Previously...
Where are you two off to at this early hour?
She's carrying your sibling.
My father's child?
I didn't have a choice.
You should have told me the truth.
What's wrong with you, man?
You were screaming the name Julia in your sleep.
- Nightmare, I suppose. - Mm.
What do my eyes say?
That your feelings havena changed.
Have yours for me?
Never.
Did you find your lady?
With the kind eyes?
No.
She's my wife.
Been looking for her for months now.
I'm sorry.
Do you think perhaps we could just lie here?
They say a man is born alone and dies alone.
But whoever said that
is clearly not of the female persuasion.
Because it's not true.
At least, the first part isn't.
Man is born of a woman,
who is with you through your birth.
A mother.
It's all right.
Mummy's here, darling.
We'll do this together.
Brian?
Oh.
I'm glad I found you.
Oh, Christ. Is it time already?
My waters have broken.
Balloch, send for the howdie.
I've been wanting to talk to you
since you returned from Beltane.
Why bother?
How can I trust a word that comes out of your mouth?
Before you speak,
there's one thing I must be certain of first.
When I was leaving for Beltane, you said you had no choice.
I want the truth of it.
Did my father force you?
Dinna lie to me.
Oh, you've seen the way he looks at me.
If I hadn't taken matters into my own hands,
he probably would have.
I trusted you with a grave secret,
a matter of life and death--
and not just my own life at stake,
only to find you were lying through your teeth
and lying on your back with my father,
a man who'd throw us to the wolves without thinking twice,
who'd see Ellen ruined or worse.
I was already with child when I was brought here
and quickly discovered what the consequences would be
if anyone found out.
So yes, I had to go to bed with your father,
make him believe it's his.
It isn't.
There was no other way, hmm?
Your mother was able to keep you
because you're the laird's son.
If Ellen was carrying your baby,
don't you think she would do anything
to keep him out of harm's way?
This is mine and Henry's baby.
And I love Henry with all my heart.
This is all I have left of him.
You'll need all yer courage for what's comin', lass.
I've done this before.
I can do it again.
Well, given the circumstances,
ye must ready yourself for your confinement.
Confinement?
♪ Long the way ♪
♪ O'er the bridge I crossed ♪
♪ For my love ♪
♪ For my love that's lost ♪
♪ By the brae ♪
♪ In the verdant moss ♪
♪ Where I watch Where I wait ♪
♪ For my love that's lost ♪
♪ Hi a bho ♪
♪ Hoireann eile o ♪
♪ Hi a bho ♪
♪ Fair a leo fair a lè ♪
♪ Hi a bho ♪
♪ Hoireann eile o ♪
♪ 'S tu mo run 'S tu mo ghràdh ♪
♪ Agus m' eudail o ♪
- I'll check with the laird. - Ah.
Where are ye off to at this hour, Beauchamp?
What's it to you?
I'm not your prisoner here.
I don't need your permission.
I'll tell ye what it is to me, you impertinent bugger.
'Tis my bread and butter,
my means of keeping a roof over my wife's head,
my promise to the laird that I'd not allow you
to be shirking your duties
or sneaking off to God knows where.
That's what it is to me.
Yes, well, the day's barely begun.
There's plenty of time for my duties.
But let me make your job
easy for you so you're not following me around
like a dark bloody cloud.
I need to pay a visit to some of the midwives in this area.
And what, pray tell, can a midwife do for you?
The laird is losing his patience
with this search nonsense, as am I.
Because it is not just any woman that I am looking for.
It is my wife and my baby too.
- A bairn? - That's right.
My wife was with child when we were parted.
And she's due to give birth any day now,
if she hasn't done already.
Now, look, I don't expect your sympathy.
I certainly don't want your pity.
I just need to find them.
My son was dead-born.
I remember his wee round face,
those eyelashes,
far too bonnie for a wee laddie.
Of course, my Murdina, brave soul that she is,
is- she's lucky to be alive.
I'm very sorry.
Let me speak to the laird on your behalf.
