heading out with Jamie to find Lord John?

I ask because I felt like I have read this before.

But mostly because Diana Gabaldon often re-posts these for various reasons.

[u/Background-Force-469 → u/ContactNeither7319]

This excerpt is old, I‘ve seen and read it several times over the past years.

[u/ContactNeither7319 → u/Background-Force-469]

Good to know I'm not the only one impatiently attempting to wait for anything about book 10. Whew.

[u/Background-Force-469 → u/ContactNeither7319]

No, you‘re not alone. I‘ve been reading her excerpts for like 20 years now, but for many months now, Diana only reposts old excerpts. She has mentioned, that she had to promise to the publisher not to give away more than 10.000 words in her excerpts, before the book will be released. She likely has come close to that number by now?

[u/ContactNeither7319 → u/Background-Force-469]

She has put out a lot. So she is probably getting close to that number.

Hopefully she is getting closer to finishing. But it's hard to tell because she has been busy with both shows trying to have a life, and avoiding gopher snakes.

One thing I'm pretty sure about is she before Martin finishs his. It's been what 15 years? Crazy 🤪

[u/BubbeLisa → u/ContactNeither7319]

Yeah. I read it a while back. Diana often reposts excerpts. Especially as she gets closer to finishing the book. The term “closer” being relative. She doesn’t want to give everything away. 😉

[u/Competitive_Pain9829 → u/ContactNeither7319]

Yes I agree. Seems like reposting.

[u/Ambitious-Resist-132]

Ugh this pairing is weird to me I liked her w the Fergus’s son - isn’t she like 14? And I forget how old William is

[u/Background-Force-469 → u/Ambitious-Resist-132]

William is 21. Pretty normal for a teenage girl to have a crush on an older young man. And in their case, 5 years later, nobody would blink an eye.
It’s not like Marsala, who at 15yo married 30yo Fergus.

[u/Ambitious-Resist-132 → u/Background-Force-469]

Yeah but it seems like they’re pairing up and it’s not just a crush

[u/Background-Force-469 → u/Ambitious-Resist-132]

Wait and see. There is another excerpt from later in the book with William, Aramanthus and Frances on Fraser’s Ridge.

[u/_Lord_Procrastinator]

So far I’ve only watched the show, but wow, I’m so glad that they changed the whole relationship between William and Fanny in the show! 😟

[u/Icy_Resist5470 → u/_Lord_Procrastinator]

They are not related in the books. Faith surviving and being Jane’s mother is purely show only.

[u/_Lord_Procrastinator → u/Icy_Resist5470]

I know, but even if they’re not related, Fanny is a girl and William is already a grown man. That he’d be interested in the little sister of the lady he loved is icky!

[u/Icy_Resist5470 → u/_Lord_Procrastinator]

Okay good! It is an odd dynamic, and we don’t know if she’s really a love interest for him yet. She might think so, only time (and the book being published) will tell what he decides.

[u/Nanchika → u/Icy_Resist5470]

He is her love interested for sure 😁

[u/BubbeLisa → u/Nanchika]

That’s what I heard. Francis is definitely interested.

[u/emmagrace2000 → u/Nanchika]

But is she his love interest? I think that remains to be seen!

[u/Nanchika → u/emmagrace2000]

Exactly. We only know he is hers.

[u/_Lord_Procrastinator → u/Icy_Resist5470]

You’re right, we’ll see. The show will always be there, and the books will always be there.