Part 2, Chapter 11 Summary

A little man comes over to talk to Claire and Jamie while they are at de Rohan's house. He is Herr Johannes Gerstmann, the king's singing master. He tries to get Jamie to sing, then determines Jamie cannot hold a note. He next entices Claire and finds her singing delightful. Claire is introduced as Lady Broch Tuarach. The singing master's wife sees Claire and cheerfully invites her to meet Mary Hawkins. Mary doesn't sing because her voice stammers. Claire makes her feel comfortable and tells her that when people sing, they don't stammer. She tells her that she doesn't have to sing if she doesn't want to. The girl goes into one of the alcoves to be alone.

The singing begins and Jamie simply watches. Mary does not come out of the alcove, but Claire thinks she hears her singing. A...