A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) (42 page)

Muria waited, holding her breath for Bridghe to finish her sentence, however Liane reappeared just at that moment and provided a (very unwelcome, as far as Muira was concerned!) distraction.

“
I
’
m sorry I was so long, Mrses MacRaes,
”
she said, with a flustered little curtsy that nearly sent the porridge sailing onto the floor.  Luckily Bridghe had the presence of mind to hurry forward and save the tray. 
“
Miss Morag wanted to come and see the mistress, I said you weren
’
t well, mistress,
”
Liane said, her face looking truly unhappy for the first time since Muira had met her,
“
but-
”

“
But I wouldn
’
t take no for an answer.
”

Muira watched half curious, half anxious, as a woman flounced into the chamber after Liane.  The woman in question wasn
’
t so much beautiful as stunningly attractive.  There was nothing delicate, nothing subtle about her.  The tight silk of her dress was brightly coloured, her face was rouged and her blonde hair was piled high upon her hair, her fingers and throat glittered with jewels- all in all, she fairly screamed what she was: a rich man
’
s whore.

Muira gulped uncomfortably.  If this
Morag
really was what she seemed then why was she calling on her?  Unless of course Lachlan was one of the rich men whose bed she usually warmed... Muira desperately didn
’
t want to believe that was the answer to her question.

“
What can we do for you, Morag?
”
Bridghe asked sharply, with a rather obvious curl of her top lip.

“
Why I just came to see how Lachlan
’
s bonnie wee wife is doing,
”
Morag replied, flashing a dazzling smile.

Lachlan
’
s
wife
…
the implied familiarity made Muira
’
s skin crawl.

“
She
’
s doing a lot better actually,
”
Bridghe informed the other woman smugly.  If this hadn
’
t been what Morag was hoping for she did a rather good job of hiding that fact.

“
Oh well that is good news,
”
she simpered sweetly.  Muira found her brow furrowing in a frown that matched Bridghe
’
s as she listened. 
“
I wonder, is Lachlan around?
”

“
It seems rather obvious that he isn
’
t,
”
Bridghe snapped.  Muira wondered if Morag was going to speak to
her
at all.  She
’
d barely even cast a glance in the direction of the bed.

“
No matter,
”
Bridghe said airily. 
“
I
’
ll speak to him when I see him later.  I just wanted to come and thank him for his present.
”

“
His present?
”
Muira whispered, speaking for the first time since Morag had arrived. 

The woman turned with a smile still plastered on her lips, it seemed to widen when she observed Muira
’
s slightly less than glamorous appearance.  Muria was so cut by the look that it took her several seconds to realise that Morag was waving her hand around under her nose.  All of her fingers glittered with rings, but one huge emerald stood out among the rest.

“
He left it on the dresser for me to find when I woke up,
”
Morag giggled girlishly.

Muira frankly couldn
’
t believe what she was hearing!  She didn
’
t
want
to believe it, but it was hard to ignore the condemning evidence that was still sparkling obscenely on Morag middle finger.  What struck Muira completely speechless was Morag
’
s shameless boasting and bragging to
her
, Lachlan
’
s
wife
.

“
Out,
”
Bridghe growled, sounding so much like her brother that Muira started in surprise.  Morag looked- or feigned a looked of surprise too. 
“
Muira needs her rest.  I
’
ll be sure to let Lachlan know that you were here,
”
she smirked, making it quite obvious that whatever she had to say about the visit would not be favourable.

“
Oh Bridghe!  Always so serious,
”
Morag laughed, and then flounced out of the room in just the same way as she had come in.  Liane received a sharp glare from Bridghe the second that they were alone, which sent the young woman into wails of apology.

“
I
told
him that woman was trouble.  I
warned
him,
”
Bridghe muttered crossly, picking up her sheets so angrily that all of her good work was undone.

“
Your porridge, mistress?
”
Liane whispered quietly, picking up the tray from where Bridghe had place it and nudging the food towards her mistress.  Muira didn
’
t answer however, she was pale and trembling, and trying her hardest to hold back the tears that wanted to fall.

Lachlan had never given her so much as a glass bead!  Even her wedding ring had been her late mother
’
s!  Why had she never wondered if he had someone at home waiting for him?  Why had she never considered the fact that he might already want someone else?  Oh Lord, but it hurt
so much
…
  If someone had plunged a rusty dagger into her heart Muira didn
’
t imagine it could have been more painful.

“
Don
’
t pay Morag any mind, lass,
”
Bridghe said softly.

“
You think she was lying?
”
Muira asked breathlessly, ready to cling to any scrap of hope that she could find.  Bridghe however looked uneasy, and for the first time refused to meet Muira
’
s eyes.

“
I think if Lachlan gave her the ring then it was before he ever met you,
”
she said, slowly and carefully.

But he had still given it to Morag
…
and he had never wanted to marry her anyway! 
Muira almost cried the words aloud.  The ring had to mean something to him; it had to mean that Morag meant something to him!  Muira tortured herself with the thoughts, refusing the porridge Liane had brought up and sinking quickly into depression.

“
You have to eat, Muria,
”
Bridghe scolded, but not with any real venom. 
“
Lachlan will tan my hide if I let you get sick again,
”
she added gently.

“
As if Lachlan would care about me when he has Morag,
”
Muira sniffed miserably.  

Bridghe frowned and placed her hands on her hips. 
“
Listen to me, Muira,
”
she said sharply. 
“
Yes, getting involved with that dreadful woman was one of the stupidest things that my brother has ever done,
but
if you could have only seen him sitting with you while you
’
re fever was raging yesterday you wouldn
’
t do him such an injustice,
”
she said firmly.  She softened slightly, while Muira stared at her with wide, contrite eyes.

“
But I
’
m sure he would have done the same for anyone though,
”
Muira argued weakly. 
“
He
’
s so kind-
”

“
Oh rubbish!
”
Bridghe said instantly. 
“
I
’
ve seen the way he looks at you,
”
she smiled knowingly. 
“
And I saw what a
state
he was in when he thought that something was going to happen to you.  I don
’
t think I
’
ve ever seen him like that before!
”

“
But-
”
Muira couldn
’
t understand why what Bridghe was saying didn
’
t make her feel any better.  Perhaps it was because Lachlan
’
s sister was only guessing, only given her opinion, whereas Morag
’
s ring had been so very
real
. 
“
But that doesn
’
t mean-
”
but the sentence trailed off unfinished.