Perhaps we can arrange something.
With Isaac's blessin',
some midwives can be sent for
and brought here to speak wi' you.
You'd do that for me?
Well, thank you. I'd be very grateful.
No need for any of that talk.
It's only for the sake of putting ye out your misery
and back to work.
Julia.
Mm.
Mm, Julia.
Davina.
Lovely, desirable Davina.
Come to me.
What of my chores?
What of the chamber pots, m'laird?
Come to me now.
Or it's you who won't have a pot to piss in.
Do as I say,
or I'll cast you out of this house.
And then what will become of you?
You're so pretty.
Oh.
It's you.
Aye, m'laird.
Come to stoke your morning fire,
empty your chamber pot,
and tell you about Julia.
Did I not make myself clear when last we spoke of this?
If it's some foolish, insignificant gripe, I swear--
No. It's that the bairn is comin'.
What are you talking about? Enough of your nonsense.
I don't want to hear it.
I know the baby is coming but not yet, surely?
Her waters have broken, m'laird.
What?
Well, then you're to tell Miss Beauchamp
to put on her best dress.
Give her one of your old, uh, mistress' gowns if need be.
Aye, we're, uh-- we're going to the kirk.
Whatever for?
Because I'm going to marry her.
Marry her?
No, ye- ye canna. She's a Sassenach.
She's no better than a scullery maid.
The boy will be my legitimate son and heir,
a Fraser of Lovat, born in wedlock.
And if the babe is a girl?
The prophecy will come to pass.
- Now go and do as I've asked. - I canna--
Curse you and your insubordination!
She'll not be able to go to the kirk.
Howdie has already been sent for,
and the gossips are on their way as well.
Aye.
Well, you may use the main hall as a birthing chamber
during Julia's confinement.
I'll have my breakfast in here.
Thank you, Mistress Porter.
I know you'll take good care of them.
Ah.
Thank you for your help.
Begone with ye now.
Ye ken full well men are to be banished
from the birthing chamber.
Well, be gentle with her, Ma.
She's an outlander,
wi' customs different than ours.
Well, that's what confinement's for--
womenfolk coming together to help a mother birth her bairn.
Is there something between the two of ye?
There's been a look in your eye of late.
There's nothing between us.
The bairn--
it's not yours, is it?
No.
I'm only worried Julia might be chided
being unmarried, so...
There was a time when
you hoped my father would marry you, I think.
Well, there was all that unfortunate business
with my mistress, Lady Amelia--
your father's treatment of her as a noblewoman, so--
But he may have done, otherwise?
Did he--
did he love you?
The Lord doesna allow a child
to be conceived against a lassie's will,
if that's what you're askin'.
Then you loved him?
Why?
"Honor thy father and thy mother"
is one of the Ten Commandments.
Difficult at times.
But if my father has your respect
and he's to have mine,
I want his in return.
I want to be worthy of the Fraser name.
You're more than worthy of your name.
Not in his eyes.
He will come to see. And if not, we must make him.
We've lived under his roof long enough.
You deserve what you're owed as his flesh and blood.
But why does this matter to ye now?
You've never cared for titles or coin.
Is it because of the bairn?
Or if it's marriage that's on your mind and you're wise,
you will listen to your mother
and you will find a lass who's deserving of your attention.
Mm.
Thank you again for coming at such short notice.
I'm sorry not to have been more help.
Now, I understand that you have delivered babies
in the villages to the south of us.
Have you, by any chance, delivered the child
of an Englishwoman recently?
No.
Is it, uh--
is it likely that someone else--
um, another midwife from your area, perhaps--
might have been summoned to help instead of you?
'Tis possible, aye,
but, uh, most likely not without my hearing of it.
When a lass is brought to bed for her confinement,
many of the womenfolk in the vicinity
come to attend the birth.
I've heard neither hide nor hair of any Sassenach.
I'm sorry.
Oh, well, um--
well, thank you anyway.
Perhaps she simply hasn't given birth yet.
Mm.
