A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) (35 page)

“
Why yes, I think I will, Lachlan,
”
she replied smoothly. 
“
We can finish the talk we were having earlier.
”

Muira glanced up at her husband, a quiet panic clear in her eyes.  He took her arm, patted it gently, but couldn
’
t seem to bring himself to smile.  At least she looked respectable now though, Muira though.  She clung to that one saving grace like a lifeline.  She looked the part of a Laird
’
s niece now- looked the part of the wife of a future Laird? 

Another guilty pang gripped Muira
’
s heart.  She was coming to realise that Lachlan was the last man on earth she would want to hurt or cause trouble for, that she seemed to be doing both was acutely distressing!  Muira couldn
’
t afford to let her mind wander and relax her guard with Mrs MacRae falling into step beside her however.

“
I see my son found you something more suitable to wear,
”
she said.  Her lip curled in an irritated sneer when she found nothing in her daughter-in-law
’
s attire to criticise. 
“
He is so kind, although it can be something of a failing at times,
”
she added harshly.

Muira frowned at this mix of compliment and censure.  Lachlan seemed unruffled by it, (at least by his mother
’
s slur against him, she had seen his frown deepen when Mrs MacRae had commented on her dress), but she was less willing than her husband to let it pass.

“
I think kindness a very admirable quality,
”
Muira said evenly. 
“
In fact, I-
”
She was going to go and say more, however, she wasn
’
t given the opportunity.

“
You would, benefiting from it as you so obviously have,
”
Mrs MacRae snapped in reply.

“
The dining hall looks surprisingly full for this time of night,
”
Lachlan said, rather loudly, silencing both his mother and his wife on their chosen subject of argument.

“
No doubt they
’
re all most interested in seeing your wife,
”
Mrs MacRae snorted. 
“
The castle has been
buzzing
with the news since your arrival.
”

“
Has it?
”
Lachlan growled.  He glanced pointedly at his mother. 
“
How do you suppose
that
started?
”

“
Lachlan Davis MacRae! 
Don
’
t
look at me in that manner, and
don
’
t
raise your voice,
”
Mrs MacRae huffed crossly, raising herself to her full stature, and somehow managing the impossible feat of looking down on her son. 
“
If you will arrive at the castle with foreign women and secrete them in your private chambers what is a mother supposed to say in explanation of your actions?
”

Lachlan simply sighed heavily and decided, probably wisely in Muira
’
s opinion, not to answer.  He led them through the large dining hall to the high table, where the Laird and his family, and the most important members of the clan sat to eat.  Muira could
feel
the unnatural stillness that creep into the room as everyone seemed to stop what they were doing to turn and stare at her with suspicious, jealous eyes.

Lachlan helped her, and his mother, to their seats before sitting down at the table with them.  Muira expected to be beset at any moment.  The MacRae
’
s could hardly have been more obvious in watching every move that they made.  However, Lachlan
’
s fierce scowl seemed to be keeping everyone at a distance, at least for the time being.

“
Well now,
”
Mrs MacRae said, daintily picking at her food.  Muira
’
s heart sank and her stomach began to writhe, she couldn
’
t bear to even look at her own plate, let alone eat. 
“
You were telling me about your marriage?
”

“
Were
we?
”
Lachlan growled, violently spearing a piece of meat with his fork.

“
Lachlan, you really must stop all of this nonsense!
”
Mrs MacRae snapped. 
“
You
’
re acting most peculiarly!  I
’
m in half a mind to ask if you are even my son!  What I
’
m asking to know it hardly unreasonable!
”
she said crossly, her voice steadily getting louder and louder, until it seemed to echo around the whole, huge hall.

Muira flinched as each word slice through the air like it was being cut with a knife. 
It wasn
’
t unreasonable though
, she had to agree with Mrs MacRae on that point if no other.  If only they
’
d had the time, and been in a proper state of mind, to concoct some explanation as they should have done!  Lachlan had said that he would think of something to save them, and Muira didn
’
t doubt that he would, but she had put him to so much trouble already!

“
It was my fault, Mrs MacRae,
”
Muira blurted suddenly.  Lachlan
’
s fork clattered against his plate, while a smug smile spread across her mother-in-law
’
s face.

“
No, it-
”

“
Well, I expected that much of course,
”
Mrs MacRae said, speaking over her son. 
“
Come now, explain yourself, my dear,
”
she said in a dangerously silky voice. 
“
What did you do?
”

Muira licked her suddenly very dry lips. 
What could she possibly say that a mother might want to hear?  Or at least, what could she possibly say that wouldn
’
t make matters any worse?
 

“
I fell in love with your son, Mrs MacRae,
”
Muria said in a rush. 

She didn
’
t dare look at Lachlan, and she didn
’
t dare think too hard on the words, afraid that she might find more than a grain of truth among them
…
  Mrs MacRae however, did not appear in the least pleased by this announcement.  Her sharp eyes narrowed threateningly.

“
You
what
?
”
she hissed.

“
I fell in love with your son,
”
Muira repeated quietly.  Every time she spoke the words, it felt like they came a little truer.

“
And you Lachlan?
”
Mrs MacRae spat. 
“
Are in love with this
Cameron
girl?
”

“
Oh!  No, madam, if you please!
”
Muira said quickly, not giving Lachlan the chance to speak. 

She didn
’
t think she could bear to hear him deny it all himself. 
Why was that?
  She asked herself, but tried to quickly push the question aside.  She still couldn
’
t bring herself to look at him, so she assumed shock was holding his tongue silent. 

“
You see, Lachlan perform a great service for me, well, it was a trifle to him I
’
m sure, but it made such an impression on my young heart that it seemed very natural to fall in love with the man who had rendered it,
”
Muira gushed, reddening furiously as she spoke.

“
But if, as you claim, this
affection
was not returned why is it you are wearing his ring?
”
Mrs MacRae snorted bitterly.

Oh heavens!  What had she started!
  Muira began to panic, but then she reminded herself of what she was trying to achieve, which was namely, to make Lachlan look as free from blame as was possible- as he
was
, and to make herself appear, if not blameless, then hopefully only innocently foolish.

“
Well you see, Mrs MacRae,
”
Muira began again slowly. 
“
I was so terribly afflicted by this- this-
”