Life in Paris is not without its trials as Jamie struggles to triumph over his past. A fortunate meeting with Prince Charles presents opportunities, while the Duke of Sandringham’s presence brings complications.
Not in Scotland Anymore opens with Jamie and Claire making love. Jamie is enjoying himself until suddenly Claire is replaced with Jack Randall who tells Jamie “don’t stop.” Jamie pulls a knife and brutally stabs Randall over and over… until he finally awakens in bed next to Claire. Claire wakes with Jamie and asks him if it is a nightmare again. Claire assures Jamie Randall is dead, but Jamie tells her he’s alive in his head. Jamie gets up from bed knowing he will not be able to sleep again that night; leaving Claire alone.
Next we see Claire up and dressed with a servant questioning why she won’t let the servants make her bed and help her dress. Claire tells the servant she will endeavor to be sloppier much to the delight of the maid.
As Claire makes her way through the city in her carriage, she reminisces about her last visit to Paris during celebrations marking the end of WWII. At the time the Eiffel Tower was closed because of the Nazi occupation but now she was in Paris 100 years before the Eiffel Tower exists.
Claire heads to the local apothecary shop which is run by Master Raymond. Claire sniffs a concoction labelled Crocodiles Blood. She says there is mustard, thyme in walnut oil but something else makes it smell nasty. Raymond tells her it is pig’s blood and other patrons are less mistrusting than she is.
Claire wonders if Raymond carries Nepeta cataria and Raymond asks who is having trouble sleeping. Claire tells him her husband is having nightmares. Raymond suggests Valeriana officinalis combine with a touch of humulus lupulus. Claire watches in fascination as Raymond scales the rolling stairs to his shelves as a woman pushes the stairs along the shelving.
Raymond points out Claire’s knowledge of herbs and she tells him she is a healer. Raymond asks if her name is Claire Fraser. When she wonders if he is a mind reader; he tells her he heard about the incident with the Comte St. Germain’s ship and cargo. Claire asks if Raymond is a friend of the Comte’s. Raymond tells her, as he mixes the medicine, they are rivals which is a polite term for enemy. He then tells her since Claire is also the Comte’s enemy then she must be his friend. He gives her the infusion and tells her to steep it in tea and Jamie will keep her up all night with his snoring.
In the park, Jamie and Murtagh practice their swordsmanship to help Jamie’s hand regain its strength. Murtagh pushes Jamie who meets the challenge though it leaves his hand sore.
Murtagh is annoyed by the Frenchman watching them spar. Jamie tells Murtagh dueling is outlawed in France and the bystanders probably think they mean to run each other through. Murtagh comments he’s out of breath after only an hour of sport which has to be the air in France. Scotland has a more animal smell but apparently Paris smells like a chamber pot.
Jamie has Murtagh help him with his hand brace which Murtagh tells Jamie that he misses Scotland so much that he misses Rupert and Angus. Jamie says not to worry they won’t be in France forever. Murtagh suggests they kill Charles Stuart and they stop the Rising. But Jamie is not an assassin and they don’t even know if the Prince is in Paris. Murtagh is determined to find the Prince but Jamie tells him even if they get rid of the Prince there is still his father. Jamie wonders if Murtagh means to kill a prince and a king just to get home to Scotland. Murtagh’s annoyed that while he speaks of action, Jamie speaks of logic. Jamie tells him if it is action he craves… and kicks Murtagh’s sword out of his hand’s throwing his own blades into the grass. Murtagh rushes him and the two wrestle.
Back at the house, Jamie takes his brace off and tells Claire his hand is mending. Claire gives Jamie a letter from Jared who has arranged a meeting with Charles Stuart at Maison de Madame Elise. Claire doesn’t know what it is but Jamie knows it is a brothel.
Later, Jamie and Murtagh go to the brothel where they find Charles. Before Jamie and Charles can discuss the Jacobite cause Madame Elise announces to the gentlemen present that the entertainment for the evening is their wives. All the men are startled until several whores come out pretending to chastise the men present. The Madame goes on to say their wives are sad and lonely because the men are there and what their “wives” need are dildos which she uncovers for all to see.
All the men, including Charles think it is hilarious and Charles tells Jamie the French are so wonderfully vulgar. Murtagh insults the French and Charles tells him he didn’t invite his opinion or him to the brothel. Murtagh tells the Prince that he goes where Jamie goes.
Charles says Jared has told him Jamie is a man who speaks the truth in all matter. Charles then asks about the state of things in Scotland and if their fellow countrymen are prepared to hear his call to arms.
Jamie says the truth is the Clans can’t agree on the color of the sky let alone put aside their grievances. The clans aren’t prepared to band together to fight the British nor are they likely to be for many years to come. This is not an opinion the Prince as heard so far and it sounds more like a defeatist attitude coming from a supposed Jacobite. Jamie tells Charles he hates the English as much as any man and carries the marks of 200 lashes on his back to remind him. Jamie asks if he should lie to him and bring Scotland to disaster.
Charles says God demands a Catholic king be on the throne and his father is that king. Jamie fears wishes will be no match for the British Army as proven by the Rising of the Fifteen (1715). Charles assures Jamie he will not make the mistakes of Lord Mar who hesitate when victory was attainable.
Murtagh wants to know if Charles has been to Scotland and Charles says he hasn’t had the pleasure because of his exile. Murtagh says that Scotland is a beautiful place full of simple people who are mostly farmers. These people need a reason to exchange their scythes for a sword. Jamie points out that he’s heard the truth from two loyal Scots now.