Um--
- Mistress Porter. - Welcome, all.
- Mistress Porter. - Mistress.
- Mistress Porter. - Mistress Porter.
- Good day, mistress. - Mistress.
Good day, mistress.
We'll be with you shortly, dearie.
There she is.
Right.
Let's get you up, shall we?
Up you come.
I thank all of you for comin'.
I speak for both myself and Julia, I'm sure,
when I say we're very glad to have you with us.
Our pleasure.
Let us pray.
Lord, as we gather here today for the sake of this young lady
and her bairn, we ask that you bless them both
and that the baby is safely delivered.
Amen.
Your first bairn, lassie?
Dinna fash. We're here to help.
Let's help her down onto the bed.
I'm Mistress Hughes, the howdie.
May I?
Oh, ye're well on your way.
Today an everlasting bond
will be formed between two beings,
a day to be cherished and celebrated--
always.
That's, uh- that's a lovely thought.
Thank you.
'Tis true that ye are a Sassenach, then?
I am.
Canna help it, can ye, dearie?
We'll forgive you, especially since
it's His Royal Highness you're carrying.
Imagine being able to say that we attended the birth
of a future king of Scotland.
It's an auspicious day if ever there was one.
The child of prophecy, if the whispers are true.
You know about that?
For strength and luck, as is our tradition.
You'll be needing it, lass.
Mm.
Caudle. For sustenance.
Mm.
Course, a pity ye're not married.
And, uh, that's putting it delicately.
Count yourself lucky.
There's many who'd treat you poorly because of it
but not us, though, dear.
We're sorry for ye.
But still a great honor
that the laird chose ye as the vessel for his bairn.
Most pleasin' to ye, eventually, no doubt?
A royal bastard is still a bastard.
God uses the least likely among us, Mistress Porter.
All will be well.
We are here to comfort and guide you.
We stand before ye as mothers ourselves,
with compassion and kindness.
Course, Mistress Porter
suffered through the same thing.
No.
No, she and I are nothing alike.
I warned her not to be in the laird's presence alone.
But she sought him out,
all the while making eyes at my Brian,
trying to turn his head as well.
I have done nothing but try to help her
since the day she was brought here,
and she spits in my face!
Lord Lovat didna force her.
She seduced him.
You have no proof of that.
And- and what does it matter?
The- the child is Lovat's and must be protected.
Maybe. We'll see.
But the mother, she's owed no such protection.
King or no king, you must repent of your sin
and bow before the Lord God Almighty,
the great I Am,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
A grave matter indeed.
Oh, dear. A disgrace!
- Disgraceful lass. - Jezebel.
A Dhia.
- Devil's child. - Repent.
- Shame. - Shame.
Disgrace.
Repent your sins, lassie. Repent your sins.
Shame!
Hmm.
A toast
to Simon Fraser.
Yourself or the bairn?
Wee bit premature for that, no?
I see, jealous like your mother, are we?
Of a babe not yet born?
No.
Though I'd ask what I must do to please you,
as he already seems to have done.
Please me?
You've had time enough to impress me, Brian.
How exactly have you contributed
to raising this family to glory?
I work hard.
I do plenty here.
No more than Balloch or the cook.
Do you know where you come from?
A long line of magnificent men--
victors, heroes, men who'd stop at nothing
to advance their interests, achieve their ambitions.
Ruthless and unyielding, not prancing off on pilgrimage.
You're handsome and capable, I'll admit.
Oh, how could you not be?
But the seer I called upon saw no throne in your future.
And you're not like me.
A good leader isn't overly concerned with--
with right or wrong.
They do what's necessary.
You've got to take what you want.
Is that what you did?
Where's that gotten you, Father, eh?
I need a warrior, not a monk.
A prince, not a pauper.
A lion, not a lamb.
You're lucky I allowed you to use the Fraser name at all.
But soon I'll have a son who is destined for greatness.
And everyone will know it.
What- what are you doing?
They're mourning the death of your innocence,
- lamenting your sin. - No.
