Sorcha, he whispered, and realized that he had called her so a moment before. Now, that was odd; no wonder she had been surprised. It was her name in the Gaelic, but he never called her by it. He liked the strangeness of her, the Englishness. She was his Claire, his Sassenach.
The character reflects on calling Sorcha by her Gaelic name, a surprise to her and a departure from how he typically refers to her. This moment reveals an unexpected connection to her heritage that he hadn’t acknowledged before, highlighting the uniqueness she brings to their relationship.
Despite this slip, he finds comfort in identifying her as ‘his Claire’ and ‘his Sassenach,’ emphasizing how he cherishes her English identity. The contrast between her Gaelic name and the English aspects of her identity enriches their bond, illustrating the blending of cultures in their relationship.
