His Bloody Project: A Historical Thriller

Roderick strikes up a friendship with Flora, Lachlan Mackenzie’s daughter, after she approaches him with a cup of milk during his work. Despite the bad blood between their families, the two meet again later that evening, and Roderick shows her a lost baby bird he has been nursing to health. Jetta warns Roderick that nothing good will come from befriending Flora.

Later, Roderick and John are at work gathering waste from the sea to fertilize their croft. Mackenzie interrupts them to inform them that, as the waste belongs to Lord Middleton, they must seek his permission if they wish to collect it. He makes them return the waste to the sea and later pays a visit to their home, where he informs John Macrae that, as Middleton’s representative, he will be willing to grant permission if John asks him. John refuses to be humiliated and Mackenzie leaves, stopping at every house in Culduie to grant the other villagers permission to harvest fertilizer from the sea.

Roderick then describes his frequent visits from Andrew Sinclair, which he admits he has grown to enjoy. He explains that Sinclair has recently suggested that Roderick consider entering a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, which Roderick initially rejects.