And you're guilty of more crimes than one.
We must save the heart and soul of this woman
for the sake of the second heart that beats inside her.
- You must repent. - Oh, stop it, please.
Have you no mercy? I'm already in pain!
I'm already suffering!
Pain is the price we women pay for our sins.
And what was your sin, exactly?
Being far too young and beautiful for my own good.
But you are a woman of loose morals.
'Tis our duty to save you.
You must all know what this feels like!
You think you're better than the rest of us, do ye?
That you deserve pity?
Is Lord Lovat truly the father of your child?
- Yes! - I dinna believe you.
Have you lain with Brian Fraser?
- No! - Liar!
Tell us once more, then.
Who is the father of your child?
Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat.
I think she's lyin'.
Tell us again the father's name.
Lord Lovat!
Did you seduce him, beguile him,
lure him to your bed?
Have you lain with anyone else?
- No! - I ask ye again.
Who is the father of your child?
Lord Lovat is the father.
And I dare you to contradict me again.
Go and ask him or ask the seer.
When my son is raised to glory, when he is king,
you will all be sorry.
If this child is not of the Fraser bloodline,
it willna come to pass.
Is this what happened to you?
Did they do this to you when you had Brian?
He is shaped by the love that you have poured into him.
I can see it.
It isn't from his father.
I'm not trying to take anything from you or replace you.
You don't need to hate me.
What is it you're after?
Money?
Status, hopin' Lord Lovat's star will rise again?
Is that why you seduced him?
He'll not make you his wife now.
His wife?
You think that is what I wanted?
He didn't marry you, did he?
No.
So like me, you can expect a life of servitude.
I'm sorry for what happened to you.
I am sorry that the lord took advantage of you,
took away your chance of ever being somebody's wife.
It wasn't your fault, I am sure of it.
But please...
...please do not harden your heart against me.
- Mm. - Please.
- I'm with child. - Best time for it.
No danger of putting another bastard in there.
'Tis no way to speak of your bairn.
You keep saying it's mine.
Has the Angel Gabriel visited ye?
Because it's either yours
or Christ the Messiah come again.
You'll not speak to me like that.
This is what you wanted, isn't it?
Is that why you're in here alone?
I saw you lookin' at me all morning, temptress.
Say it.
Say you want this.
I want this, m'laird.
Have you come across an Englishwoman with child?
Julia Beauchamp?
That's right. That's her.
Nice lassie, she was.
So... how is she?
'Tis not good news.
What's happened?
She was taken in by a crofter and his wife
after she was found wandering the moors
some miles west of here.
I went to help, but...
But?
...she died in childbirth, I'm afraid.
And the baby too.
- When was this? - A week or so ago.
I don't believe it.
Do you think I take any pleasure in telling you,
as someone who revels in the joy of helping
a new life come into this world?
What's the crofter's name, then? What was it?
Where- where can I find them?
Miles west of here, as I said.
- You're certain it was Julia? - Aye.
She said that you were parted
but that she didna have the strength
to carry on wi' out you.
'Twas upsetting for me as well.
That poor lassie and that wee angel.
Uh, was it a boy or a girl?
The matter is concluded.
You'll only make it worse for yourself.
- No. - See the lady out.
Uh, no, no, no, no.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Please, please. Where is she?
Where's Julia? Where's my baby?
Buried in a pauper's grave, I'm afraid,
though I couldna tell ye where.
'Tis unmarked.
I'm very sorry.
Have a wee dram or two at the laird's expense
to drown your sorrow.
Then back to work.
It's over, man.
Your search is over now.
Well done.
Almost believed you myself.
Poor man's worst nightmare come true.
If anything, we've done him a kindness.
Wasna any notion of mine.
The laird demanded it.
It's his coin I'm givin' ye.
And if ye still want it,
you willna say another word about it,
about any of this.
Ye understand?
Aye.
You will not break me.
I can take it.
Crucify me if you must.
You hear that? Blasphemy!
She's been sent here to try us.
