A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) (79 page)

“
Bridghe,
”
Lachlan growled, looking disgusted. 

“
We should let her in,
”
Muira murmured meekly, patted her hair, and then trying to straighten her dress.

“
We should
ignore
her,
”
Lachlan grunted, which earned a giggle from his wife.

“
Lachlan!
”
she grinned, because although she was frustrated at being stopped from sampling the delights of her husband
’
s body, Muira was in far too good a mood to let anything dampen her spirits.  Her husband gave in.  He walked across the room to open the door to his sister, however, before he did so he turned back to his wife.

“
I
’
m going to have you tonight, Muira,
”
he promised thickly. 
“
Don
’
t make any strenuous plans for tomorrow,
”
he teased huskily. 
“
You may not be feeling up to the exertion after I
’
ve finished with you.
”

Muira blushed crimson, and drew a shaky gasp; her husband
’
s assertion had instantly stoked the fire in her womb that she had been trying to smother.  Before she could make a quip back however, he
’
d open the door and Bridghe flounced into the room.  She cast her brother a suspicious look.

“
Oh- you
’
re here are you?
”
she glanced between husband and wife and rolled her eyes. 
“
I don
’
t suppose I need to ask why?
”
she added sweetly.

“
I don
’
t suppose you do,
”
Lachlan replied.

“
Lachlan!
”
Muira gasped, turning an even deeper shade of red.  Her husband wandered back to her side and dotted a kiss against her lips, completely ignoring his sister.  Bridghe cleared her throat loudly, but her brother continued to act as though she wasn
’
t there.

“
Should we tell her?
”
he whispered, his hand drifting possessively to Muira
’
s stomach again.

Muira hesitated, of course she wanted Lachlan to be able to share the wonderful news with his family; she wanted to share it with her family after all.  It was just that she had hoped to keep it special and secret and just between the two of them for a little while.  Lachlan was clearly bursting to tell someone however, so Muira smiled and nodded.

“
Should we tell her what?
”
Bridghe asked.  She obviously had better hearing than her brother had reckoned on.

Lachlan circled around behind his wife.  He wrapped his arms around her waist and gazed adoringly down at her up turned face.

“
Muira
’
s expecting,
”
he beamed, looking just as proud as was possible. 

Bridghe gave a little squeal and then burst into warm congratulations, rushing across the room to enfold both her brother and his wife in a fierce hug.

Whatever the original purpose of Bridghe
’
s visit, it was cast to the wayside as she stayed with Lachlan and Muira and merrily chatted to the couple for quite some time, ignoring her brother
’
s none to subtle hints that she should go, and leave them to
celebrate
alone. 

By the time that Bridghe actually deigned to leave, Lachlan had received a summons from the Laird, which he was forced, reluctantly to answer.  He kissed his wife, made his apologies and then sulkily went away.

Left alone there was only one thing that Muira could think to do - find her brother and share with him the good news!  She wasn
’
t sure that Ewan would be in his chamber however, and she wasn
’
t sure who else might be lurking around that part of the castle
…
so she summoned Liane and the two of them went off in search of the Cameron captain.

Luckily Ewan happened to have returned to his room after meeting with the Laird earlier that morning.  Donaid had wanted time alone to mull over Laird MacRae
’
s offer, and his cousin had retired to his chamber in case he was needed later.  Muira sent Liane off on some trivial errand once she was safely standing outside Ewan
’
s door, and entered when her brother called.

“
Something
’
s put a smile on your face,
”
Ewan remarked, cocking an eyebrow, and getting up off the bed where he had been lounging idly. 
“
Dare I ask what, or who?
”
he added with a cheeky grin.  Muira stuck her tongue out playfully, but couldn
’
t keep from beaming.

“
I have something to tell you,
”
she enthused, hardly able to keep still.

“
I gathered that much,
”
Ewan nodded wryly. 
“
But am I going to like what you have to tell me?
”
he asked warily.

“
Well I hope so!
”
Muira exclaimed, and then, unable to keep the news to herself any longer, she gushed:
“
you
’
re going to be an uncle!
”

Ewan
’
s reaction was certainly not what Muira had been hoping for.  He frowned.  His whole face fell into serious, grave lines of
…
if not disappointment then definitely concern.

“
Ewan?
”
Muira squeaked, her bubble of happiness deflating fast. 
“
What
’
s wrong?
”
she whispered.

“
Is that why you changed your mind about staying?
”
he demanded, walking across the room towards her. 
“
Because of the baby?  Because I know it would more difficult to leave with a bairn in tow, but it wouldn
’
t be impossible and I-
”

“
Ewan!
”
Muria gaped. 
“
What are you talking about?
”
she cried.

“
If you decided to state at Eilean Donan just because of the wee bairn then I want to know,
”
he said doggedly.

“
I didn
’
t!
”
Muira shrieked. 
“
I didn
’
t even know about the baby when I told you that I was staying!
”

Ewan looked sorry that he
’
d upset his sister, but he still didn
’
t look wholly convinced by her reasoning. 
“
Look Muria,
”
he sighed,
“
I
’
m happy for you, if this is want you want,
”
he qualified,
“
but I don
’
t want you to feel trapped here.
”

“
I don
’
t,
”
Muira repeated. 
“
I
did
feel ecstatic for the first time since arriving, but you
’
ve seen to ruining that quite nicely,
”
she snapped.

“
I
’
m just looking out for you, carrot,
”
Ewan muttered.

“
I have a husband who does that for me now!
”
Muira hissed.

“
But does he?
”
Ewan asked darkly.

“
Yes!
”
Muira cried, becoming truly irate. 

Her brother sighed wearily. 
“
Well if that
’
s the case then I
’
m sorry, and I
’
m glad for you, but Muria, you can
’
t grudge me my suspicions given how your-
”
he paused hesitantly,
“
-how your marriage came about in the first place.
”