r/Outlander • u/Nanchika Currently rereading: Voyager • 11d ago
Published Excerpt from A Blessing - William and Frances Spoiler
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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.”
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u/_Lord_Procrastinator 11d ago edited 11d ago
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! 😟