A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) (87 page)

“
Why do you asked, Liane?
”
Lachlan interrupted the captain, speaking gently to the trembling woman.

“
Well, be-because, everyone was saying that Master Ewan must have crept down to the kitchens sometime during the night- after the maids left last night and before they went back to work this morning?
”

“
Aye, that
’
s right,
”
Lachlan nodded.

“
Well then-
”
Liane twisted her hands in her apron frantically. 
“
You see, sirs, Ewan couldn
’
t have sneaked down to the kitchens then,
”
she mumbled. 

Lachlan and Ross exchanged a suspicious glance. 
“
Why do you say that, Liane?
”
Lachlan coaxed.

The maid raised her teary face to him. 
“
Because he was with me,
”
she confessed, dropping her gaze to the ground. 
“
I- I saw him in Mrs MacRae
’
s room the other day, and he recognised me last night.  I
’
d turned my ankle on the stairs and he carried me up to my room, and then-
”
Liane
’
s cheeks were crimson.

“
He was with you
all
night?
”
Ross asked suspiciously, not batting an eyelid at the little sordid tale. 
“
There was never a time when he could have slipped away?
”

Liane shook her head, looking flushed and breathless. 
“
Oh, no sir, he was with me all night,
”
she said, turning crimson. 
“
Besides the other girls would have heard someone leaving- the stairs are proper creaky, Captain Ross.  June MacDonald curses something rotten if something wakes her when-
”

“
If Cameron has such a solid alibi why the hell didn
’
t he say so?
”
Ross swore in confusion.

Lachlan swallowed a smile. 
“
Probably afraid we
’
d make him marry the girl,
”
he chuckled to himself.

“
Sir?
”
Ross frowned, not catching what he had said, but Lachlan waved his curiosity aside.

“
If Ewan Cameron was out of his room all night-
”
he began slowly, thoughtfully, and the Captain seemed to have reached the same conclusion.

“
-then one of the other two would have had the opportunity to plant those bottles in his room,
”
he finished for the tanist. 
“
I thought it was strange that they hadn
’
t been destroyed
…
almost like someone had
left
them there to be found,
”
he mused angrily.

Lachlan gave his head a silent nod.  If they had been made alone, his accusations would have looked highly suspicious, but with the backing of the MacRae
’
s war chieftain, Lachlan was beginning to think that they might have a chance of seeing that justice was done and that Tavish was caught.

“
Thank you, Liane, you
’
ve been a great help,
”
he murmured distractedly, dismissing the maid.  She hesitated for a moment, but that bobbed in a little curtsey and disappeared along the corridor.

“
What are you going to do about her?
”
Ross frowned after Liane
’
s retreating figure. 
“
Dismiss her?  Marry her to him?
”

“
My wife
’
s rather fond of her maid,
”
Lachlan said absently; Liane was the least of his worries. 
“
I think we need to have a talk to our other two suspects, Ross,
”
he said carefully.

“
Right!
”

“
Only-
”
Lachlan paused, wondering how much he ought to tell the other man. 
“
I have reason to suspect that the man we want is Tavish MacEantach, therefore what I
’
d like you to do
…”

..ooOOoo..

“
You understand your instructions?
”
Lachlan asked Ross quietly.  The two men were standing outside the room where Donaid Cameron and Tavish MacEantach were being kept, under armed guard.

“
Aye, sir,
”
Ross nodded, smiling grimly.

“
Good,
”
Lachlan sighed.  He looked at the two guards, and indicated that they were ready to go in.

The chamber was one of the formal staterooms, lavishly decorated, and seldom used given that the Laird rarely left his own chambers.  Lachlan gave him self a second to dwell on his dear old friend, before focusing his mind on the task at hand.

Donaid had been sitting quietly in a chair by the unlit grate, looking serious and thoughtful.  He got to his feet when he heard the men enter, and instantly asked after his cousin.  Tavish, in contrast, appeared to have been pacing up and down by the window restlessly.

“
Ewan?  Where is he?
”
Donaid pressed, when he wasn
’
t immediately given an answer.

“
Still alive,
”
Ross revealed bluntly.  Lachlan saw the Cameron
’
s tanist give a little sigh of relief.  He looked too young for his current woes.

“
We
’
ve decided we need to ask each of you a few questions,
”
Lachlan revealed slowly.  Both Cameron men tensed with suspicion. 
“
Mr Cameron, if you
’
d be so good as to accompany, Captain Ross?  I
’
d like to speak to Mr MacEantach alone.
”

“
Do you really think that
’
s necessary?
”
Donaid frowned, but Lachlan nodded.

“
Most definitely,
”
he breathed coldly, staring at the man by the window with barely conceal loathing.

Tavish returned the stare without even attempting to conceal his hatred. 
Fool
, Lachlan thought, knowing that Ross was too astute to have missed the look in the other man
’
s eyes.  He nodded in the captain
’
s direction, waiting for him to lead Donaid out of the chamber before turning his full attention to Tavish.

“
So when are you letting us leave?
”
Tavish snarled.  Lachlan took his time before answering.

“
Not enjoying your stay with us, MacEantach?
”
he asked evenly.  Tavish snorted insolently. 
“
I was surprised that you were among the party that accepted Laird MacRae
’
s invitation,
”
he continued lightly.

Tavish opened his mouth, as if to snarl something, however he stopped himself at the last possible moment, and smiled sneeringly instead. 
“
How is the good Laird MacRae?
”
he hissed. 
“
Or would that be
you
now?
”

“
Laird Graem MacRae is still with us.
”
 
I hope.
  Lachlan prayed.

“
You know what they
’
ll say of course?
”
Tavish grinned dangerously.  Lachlan took a seat by the fireplace, as if the answer was of no consequence to him. 
“
That you
’
re involved?
”
Tavish snapped, when Lachlan refused to be baited. 
“
That it
’
s
your
brother-in-law who did it, that you stand to gain the most from the Laird
’
s death.  That
’
s what people are going to be saying.
”