A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) (33 page)

“
A whole castle?
”
Muira repeated, a little of her nervousness breaking through.

“
Well, eventually,
”
Lachlan nodded.  He wanted to kiss her so much it hurt, but there was something untouchable about Muira in her current state of finery. 
“
But let
’
s start with the Laird first, shall we?
”

..ooOOoo..

“
The Laird- he does know that we
’
re coming to see him, doesn
’
t he?
”
Muira asked quietly.

Lachlan glanced down at her, she was clutching at his arm rather tightly, and her voice held a note of hesitance that he hadn
’
t heard seen they had first been married (
such an age ago
, he thought wryly).  However, other than that, she appeared a picture of perfect composure.  He wasn
’
t even certain that these tiny betrayals would be visible to anyone other than himself.

“
As you heard my mother say earlier, Laird MacRae is unwell at present, however, he has consented to see me,
”
Lachlan nodded.

“
He must think very highly of you then,
”
Muira said turning to look up into his face.  Perhaps he was only imagining it, but Lachlan thought he heard a note of pride in her voice.  He liked it a good deal more than was wise. 
“
And I mean, he chose to you to come to Castle Cameron too, didn
’
t he?
”

“
Aye, he did,
”
Lachlan conceded, nodding in the direction of a finely dressed young man, who hurried to open the set of double doors that they were advancing towards. 
“
But then I am the clan
’
s tanist, so perhaps it
’
s not so surprising.
”

He felt Muira stumble and falter beside him. 
“
You
’
re the tanist?
”
she choked. 
“
And you never thought to mention that fact?
”
she demanded breathlessly.

Lachlan gave his shoulders a sheepish shrug. 
“
It slipped my mind.
”

“
It slipped your mind!
”

“
I
have
had a lot to think about these last few days you know,
”
Lachlan argued in his defence, and that was all he was afforded to say on the subject, because they had by this time reached the double doors, which were now standing open, and were on the point of walking through to meet the Laird.

It was dark in the large room.  The curtains were drawn and only a few sputtering candles were lit, casting only a very weak light around the chamber.

“
Lachlan, I can tell you how relieved I am to see that you made back in one piece.
”
 

The voice carried from a chair that was resting beside the fireplace.  It was an old voice, but it was also a strong voice, at odds with the crippled body in which it now resided.  Graem MacRae had been a great man, a warrior, in whose footsteps Lachlan was only too honoured to follow, but time had not been kind to the chieftain.  He had now the emaciated look of a large man who was withering away.  His mind remained as sharp as flint however, and that couple with his past deeds ensured him the loyalty and respect of his clan.

“
I am very relieved to be back, sir,
”
Lachlan said, as he dipped his head.

“
But not alone.
”
  Graem
’
s quick eyes moved from his tanist to the woman standing by his side.

“
No sir, not alone,
”
Lachlan agreed, he pressed Muira a little further forward. 
“
Would you allow me to present Muira MacRae,
”
he paused,
“
my wife.
”
  He watched out of the corner of his eye as Muira bobbed in a low, respectful curtsy.

“
A Cameron?
”
Graem asked, his voice unnervingly calm and neutral. 

The Laird must, of course, have been informed of their arrival and been told of the details pertaining to it, such as were known, Lachlan reasoned.  He had expected no less.  He opened his mouth to verify Graem
’
s question, but the old man held up a gnarled hand to silence him.

“
Let the lady speak, Lachlan.
”
 

“
Sir?
”
Lachlan frowned uncertainly.  He glanced at his wife, but Muira looked remarkably poised and self-composed.

“
Well now, Mistress Muira,
”
the Laird began, and he spoke to her rather pleasantly too, Lachlan was relieved to hear. 
“
So you are a Cameron, are you not?
”

Muira folded her hands quite demurely in front of her skirts and took a moment before answering. 
“
I was born a Cameron, yes sir.
”

Graem MacRae gave a weary smile. 
“
And yet you married my tanist here,
”
he said, pointing to Lachlan with one arthritic finger.  Muira gave her head a little nod. 
“
A most curious affair,
”
he mused almost to himself. 
“
Well now, sit down the pair of you, it must be unravelled I suppose.
”

Lachlan ushered Muira over to the chaise lounge that stood opposite the Laird, close to the other side of the fireplace.  He waited for his wife to sit before taking a seat beside her.

“
From the look of your manners and your dress, Mistress Muira, you are not a woman of lowly stature?
”
Graem queried.  He looked curiously like he was enjoying try to puzzle out the pair of them.

“
I am Laird Cameron
’
s niece, sir,
”
Muira dipped her head respectfully. 
“
My mother died when my brothers and I were very young.  My father moved back to Castle Cameron, and I was fortunate enough to become a favourite companion of my dear aunt,
”
she revealed quietly.  Lachlan listened just as intently as Graem; eager to learn everything there was to know about his wife.

“
Your father
’
s name?  And your brother
’
s?
”
Graem asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Muira hesitated uncertainly for a moment, but then answered this question too:
“
My father is Hector Cameron, and my brothers are Ewan and James.
”

Graem made a murmured of recognition. 
“
Ewan Cameron, the Camerons war captain?

“
Aye, sir,
”
Muira confessed timidly.

Lachlan barely managed to retain a snort.  Typical.

“
Well now, Mistress Muira, Lachlan, this is all very fine and interesting, but it does not begin to answer the mystery of why you are here, sitting before me, as a married couple,
”
the MacRae Laird said slowly.

“
No, sir,
”
they replied in unison.

“
I don
’
t suppose you would care to enlighten me?
”
he said, casting them each a surprisingly indulgent smile. 

Lachlan wasn
’
t sure if he had permission to speak yet, or if Graem was still questioning Muira.  However, Muira seemed just as disinclined to begin an explanation as he was, so silence reigned for a full minute. 

“
Well, let me ask a few questions, perhaps that will prove more fruitful?
”
Graem chuckled to himself. 
“
Mistress Muira,
”
he said, turning his eyes to the young woman. 
“
Have you any reason to believe that there is a danger of your war captain of a brother, dear as no doubt he is to you, cutting a path through my MacRae men to rescue you from our most terrible clutches?
”

Muira blinked several times before answering. 
“
Ugh- No, sir, absolutely none.
”

“
Ewan MacRae was somewhat instrumental in bringing about our marriage, sir,
”
Lachlan added, unable to keep his voice wholly neutral as he remembered the other man.

“
How
…
interesting,
”
Graem murmured to himself, but he didn
’
t press the matter any further, as he could have done, for which Lachlan was eternally grateful. 
“
So the Camerons approve of this marriage then?
”
Graem asked, looking again at Muira.