Yet, as much as Claire blamed Jamie for the pain and hurt she now endured, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of self-reproach for considering herself betrayed in the first place. In her heart, she knew that Jamie’s decision to marry her had been driven by honour and a profound sense of responsibility. He had done it to save her life, just as he had taken Laoghaire’s punishment to protect her. But that knowledge only deepened her sense of inadequacy. The thought that she was just a burden, forced upon Jamie against his will, intensified her sense of isolation.