A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) (89 page)

“
You bastard!
”
he swore, and then he lunged at Lachlan, drawing a small dagger that had been concealed on his person and striking at Lachlan
’
s face.  The blade slashed across the tanist
’
s cheek before he had a second to react.

Ross and Donaid rushed forward to help, but Lachlan was quick to recover from his lapse.  He blocked Tavish
’
s second strike, grabbed his wrist and wrenching the weapon away from his face, gaining the upper hand for long enough to enable the guards to be called.  Once Tavish was adequately restrained, Lachlan gave his orders.

“
See that Mr MacEantach is installed in one of the dungeons, Ross,
”
he sneered, wiping the blood from his cheek. 
“
And release Cameron with our apologies.  I
’
m going to report to the Laird.
”

“
Aye, sir,
”
Captain nodded, indicating for the guards to follow him with the prisoner- who was staring blankly at the floor, no longer appearing engaged in what was happening to him. 
“
Sir, do you think the Laird-
”
Ross began hesitantly.

“
We would have heard if he wasn
’
t,
”
Lachlan interrupted before the other man could put into words what they were both thinking. 
What if Graem was already dead? 
He murmured something apologetic and curt to Donaid, and then left, hurrying towards Graem
’
s chambers.

Everything appeared much the same as it had when he left.  The guards were still on duty outside, and there was still an eerie hush about the place.  No one was mourning yet
…
the Laird was still alive.  Lachlan walked quickly passed the guards, and through Graem
’
s private chambers towards his bedroom, ignoring the curious stares he was receiving.  He couldn
’
t ignore Muira
’
s cry when she saw him however.

“
Lachlan, your face!
”
she gasped, rushing away from Graem
’
s bedside, where she had evidently been tending the old man.  Bridghe was staring at him worriedly too.  The doctor, who was also there, harrumphed, and turned his attention back to his patient. 

Lachlan raised a distracted hand to his cheek. 
“
It
’
s nothing,
”
he murmured, shrugging off his wife
’
s concerned.

“
It
’
s not nothing!
”
Muira insisted. 
“
Here, tell me see.
”
  She tried to drag him towards the light coming from the window, but Lachlan wouldn
’
t budge.  He was staring at the still figure lying in the bed. 
“
Who did this?
”
Muira hissed, but again her husband ignored her distress.

“
How is he?
”
he whispered instead.

“
Sleeping,
”
Bridghe whispered, which was followed by a grunt of disagreement from the bed.

“
Sir?
”
Lachlan said, stepping forwards and moving towards the Laird. 
“
How are you feeling, sir?
”
he asked in concern. 

Graem coughed and smiled weakly. 
“
Better that I look, one would hope.
”
  He paused to catch his breath after speaking, and beckoned Lachlan forward nearer with a frail wave of his hand. 
“
You did what I asked?
”
he enquired breathlessly, letting his eyes shut as he waited for the answer.

“
Aye, I did, sir,
”
Lachlan nodded.  He looked to the doctor, to see whether or not it was all right to continue.  The older man shrugged his shoulders, as if to say that he didn
’
t think it would make very much difference. 
“
The man who we originally imprisoned, Ewan Cameron, had been released and found innocence of the charges laid against him, sir,
”
he explained. 

Lachlan heard Muira quiet little,
thank God
, behind him.  He watched a look of gentle peace relax the Laird
’
s face also.

“
However,
”
Lachlan was forced to continue. 
“
We have found the culprit.
”

Graem
’
s face lost its calmness. 
“
Who was it?
”
he demanded, and tried to sit up.  The doctor hurried forwards to stop him from over exerting himself, and shot a hypocritical glance of warning at Lachlan.

“
Tavish MacEantach, sir,
”
Lachlan revealed calmly.  He heard his wife gasp for a second time.

“
So it was one of the Cameron men after all?
”
Graem sighed, sinking back against his pillows with an air of defeat about him.

“
Aye, sir,
”
Lachlan nodded unwillingly.  He didn
’
t want the old man to blame himself for what had happened
…
not when Lachlan feared that it was
his
fault. 
“
But MacEantach is unhinged, sir.  I don
’
t think the fact he
’
s a Cameron had too much bearing on what he did.
”

The doctor snorted, but Graem looked just a little less grim. 
“
I see,
”
he sighed. 
“
Tell me, Lachlan, how are the others who
’
ve been struck down?
”

Lachlan opened his mouth, but he didn
’
t actually have an answer to give.  He didn
’
t
know
how anyone else was. 
“
I
’
ll go and find out for you, sir,
”
he said, bowing his head.

“
Wait, let me see to you face first,
”
Muira said, hurrying after him.

“
Muira, it
’
s nothing,
”
he sighed wearily, but he let her push him down into a chair in the Laird
’
s formal chambers, before she darted away to find some fresh water and a clean rag.

“
Tavish did this, didn
’
t he?
”
she whispered, her hands trembling with anger as she gently washed away the dried blood and cleaned the wound, while her husband tried not to wince.  Lachlan didn
’
t need to answer her question. 
“
Bastard,
”
she hissed, which made her husband start in surprise, and then chuckle at her decidedly unladylike language.  Muira blushed. 
“
Well, he is!
”
she argued, sighing as she studied the cut. 
“
It doesn
’
t look too deep,
”
she declared. 
“
It shouldn
’
t even leave a scar once it
’
s healed.
”

“
No?
”
  If anything Lachlan actually sounded disappointed. 
“
I
’
ve always thought I
’
d look rather dark and menacing with a scar.
”

Muira rolled her eyes. 
“
You manage to look dark and menacing without one when you want,
”
she whispered silkily, and then she leant forward to pop a kiss on the end of his nose, which Lachlan turned to his advance, gripping her by the waist and pulling her down onto his lap. 

Lachlan kissed his wife soundly before releasing her. 
“
I have to go,
”
he apologised with regret.  Muira nodded her understanding, as Lachlan stood up, lifting her up onto her feet too.

“
Let me come with you?  I can help,
”
she said quickly, following her husband as he made for the door.

Lachlan opened his mouth to tell her no, that it would be safer for her to stay put, but something in her face told him that she wouldn
’
t listen.  Perhaps she could help after all?  Lachlan didn
’
t know how bad things were, but a spare pair of hands never seemed to go amiss in times of trouble.