Read Online Lavender Lies (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, adventure, Romance, Historical, Adult, Action, Mission, Temptation, 18th Century, enchanted, american revolution, Embrace, Deceased, englishman, Colonies, Patriotic, LAVENDER LIES, Jail Cell, Brother's Disgrace, Colonial Wench, Female Spy, Rendezvous, American Agent, Code Name, Swallow
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interest you, cutthroat—highwayman." His words were meant to convey a bravery he was far from feeling.
"And you, sir, are a British agent and have on your person something that belongs to my government," Lavender declared, losing patience.
Nicodemus cocked the hammer of his pistol and pressed the barrel against Mr. Groves's temple. "Will you give the document over, or should I take it off your dead body?" There was something menacing in Nicodemus's voice which made Mr. Groves fumble in his pocket to extract a document that had been carefully wrapped in oilcloth. With trembling hands, he held it out to Lavender.
While Nicodemus kept a watchful eye on the three men, Lavender carefully unwrapped the oilcloth and glanced at the parchment. She could hardly believe she actually held one of the three original documents that had been approved and signed by men of such renowned prominence in the Continental Congress. By affixing their signatures to the documents, they had proclaimed themselves traitors to England, while declaring the United States a free and independent nation.
She glanced at Mr. Groves, who inched closer to the coachman for protection. His fearful eyes darted from Lavender to Nicodemus.
Lavender propped her booted foot on the coach step and allowed her anger to cool. "What a pity you felt you had to steal this, Mr. Groves. Had you wanted a copy of our Declaration of Independence, no doubt Congress would have been only too happy to oblige. I have heard it said that the men who signed it wrote their names big enough for your king to read without his spectacles. Your mistake was in wanting one of the original copies, and that we cannot allow."
A hiss of disapproval came from the matronly woman. "Have we been traveling with a traitor and a thief?"
While Lavender's attention was drawn to the woman, Groves's hand slowly moved to the hilt of his rapier. She was alerted to the danger by the woman's warning shriek. With a quick motion, he brandished the blade and made a thrust at her.
Lavender was like liquid lightning; with a speed that surprised her opponent, her blade caught and held his thrust. For long moments, they were locked together in a struggle for supremacy. The Englishman had the greater strength. He was taller and stouter. But Lavender had been well trained at swordplay, and she did not know the meaning of fear.
High color drained from Groves's face and his mouth turned purple. He exerted his strength in an attempt to free his sword. At last, Lavender's blade rounded the Englishman's, and she sent his flying through the air to land at Julian's feet.
Julian wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the sword and Lavender tensed. She read the challenge in his eyes, and she knew he was toying with the notion of crossing blades with her himself. Julian smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Bowing to her, he offered the weapon to Groves so the poor man could defend himself, as best he could, against the superior ability of his opponent.
The Englishman took the rapier, his face livid, his mouth etched in a scornful sneer. "Prepare to die. I have had enough of you, highwayman, upstart!"
Lavender's laughter was swift. She flourished her blade in a salute "You have not had near enough of me yet, sir, but you shall before I am finished with you."
Nicodemus quickly stepped forward between Lavender and Groves, his pistol aimed at the man's heart. Lavender motioned for Nicodemus to move aside. She was determined to teach this treacherous dog the lesson he deserved.
Julian watched as she became poised and graceful. When she sliced her deadly blade through the air, it was with trained accuracy. The notion that a woman could wield a sword, and do it better than most men he knew was a novel thought. It was inconceivable to him that any woman could best a man at swordplay, so he watched the proceedings with interest.
The clash of steel was the only sound that could be heard as the two rapiers met
"And you, sir, are a British agent and have on your person something that belongs to my government," Lavender declared, losing patience.
Nicodemus cocked the hammer of his pistol and pressed the barrel against Mr. Groves's temple. "Will you give the document over, or should I take it off your dead body?" There was something menacing in Nicodemus's voice which made Mr. Groves fumble in his pocket to extract a document that had been carefully wrapped in oilcloth. With trembling hands, he held it out to Lavender.
While Nicodemus kept a watchful eye on the three men, Lavender carefully unwrapped the oilcloth and glanced at the parchment. She could hardly believe she actually held one of the three original documents that had been approved and signed by men of such renowned prominence in the Continental Congress. By affixing their signatures to the documents, they had proclaimed themselves traitors to England, while declaring the United States a free and independent nation.
She glanced at Mr. Groves, who inched closer to the coachman for protection. His fearful eyes darted from Lavender to Nicodemus.
Lavender propped her booted foot on the coach step and allowed her anger to cool. "What a pity you felt you had to steal this, Mr. Groves. Had you wanted a copy of our Declaration of Independence, no doubt Congress would have been only too happy to oblige. I have heard it said that the men who signed it wrote their names big enough for your king to read without his spectacles. Your mistake was in wanting one of the original copies, and that we cannot allow."
A hiss of disapproval came from the matronly woman. "Have we been traveling with a traitor and a thief?"
While Lavender's attention was drawn to the woman, Groves's hand slowly moved to the hilt of his rapier. She was alerted to the danger by the woman's warning shriek. With a quick motion, he brandished the blade and made a thrust at her.
Lavender was like liquid lightning; with a speed that surprised her opponent, her blade caught and held his thrust. For long moments, they were locked together in a struggle for supremacy. The Englishman had the greater strength. He was taller and stouter. But Lavender had been well trained at swordplay, and she did not know the meaning of fear.
High color drained from Groves's face and his mouth turned purple. He exerted his strength in an attempt to free his sword. At last, Lavender's blade rounded the Englishman's, and she sent his flying through the air to land at Julian's feet.
Julian wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the sword and Lavender tensed. She read the challenge in his eyes, and she knew he was toying with the notion of crossing blades with her himself. Julian smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Bowing to her, he offered the weapon to Groves so the poor man could defend himself, as best he could, against the superior ability of his opponent.
The Englishman took the rapier, his face livid, his mouth etched in a scornful sneer. "Prepare to die. I have had enough of you, highwayman, upstart!"
Lavender's laughter was swift. She flourished her blade in a salute "You have not had near enough of me yet, sir, but you shall before I am finished with you."
Nicodemus quickly stepped forward between Lavender and Groves, his pistol aimed at the man's heart. Lavender motioned for Nicodemus to move aside. She was determined to teach this treacherous dog the lesson he deserved.
Julian watched as she became poised and graceful. When she sliced her deadly blade through the air, it was with trained accuracy. The notion that a woman could wield a sword, and do it better than most men he knew was a novel thought. It was inconceivable to him that any woman could best a man at swordplay, so he watched the proceedings with interest.
The clash of steel was the only sound that could be heard as the two rapiers met
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