A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) (110 page)

“
Good,
”
Lachlan yawned, pulling the blankets up over them both as he settled down beside his wife, clasping her close against his chest as he let his eyes drift shut. 
“
It
’
s been
killing
me you know,
”
he groaned.

“
I know,
”
Muira said, pressing a kiss against his shoulder. 
“
I
’
m sorry,
”
she added softly, brushing Lachlan
’
s damp hair off of his face. 
“
And thank you
…
for waiting- for not finding someone el-
”

“
Don
’
t even start with such nonsense, Muira,
”
Lachlan growled, his eyes snapping open. 

Muria blushed hotly. 
“
But I know that you
’
re- that is- men- require-
”

Once he
’
d let her splutter embarrassedly for long enough, Lachlan came to his wife
’
s rescue with a gentle, tender, silencing kiss. 
“
It
’
s you that I
’
m addicted to, Muria,
”
he murmured against her lips. 
“
It
’
s your body I crave.  No one else
’
s,
”
he promised. 
“
Not ever.
”
  He kissed her again. 
“
Sleep now,
”
he said quietly, stifling another yawn. 
“
I
’
m sure Maisie won
’
t let us rest for long.
”

Muira had to agree, so she settled down in Lachlan
’
s strong, protective arms, and almost instantly drifted off into the deliciously unique sleep that only ever followed a thorough session of lovemaking with her husband.

..ooOOoo..

“
You could ride with Maisie and I in the carriage you know,
”
Muria pouted over breakfast the next morning, reluctant to give up her husband
’
s company for another whole day.  Maisie
’
s nanny was a dear, but her conversation was hardly sparkling. 
“
I
know
that there
’
s a groom who could ride that beast of a horse for you.
”

Lachlan was munching cheerfully on a piece a toast as he cradled their daughter in the crook off one arm. 
“
There
’
s not really room though,
”
he argued amiably, which was utterly nonsense, Muira thought to herself, which either meant
…
he didn
’
t want to ride with her and their daughter
…
or he was up to something
…

What
he could be up to though Muira really couldn
’
t imagine, although she planned to dedicate much of the journey to Castle Cameron pondering this puzzle- it wasn
’
t as though there was very much else to do, although as soon as she began to recognise their surroundings she excitedly began to point things out to little Maisie, much to the amusement of the baby
’
s nanny she was sure.

Maisie had just finished a feed when, to Muira
’
s surprise, the carriage rolled to a gentle stop.  Lady MacRae handed the baby to her nanny and popped her head out of the window.  She wondered if a horse had thrown a shoe, or if there were some obstruction up ahead
…
her cheeks coloured when her thoughts wandered down
that
route
…
 

In fact, Muira was so lost in that particular memory that she failed to realise
exactly
where they were, until Lachlan rode Faidhaich up to her side of the carriage, and shot her a decidedly wicked smile.  His wife gasped.  She looked up and down the highroad, sure that they couldn
’
t be
there
, but they were
…

“
Why-?
”
she squeaked, but she was feeling rather breathless and couldn
’
t seem to manage anything else.

Lachlan chuckled as he swung himself out of his saddle.  He opened up the carriage door and held a hand up to his wife, clearly expecting her to step down to him.

“
Lachlan- what are you-?
”
Muira stammered, staying quite still were she was, however her husband, still grinning, but tired of her hesitance had caught hold of her hand tugged her out into the fresh air. 
“
Why are we
here?
”
Muira gasped.

“
Because it
’
s on the road to Castle Cameron?
”
Lachlan said innocently.

“
Why have we
stopped
?
”
Muira laughed, nervously, excitedly, she hadn
’
t a clue was her husband was playing at.

“
Ah, so you
do
remember,
”
Lachlan breathed, leaning close.  Muira flushed and took a step back, conscious of all the curious eyes that were watching them from their escort.

“
Of course I remember,
”
she said quickly, looking over at the bank, where she had been sitting with a twisted ankle so many months ago
…
when Lachlan had first found her, saved her
…
 

Her husband chuckled. 
“
You don
’
t seem to remember that it was a year ago today,
”
he grinned.  The invitation had been convenient, but he
’
d planned the timing of their visit to Castle Cameron deliberately.

“
Today?
”
Muira started. 
“
Oh Lachlan-
”
but she never managed to get past her husband
’
s name, because to her complete and utter disbelief he had just dropped to one knee in front of her (and their audience!) 
“
What are you doing?
”
she squeaked, her eyes wide, and her mouth dry.

“
Bridghe assures me that women like these grand displays of love and devotion,
”
he whispered back teasingly, before then turning very serious. 
“
I always thought that I
’
d have to ask my wife to marry me, I never imagined that she
’
d do me the honour of choosing me for herself-
”

“
Lachlan,
”
Muira whispered shakily, her eyes pricking with tears.

“
But I want you to know that I
do
choose you,
”
he swore ardently, uncoiling the hand that wasn
’
t clasping Muira
’
s, to reveal the most beautiful engagement ring that Muira had ever seen. 
“
I know this is somewhat back to front,
”
he apologised. 
“
But I
’
ve wanted to give this to you for months- I was just waiting for the perfect moment.
”

Muira couldn
’
t speak, couldn
’
t barely even breathe for what felt like a full minute or more, and when she did managed to coordinate her mouth and her tongue, the only thing she seemed to be able to stammer was her husband
’
s name.

“
Does that mean you like it?
”
Lachlan chuckled, but there was a thread of uncertainty in his voice.  He caught hold of her left wrist and splayed her fingers, slipping the band of gold, which was set with a very fine, heavy sapphire, onto her forth digit.

“
Oh Lachlan- it
’
s beautiful,
”
Muira breathed quietly, admiring the ring as it flashed on her finger, wiping at the tears that were gathering in her eyes with her other hand. 
“
Is it a family heirloom?
”
she asked curiously, watching as her husband got back up to his feet.  He shook his head with a slow smile.