Get thee behind me, Satan.
I'm beginnin' to fear she's harborin' a demon.
Oh, God, save us from this witch
and her unholy bairn.
Do whatever you feel you must, Mrs. Hughes.
Don't you dare hurt my baby!
I will kill you.
She's in a bad way, turnin' to violence now.
Pure evil. She's possessed.
No!
Perhaps the bastard willna make it.
No! I beg of you, please, no!
Help me.
Help me, please.
That's what we're doin'.
Try not to be ungrateful, dear.
Do you repent?
Her wickedness has wrought its poison.
Cleanse her of this demonic spirit.
Henry!
The laird will decide the child's name!
Where is he? Lord Lovat!
Lord Lovat!
I- I demand to see the laird!
She must be speakin' the truth. She's insistent!
And if the laird believes it--
Please, please fetch him.
The birthing chamber is the woman's domain.
'Tis terrible bad luck otherwise.
If you harm Lovat's baby--
If you're lyin' and we're right
about this ill-begotten love-brat,
then we're doin' the laird a good turn,
savin' him more than a good deal of trouble.
But the prophecy.
The Lord comes before any prophecy,
and He is on our side.
One last time, then, I'll ask ye,
who is the father of your child?
Simon Fraser of Lovat!
Swear it!
Swear it before all and before God!
Swear it upon the life of this child!
I just want my baby--
I kent ye wouldna do it.
You canna fool me, lass!
I do swear it, God damn it!
And if I am lying, may God strike me down this instant.
Let him!
I don't care!
I don't want to live in a world
where God would harm an innocent child.
I'll swear it on my own life.
I will swear it on whatever you like,
but not on my baby's life.
Anything but that.
Can't you see?
Everything I am doing, I'm doing for my baby.
I'm just trying to protect my baby.
You brought this on yourself.
It wasna my fault.
If Lovat could have someone like Lady Amelia,
why in God's name would he want you, her maidservant?
You're lucky ye havena been thrown out of the house.
Another mouth to feed!
How dare you bring a child into this world
while you're unmarried?
When ye havena a penny to your name?
The kindest thing to do is to get rid of the bastard.
You will not take him from me.
If you harm him, I- I swear, I will curse all of you!
- Witch! - Witch!
- Be damned... - Witch!
...the lot of you!
On my life, I will do whatever I must to protect my baby.
Not you or God or even Satan himself can take him from me.
You will have to pry him from my cold, dead arms!
So leave me be!
All of you, get out!
I'll do this on my own
before I let you harm a hair on my baby's head!
Oh!
Out.
Out, out.
Begone. All of you, go.
But the baby's almost here.
Go! Go! Get out!
Get out!
Reverend, at long last, thank God.
Has my son been born?
Not yet, but Mistress Porter's lost her mind.
Sent us away, howdie and all.
Tell anyone who asks to send their congratulations.
Miss Beauchamp and I are to be married
before the birth of our darling boy.
Have I made myself clear?
Very clear, indeed, sir.
Let me be the first to congratulate you.
Hurry.
There's still time before that madwoman harms my son.
Come with me.
Ma would never hurt the bairn.
The woman's jealousy is hotter than burning coals.
Mistress Porter, we're coming in!
No. We should leave them be.
It is improper and will not be pleasing to God.
Perhaps you should take some time to pray about it, my lord.
This isna the right time. We canna interrupt them.
I'll do as I damn well please!
Davina!
Whatever you're wanting, it'll have to wait.
This child of mine will be born in wedlock,
if I have to drag Julia from the bed to marry her.
My son will be legitimate in the eyes of man and God!
Never mind them, dear. You just carry on.
That's it! Push!
When have you ever cared about what's right
in the eyes of man or God?
You're too late. Look at her.
Look!
You leave us be, you foul, cantankerous man!
Get out!
Dinna touch her!
Get off! How dare you!
Unhand me!
I will do as my honor and my conscience dictates!
If there's a holy bone in your body, so should you!
