Part 2, Chapter 9 Summary

Claire becomes accustomed to being at the castle. She tends to the wounded, as needed, and helps Mrs. Fitz in the garden. It seems that the people are growing used to her, and actually starting to accept her. There is talk of a gathering soon. Claire witnesses many carcasses that hang in the nearby shed for slaughtering; and bags of flour are being delivered to the castle. She is invited to the orchards to pick fresh fruit for the occasion, which she happily accepts in order to get out of the castle for a change. Claire asks Magdalen, a woman she had befriended, how many people attended this gathering. Magdalen says it has been over 20 years since the last one; and there were maybe "ten score of men...might be more this year."

Claire watches as people start arriving for the...