Read Online Lavender Lies (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online Page B
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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his pockets. "You ... are not going to kill me?"
Lavender tensed angrily. "As I told you before, today is your lucky day, sir, because I was given no orders to end your miserable existence. I have what I came for."
As Lavender backed toward her horse, Nicodemus motioned for the others to get back in the coach. George Groves lost no time in scampering up the two steps that took him inside.
Lavender swung herself into the saddle and watched the coachman climb up to the driver's seat and pick up the reins. The man tipped his hat and smiled at Lavender. "Had I known who you were, I would have given you no trouble. If I'd known I had an Englishman aboard today, I'd have helped you subdue him. I'll make sure he is transported to the nearest waterway and shown the way back to England. God's speed, Swallow."
Lavender raised her hand in a silent salute as the coach pulled away. Suddenly her eyes moved to Julian West, who stared at her from inside the coach. What was there about him that made her afraid? she wondered. Why did his dark eyes seem to see past her disguise and into her very soul?
As the coach rounded a bend to be hidden by the dense woods, Nicodemus mounted his horse and reined it in beside Lavender. "I take it you have what we were sent for?"
"Yes, Nicodemus, but I am sorely troubled about something."
"Do not fear that cowardly George Groves. He's afraid of his own shadow. I'm surprised the British chose a man of his cut to deliver such an important document."
"It's not him that concerns me, it's the other gentleman, Nicodemus."
"Ah, the tall, silent one. Do you think they were traveling together?"
"No, Nicodemus, but neither do I think that Julian West is from America. Unless there are two men with the name of Julian West, he is Aunt Amelia's new lodger, who claims to be from Georgia."
"That can be a stroke of bad luck," Nicodemus observed.
"Yes, and I have an ear for accents, so I could tell Mr. West is English to the bone. If he is from Georgia, then I am the Queen of France."
"Do you think he is a spy?"
"I don't know. I am only sure that he is not who he says he is."
Nicodemus's voice deepened with meaning. He knew Lavender well enough to trust her instincts. "Do you want me to make sure he don't show up in Williamsburg?"
"No, perhaps I am being overly cautious. I will have Brainard Thruston check on his background. In the meantime, we must be on guard. If he is a spy planted in our midst, we will have to calculate each move we make from here on out."
"I will be glad when the day comes that your services will no longer be needed, Lavender. You have done more than your share for liberty. I fear for you every time you are sent out on a mission."
"I admit I sometimes wish I had never been asked to play the spy, but then I remember my father's devotion to this cause. Knowing he gave his life for this country, I must do whatever I can to help."
"I don't think your father would approve of your placing your life in jeopardy."
Lavender remembered back to the night her father had been wounded and she had gone to Yorktown in his place. He had been filled with remorse when he learned of the danger she had faced and had begged her forgiveness for allowing her to go on such a perilous mission.
"Perhaps my father would not have approved of what I am doing, Nicodemus, but I believe he would have understood why I am doing it."
"I don't like you being involved in this business today, it's too dangerous. I intend to inform Brainard Thruston that the next time he needs someone to detain a coach, to get someone else."
The first drops of rain began to fall, and Lavender placed the precious document inside her cape so it wouldn't get wet. "It's over with, Nicodemus, and we were successful. I suggest we leave now and take the shortcut through the woods so we can make it home before Mr. Julian West arrives."
Half an hour later, Lavender and Nicodemus rode into the stables behind the hospital to find Forbes and his
Lavender tensed angrily. "As I told you before, today is your lucky day, sir, because I was given no orders to end your miserable existence. I have what I came for."
As Lavender backed toward her horse, Nicodemus motioned for the others to get back in the coach. George Groves lost no time in scampering up the two steps that took him inside.
Lavender swung herself into the saddle and watched the coachman climb up to the driver's seat and pick up the reins. The man tipped his hat and smiled at Lavender. "Had I known who you were, I would have given you no trouble. If I'd known I had an Englishman aboard today, I'd have helped you subdue him. I'll make sure he is transported to the nearest waterway and shown the way back to England. God's speed, Swallow."
Lavender raised her hand in a silent salute as the coach pulled away. Suddenly her eyes moved to Julian West, who stared at her from inside the coach. What was there about him that made her afraid? she wondered. Why did his dark eyes seem to see past her disguise and into her very soul?
As the coach rounded a bend to be hidden by the dense woods, Nicodemus mounted his horse and reined it in beside Lavender. "I take it you have what we were sent for?"
"Yes, Nicodemus, but I am sorely troubled about something."
"Do not fear that cowardly George Groves. He's afraid of his own shadow. I'm surprised the British chose a man of his cut to deliver such an important document."
"It's not him that concerns me, it's the other gentleman, Nicodemus."
"Ah, the tall, silent one. Do you think they were traveling together?"
"No, Nicodemus, but neither do I think that Julian West is from America. Unless there are two men with the name of Julian West, he is Aunt Amelia's new lodger, who claims to be from Georgia."
"That can be a stroke of bad luck," Nicodemus observed.
"Yes, and I have an ear for accents, so I could tell Mr. West is English to the bone. If he is from Georgia, then I am the Queen of France."
"Do you think he is a spy?"
"I don't know. I am only sure that he is not who he says he is."
Nicodemus's voice deepened with meaning. He knew Lavender well enough to trust her instincts. "Do you want me to make sure he don't show up in Williamsburg?"
"No, perhaps I am being overly cautious. I will have Brainard Thruston check on his background. In the meantime, we must be on guard. If he is a spy planted in our midst, we will have to calculate each move we make from here on out."
"I will be glad when the day comes that your services will no longer be needed, Lavender. You have done more than your share for liberty. I fear for you every time you are sent out on a mission."
"I admit I sometimes wish I had never been asked to play the spy, but then I remember my father's devotion to this cause. Knowing he gave his life for this country, I must do whatever I can to help."
"I don't think your father would approve of your placing your life in jeopardy."
Lavender remembered back to the night her father had been wounded and she had gone to Yorktown in his place. He had been filled with remorse when he learned of the danger she had faced and had begged her forgiveness for allowing her to go on such a perilous mission.
"Perhaps my father would not have approved of what I am doing, Nicodemus, but I believe he would have understood why I am doing it."
"I don't like you being involved in this business today, it's too dangerous. I intend to inform Brainard Thruston that the next time he needs someone to detain a coach, to get someone else."
The first drops of rain began to fall, and Lavender placed the precious document inside her cape so it wouldn't get wet. "It's over with, Nicodemus, and we were successful. I suggest we leave now and take the shortcut through the woods so we can make it home before Mr. Julian West arrives."
Half an hour later, Lavender and Nicodemus rode into the stables behind the hospital to find Forbes and his
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