And if you have any decency whatsoever,
you'll leave this chamber.
Men are not to be present here.
You told me to take what I want.
I prefer to rid myself of what I dinna want.
Balloch, get the strap.
Now.
Reverend!
Where are you going?
I'm sorry, sir.
The lady is in absolutely no condition to say her vows.
We cannot proceed!
You'll pay for this, Brian.
Push. Push.
Oh!
I can see its head.
You must breathe.
I was so scared you wouldn't make it home.
And miss all the fun?
All right. All right.
Mm.
What was it you always say?
Drop of tea, slice of cake-- answer to any problem, hmm?
Well, I was wrong.
Please don't bring me anything unless it's pain medicine.
Right.
What can we do, hmm?
Uh, what about some, uh, music to distract you?
Yes, yes.
Perfect. We'll try that.
How's that?
♪ Daisy, Daisy ♪
Perhaps not, darling.
♪ Give me your answer ♪
Bad idea.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- Don't apologize. - Oh, God.
Shout, scream if you like, whatever you need to do.
Oh, I think I'm too English for that.
Well, we won't tell anyone, I promise.
All right, all right, you're doing it.
You're doing it.
Julia, look at me.
I know you can do this. I know you can.
That's it. Baby's crowning.
- I love you. - Ah!
I love you.
Oh.
There she is.
She? She.
She's here. It's a girl. It's a girl.
Oh, I'm so proud of you.
That's what we want to hear. Means everything's all right.
You test those lungs out, little one.
Claire.
Her name is Claire.
Oh.
One last push.
Is the baby all right?
Oh.
Brian.
My love.
My life.
A bonnie baby boy.
It's over, man.
Your search is over now.
When all else fails, take a deep breath,
and remember England is still here.
Do not give up, Lieutenant.
Oh! Oh!
Have you heard the news?
It's over!
The war's over!
Have you heard the news?
What news?
It's over. It's finally over.
I can hardly believe it.
I came home as soon as I could to tell you.
I knew it wouldn't feel real until I saw you.
Home?
I never would have made it through without you, darling.
- Oh, Henry. - Mm.
As long as all is well with you.
You do seem not quite yourself, I must admit.
Just tired.
Carrying the weight of it all has taken its toll.
An exhausting few months, years.
The war is finally over.
Kiss me, darling. I've missed you.
I love you, Julia.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
I love you too, Henry.
Come lie down.
I've been wanting this for so very long.
Dinna fash, as they say in Scotland.
You're safe here with me, my love.
You're safe here with me.
Oh, Julia.
As long as I have you and Claire,
I can survive anything.
Are you unwell?
Oh, dinna fash, lass.
Just a wee bit of punishment for defyin' my da.
Isna the first time,
but I'll wager it will be the last.
Perhaps in time, you'll be able to find
some joy in the remembrance of this day.
Nothing short of a miracle--
the fact that he's here,
that he exists.
He's perfect.
Bless his wee soul.
Sometimes I feel weak without Henry.
He's what makes me whole.
But my children,
they light a fire within me,
a strength born of the possibility
and the promise of the lives they have ahead of them,
the lives you've created with your soulmate.
Oh, my precious boy.
Daddy would love you so much,
so very much.
One day, your da will tell you that himself.
Your ma will find him.
She's strong, like mine.
He may not be my brother,
but he will always have a friend in me.
Thank you so much.
Well, I've brought no gift.
'Tis day of his birth, after all.
When is your day of birth, Brian?
Oh, I dinna ken.
My ma likely does. Maybe.
But we never celebrated it or marked it.
Too much shame around it.
Not that I blame her.
I'm sorry.
Her life's been hard because of me.
No, not because of you.
She loves you more than anything.
You're her greatest joy.
What are you doin'?
Sit down, lass. You'll hurt yourself.
There's a custom where I'm from--
putting a candle on a cake to celebrate a birthday.
The person whose birthday it is blows out the candle
and makes a wish.
I think you should do it.
Happy birthday, Baby Beauchamp.