A Beautiful Lie (The Camaraes) Read Online Free Page A

I ’ m sorry, Aunt, ” she mumbled, being helped out of the saddle by her brother.  “ I didn ’ t mean to make you worry. ”
     
    “ What- ”
     
    “ She ’ s had a long, trying day, Aunt, I think it would be best if we just let her rest and leave the questions until morning, ” Ewan said swiftly, and Muira could have hugged him for it.  “ Cait- ugh- maybe you could help, Muira up to her room? ” he added, a stammered, awkwardness creeping into his voice that Muira had only ever heard when he was addressing the pretty young governess.  Blushing, Cait bobbed her head in silent agreement and took Muira ’ s arm.
     
    Muira hadn ’ t realised just how tired she was until Cait bundled her up the great stairs and off to bed.  The pain in her ankle had lessened a fraction and she was able to bear a little of her weight on it as she was shepherded to her bedroom.
     
    “ I ’ ll have one of the lads bring up some buckets of hot water so that I can fix you a bath, ” Cait said, settling Muira in a comfortable chair and then ringing for the help.
     
    “ I just want to sleep, ” Muira yawned, ready to drop off at any moment.
     
    “ That dirty?  And in those damp clothes? ” Cait snorted, and rung the bell again.  “ I ’ d dearly like to know what you ’ ve been up to Muira Cameron, ” she sighed, her voice clearly worried.
     
    Muira didn ’ t offer an explanation though.  She sat dozing in the armchair, waiting for Cait to fix the bath.  It would be heaven to soak her aching limbs, she supposed, and then be able to sleep, snug and clean in her own bed …   Muira ’ s grey eyes flew open as she choked.  She glanced at the bed out of the corner of her eye - the bed where Tavish had tried to rape her just that morning.  A wave of nausea rolled over Muira.  Where was Tavish?
     
    “ Cait, ” she said quietly.  Her friend looked up at her.  She was adding a few drops of rose oil to the bath.  The water had arrived without Muira noticing, and been emptied into the large tub by the fire.  “ Do you think you could stay in here with me tonight? ” she asked quietly.
     
    Cait opened her mouth to question the request, but in the end she just nodded her head.  “ Of course, ” she said.  “ If that ’ s what you want. ”  
     
    Cait didn ’ t press the matter any further, whether that was because of her own common sense or out of respect for Ewan ’ s instructions, Muira wasn ’ t sure, she was just hugely relieved.  She undressed and sank into hot the bathwater; letting Cait help wash and then untangle the long tresses of her hair while she soaked.
     
    “ Did you want something to eat before turning in? ” Cait asked.  “ You can ’ t have eaten in hours, and your hair won ’ t be dry enough to sleep on for a while.  I can go down to the kitchens and see what ’ s been left in pantry? ”
     
    Muira found that she was nodded her head eagerly.  Just as she hadn ’ t realised how tired she was, she hadn ’ t noticed how famished she was either until Cait mentioned food.
     
    “ Would you? ” she asked.
     
    Cait laughed and nodded, leaving her friend alone to dry.
     
    Muira lingered in the bath for a little while longer, waiting until the water had cooled and her skin was crinkly before finding getting out.  The soak had done her ankle the world of good.  She was almost able to stand properly as she dried in front of the fire, donning a long nightdress and dressing gown, before sitting down in front of the dressing table mirror to comb out her hair.
     
    Left alone with her thoughts, her mind began to wander.  What was going to happen now?  Muira knew that her brother hadn ’ t wholly believed her tale.  Ewan had given her the night to recuperate, but in the morning he would want answers.  As would her other brother and father, and her aunt and uncle, her cousins … and Tavish.
     
    Just thinking about her fianc é made Muira want to physically retch.  When