Charles tells them what about God’s will; it is God’s will that he unite the clans of Scotland and that he is the outstretched Hand of God. Jamie crosses himself and Charles says their cause will succeed but their cause needs funds so they must win the friendship of the French Minister of Finance Monsieur Duverney. Charles is in France unofficially and cannot go to court, but Jamie can go instead. Charles tells Jamie he can see he is a true patriot so willing to incur his Princes wrath to safeguard his countrymen. Jamie says he will go.
Charles goes off with a whore. Murtagh tells Jamie it isn’t too late to slit Charles’s throat.
Back at the house, Claire is proud of Jamie for speaking his heart and still winning a place at the Princes’ side. Murtagh tells her Charles is a blockhead and Jamie says he’s not trustworthy enough to follow. Claire believes if they can plot the Rising in a brothel then maybe they can stop it at the French court and ensure Charles’ war chest remain empty.
Claire goes to Louise de la Tour for help being invited to court. Louise has become a friend if she tends to be frivolous. At Louise’s home she is having her legs waxed and other parts waxed. Claire admires her monkey but is saddened it is in a cage. Louise says it is a pity she bits.
Louise calls out to Mary to get her to come meet Claire who is a fellow countrywoman. Mary stutteringly tells Claire her name is Mary Hawkins which Claire recognizes though Mary doesn’t believe they’ve meet. Claire is informed that Mary is to wed an old man with warts which doesn’t seem to appeal to Mary though the man is rich.
Louise is going to have Claire accompany Mary and her to Versailles though Claire wishes to bring Jamie along though Louise believes they will have more fun without him.
Mary and Claire watch in horror and fascination as Louise has more intimate parts waxed.
Claire returns home, to find Jamie lying in bed. She joins him hoping to inspire passion. Jamie discovers Claire has deforested her “honeypot” much to his shock though Claire thought it might be intriguing and Jamie is intrigued. However, once they start making love images of Black Jack Randall assault Jamie leaving him unable to continue and they decide to just sleep.
Two weeks later, Jamie and Murtagh are downstairs waiting for Claire who emerges at the top of the stairs and starts to descend much to the stunned silence of the men. Murtagh appears fascinated but Jamie is horrified because you can see down to Claire’s third rib but upon approaching her, he amends that he can see to navel.
Jamie, Murtagh, Claire, Mary and Louise arrive at Versailles but are waylaid by Annalise an old paramour of Jamie’s who he fought a duel over when he was younger. Jamie uncomfortably tries to explain away the duel saying Annalise ended up marrying the man though now her husband is dead. Annalise takes Jamie to the dressing of the King and Claire sends Murtagh to chaperon much to his distaste.
Jamie and Murtagh enter the King’s chamber, he is being told about the Huguenots and their heretical ideas. The King isn’t concerned as he’s currently on the chamber pot and can’t seem to go. He seeks any suggestions to help him and Jamie offers that the King should eat porridge every morning. Everyone seems to think porridge is for the peasants, but Jamie assures him it will work.
Meanwhile, Claire is with ladies of the court who ask what English women call the male member. She tells them prick or peter, but they insult the English though they pretend it is not to offend her. Claire and Louise notice Mary with a gentlemen and Louise thinks Mary has already found a lover though Claire doesn’t think that is the case.
Claire decides she needs air and goes out to the gardens while Louise goes to tell Monsieur Duverney that Claire is most anxious to meet him. Duverney gets the impression Claire wishes to be lovers and approaches her outside. Claire is stunned by his attentions and tries to get him off of her. Jamie appears and pulls Duverney off Claire tossing him over the side of the bridge they are on though Claire tries to stop him. When she tells him who the man is Jamie tells her he said her dress would bring them grief.
Inside, Duverney is drying his wig over the fire and apologizing profusely for his assumption. Claire and Jamie assure him he is forgiven and that his wife need not know of his actions. Durverney is overjoyed and wishes to do something for them. Jamie tells him his friendship is good enough and he agrees. He does hope Jamie can play chess with him and Jamie says they should.
The King approaches and tells Duverney to bath in private in the future and then asks Jamie if porridge is really the answer and Jamie assures him. As the King walks away, he takes an interest in Claire. His companion, however, catches the interest of Murtagh until Murtagh spies another guest at the party.
Murtagh storms off and nearly pulls his sword which in the presence of the King is an automatic death sentence but the guest in question is Sandringham who gave Jamie’s petition of complaint to Randall. Murtagh threatens him. Sandringham is happy to see Jamie so healthy. He tells them he had no choice Randall forced him to give him the complaint. Jamie acts friendly and when Sandringham learns of Jamie’s association with Jared, he agrees to buy some Belle Rouge for 20% over asking. Jamie and Murtagh go off to have a drink with Durverney while Claire stays with Sandringham.
Sandringham finds it in Claire’s character to have friends in high places and acts sorry they can’t go home to Scotland. Claire points out they are supporting the Jacobite cause which makes him a traitor to the English crown.
Sandringham’s secretary appears with a chronic cough. She tells him some Althea officinalis should help. This is the man who was talking to Mary. The Duke introduces his secretary and says he is Alex Randall the younger brother of Jonathan Randall. He tells Alex that Claire and Jonathan are acquainted, and Alex says he will tell Jonathan he met her. Claire is stunned to find out Jack Randall was “injured in the line of duty” but is alive.
The Fireworks begin and Sandringham takes that opportunity to leave but first turns back to gloat to Claire.
Claire is so stunned and goes looking for Jamie unsure if she should tell Jamie or what Jamie would do upon finding out Randall is alive.
