A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) (85 page)

“
In the dungeons, naturally,
”
Ross wrinkled his nose in distaste. 

Lachlan was caught between two opposing desires.  He wanted to go and see his brother-in-law, question him, find out what he could while things were fresh, but he also wanted to go and see Graem
…
the man had been like a second father to him, if he was
…
dying, then Lachlan wanted to be there.

“
Muira, call your maid and get dressed,
”
he said, surprised by how calm his voice sounded. 
“
We
’
re going to see the Laird.
”

“
Sir, do you think-
”
Ross began doubtfully, but was silenced by one look from his tanist.

“
Where are the other two Camerons?
”
he asked gruffly.

“
They
’
ve expressed a desire to leave, sir.  They want to return to Castle Cameron.
”

“
But they haven
’
t?
”
Lachlan barked, suddenly fearing that Tavish had slipped through his fingers.

“
No, sir, they
’
re still here,
”
the Captain nodded.

“
Keep them here, Ross,
”
Lachlan growled. 

The other man nodded darkly. 
“
You think they plotted it as a group, that they were all involved?
”

“
Something like that,
”
Lachlan muttered.

..ooOOoo..

Lachlan took Muira with him to Graem
’
s bedside, primarily because he was afraid of what might happen to her if she was left alone
…
As perceived by the rest of the castle, she was the sister to their Laird
’
s would-be assassin.  He had a horrible sense that Muira wouldn
’
t be safe if he wasn
’
t there to protect her.  He feared that she would be blamed.

He guessed that his wife was bright enough to realise that this was the motive for his actions, and was part of the reason why she was loathed to stand more than a few feet away from him.  She hadn
’
t said anything to him, but Lachlan could see the questions about her brother that were burning in her eyes every time she looked up at him.

“
How is he?
”
Lachlan demanded of the guard that was stationed outside the Laird
’
s formal chambers.  The man shook his head gravely, and then frowned harshly in Muira
’
s direction when he noticed the woman accompanying the tanist.

“
Sir-
”
he began, but Lachlan had already barrelled past him, dragging Muira along behind him.

“
I don
’
t know that I should be here,
”
Muira whispered quietly. 
“
Per-perhaps I could go and see Ewan?
”
she asked hopefully.

“
You
’
ll stay here, where it
’
s safe,
”
Lachlan barked, more harshly than he
’
d intended.  To his surprise, Muira fell into a dutiful silence, hanging her head and following him without saying another word.

“
Get that witch out of here!
”
shrieked a voice.  Lachlan tensed, his jaw set as his mother stormed out of Graem
’
s bedchamber towards him and his wife. 
“
I mean it, Lachlan!
”

“
Lower you voice,
”
Lachlan snarled, in such a tone that his mother actually hesitated.

“
I mean it Lachlan-
”

“
So do I,
”
he said coldly. 
“
Muira will stay here where it
’
s safe.  You
will
see that she is kept safe,
”
Lachlan commanded unflinchingly. 

His sister Bridghe had just popped her head out of the Laird
’
s bedroom, and he impressed this command upon her too.  His sister at least nodded, his mother was shaking with the indignity of being ordered around in such a manner by her own son.

“
You know what people are saying of course?
”
she spat. 
“
That you are some how involved?  That Graem was going to name someone else as tavish because of your marriage choice, so you had your brother-in-law dispose of him before he had a chance to do so?
”

Lachlan stared at his mother as if she were a stranger to him. 
“
Get her out of here,
”
he said coldly.

“
S-sir?
”
one of the guards stammered, while Mrs MacRae gaped at her son.  She looked almost as though he had physically struck her down.

“
Just get her out of my sight,
”
he barked, causing his mother to flinched.  She had paled to a nasty grey.

“
Lachlan, I didn
’
t mean-
”
she squeaked, but her son wasn
’
t listening, he
’
d caught hold of his wife by the arm and was tugging her behind him as he walked into the Laird
’
s bedchambers.

“
Lachlan?
”
Muria gasped, as she was dragged along at a quick pace. 

She couldn
’
t believe what he had done, how he had spoken to his mother
…
for
her
.  Her husband made no answer to her gentle query however, and Muira didn
’
t dare press him.  In fact, she actually almost careened into his back when he stopped abruptly on the other side of the large wooden door.

The room was large, and dimly lit, the curtains had been drawn and a few sputtering candles gave the only light.  Muira peeked out from behind Lachlan nervously, and glanced about the room.  Her eyes were instantly drawn towards the large double bed that dominated the chamber, and the figure lying in its centre.

Muira felt a tug at her heart that she hadn
’
t been expecting at the sight of the old Laird lying stricken in his bed.  Graem had always been undeniable good to her.  It was dreadful to see him in such a state.  But it was no less dreadful to see the affect the sight had on her husband.

Lachlan looked truly stricken.  He walked jerkily to the side of the bed, leaving Muira hovering in the doorway, where Bridghe came to stand next to her, catching hold of her hand in a sisterly manner, while Lachlan dropped to his knees beside the old man.

“
Sir?
”
he choked.

Graem seemed to open his eyes and turn his head towards the voice. 
“
Ah, Lachlan, my boy,
”
he murmured, his voice was nothing more than a soft sigh. 
“
I have been waiting for you to come.
”

“
Waiting, sir?
”
Lachlan echoed hesitantly, as if he really didn
’
t like what those words implied.

“
Aye lad, to say my goodbyes.
”

“
With all due respect, you aren
’
t going anywhere yet, sir,
”
Lachlan argued fiercely. 

He seemed to think he could keep Graem in the mortal realm by the strength of his willpower alone.  Muira chewed her lip as she watched him.  She wanted to move forward, to lay a hand on his shoulder, but something kept her rooted in place.  Her time for comforting him would come later, at the moment he was the one being strong for Graem
…
or was he?  The old Laird, so still and lifeless he seemed to be standing at death
’
s door, was murmured something that Muira couldn
’
t hear, but which, incredibly, made Lachlan smile sadly.

“
Aye, sir,
”
he nodded, getting back up to his feet. 
“
I
’
ll see to it straight away.
”
  He bowed his head, and then walked towards the two women.  He glanced at Muria. 
“
You
’
re to stay here and attend him with Bridghe,
”
he revealed.