A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) (106 page)

..ooOOoo..

Muira was woken several times in the night by an alternatively hungry, tetchy, or in need of a change, Maisie.  So she was more tired after she got up the next morning than she had been when she went to bed.  It had to be the same for Lachlan, Muira mused.  He
’
d woken every single time that their daughter cried too, but he still managed to rouse himself the next morning cheerfully.  He was looking tired though.  Muira noted the shadows under his eyes as he gave her and little Maisie a kiss goodbye before leaving them to attend to his duties as Laird.

The next time Maisie cried for a feed, Muira plucked her out of her cot and offered her a breast, and then kept her where she was once she
’
d finished nursing.  The pair dozed together contentedly until Muira
’
s new maid arrived to help her dress.  Maisie gave a little gurgle of protest as she was put down.  Muira supposed that she
’
d need to find a nanny soon too
…
but both she and Lachlan were reluctant to tread down that route every time someone brought the subject up.

Muira sighed unhappily in the mirror as Jane tied her into her corset.  This was the one blight on her happiness.  The fact that she
’
d lost the figure that she
’
d always been quietly very proud of
…
  Bridghe was helping to give her tips on how to regain the slimness she
’
d lost, but even her sister-in-law admitted that there were some changes that couldn
’
t be reversed no matter how many exercises she might try or bonbons she might pass over.

Lachlan didn
’
t seem to mind too terribly
…
not that he
’
d say anything if he did, Muira admitted to herself woefully.  She
had
seen him eyeing her larger bust lustfully she was sure (as if her breasts had
needed
enhancing, she lamented sadly, they were terribly tender, and gave her the worst back ache) but apart from that
…
he hadn
’
t actually called her beautiful since before Maisie
’
s birth, Muira realised with a start.

She let that fact dwell on her mind all morning, so that, by the time it was time for lunch, and Lachlan was due at any moment, Muira had heartily depressed herself.

“
How are my two favourite girls then?
”
Lachlan asked brightly as he strolled into the small dining area that he and Muira always used to eat their private meals.

“
Fine,
”
Muira sniffed.

Lachlan instantly stopped in his trek over to Maisie
’
s crib and turned to face his wife. 
“
Muira?  What
’
s wrong?
”
he frowned anxiously, walking straight over to the table where his wife was already sat. 
“
And don
’
t-
”
he cut her off before she could get a word out
“
-tell me nothing
’
s wrong, because I can see it in your eyes.
”
  Muira clamped her lips together and pouted. 
“
Are you sick?
”
Lachlan asked.

“
No.
”

“
Is Maisie sick?
”

“
No.
”

“
Then what-
”

Muira looked up at her husband, really looked at him.  He was so utterly handsome.  She was sure that she took it for granted at times, got used to seeing his face, but he was absolutely magnificent, and it still took her breath away.  And now she looked- she looked
…

“
Do you still think I
’
m beautiful?
”
she croaked tearfully.

Lachlan blinked. 
“
Do I-
”
he started incredulously, as if he couldn
’
t quite believe what Muira had just asked. 
“
Oh, love,
”
he breathed, reaching for her, dragging her out of her chair and into his arms. 
“
Of course you
’
re still beautiful!
”
he swore.

Muira sniffed and forced a smile. 
“
Like you could say anything else now,
”
she said, but her voice was wobbly as she tried to make a joke out of her insecurities.

“
Do you really think that?  You know I hate liars,
”
Lachlan argued, his tone gentle and firm all at the same time. 
“
Poor darling,
”
he whispered after a pause, holding her tight against his chest as he ran a hand tenderly through her hair.  Muira hiccupped against him, and Lachlan felt a smile tug at his lips despite himself. 
“
Have I been neglecting you?
”
he murmured, kissing the top of her head.

“
Oh no!
”
Muria said quickly, and then she couldn
’
t say anything else because Lachlan had moved on to kissing her lips. 

It had been far too long since he
’
d kissed her like this!  Slow and smouldering, his tongue surged deeply, licking and flicking so that Muira nerves fairly crackled and buzzed with pleasure.  She was breathless by the time he released her, and had she been a cat she would also have been purring.

“
How much longer?
”
Lachlan panted, forcing himself to release his wife.

Muira bit her lip and looked guilty.  She knew of course what he was talking about
…
 
“
Another month at least,
”
she muttered, hating the look of agony that passed across her husband
’
s face.  Lachlan was a man of hearty
…
appetites
…
and they hadn
’
t been
…
intimate since long before Maisie had joined them.

Lachlan seemed to need a few moments to become accustomed to this further curbing of his husbandly rights.  Once he had, he held back Muira
’
s chair for her to sit down, and took his place opposite, after ringing for their meal to be brought through.  Once they had their food, Lachlan sat back in his chair with a look of sudden satisfaction on his face.  He clearly wanted to be asked what was wrong- or rather- right, so Muira obliged him.

“
You certainly look please with yourself,
”
she probed.

“
I remember, I forgot, I have something to tell you that should cheer you up.
”

“
Oh Lachlan I don
’
t need cheering up,
”
Muira said quickly. 
“
I was just being silly and emotion and-
”

“
I think you
’
re entitled,
”
Lachlan said gently.  He reached across the intimate little table and caught hold of Muria
’
s hand, bringing it to his lips in a tender kiss that made his wife blush. 
“
Your uncle has invited us for a visit.  Well, when I
‘
us
’
I really mean you and Maisie, but-
”

“
My uncle?  Laird Cameron?
”
Muira gasped.

“
Unless you have another uncle you haven
’
t told me about?
”
Lachlan grinned. 
“
I thought you
’
d like to see Castle Cameron again, and your father, brothers-
”

“
Oh, but the clans?
”
Muira said hesitantly, things had been even more strained between the Camerons and MacRaes since Tavish MacEantach
’
s execution.

“
Will be fine, we
’
re going as something of a peace envoy,
”
he confessed sheepishly.

Muira beamed and squeezed his hand. 
“
Continuing Graem
’
s work?
”
she asked gently.

“
Something like that,
”
Lachlan nodded quietly, and thoughtfully.

..ooOOoo..

Laird and Lady MacRae left for Castle Cameron a fortnight later.  Muira travelled with Maisie and the baby
’
s new nanny in a carriage, while Lachlan rode on horseback with the guards.  Muira had the strangest feeling that he was keeping something from her
…
  She couldn
’
t work out what it was, but there was definitely something suspicious in his beaming grin and jovial air.