Read Online Savage Deception (Liberty's Ladies) by Lynette Vinet - Free Book Online

Kingsley sneaked away. With him went all of her jewelry, even some of the pieces that had belonged to her mother. However much Diana missed her mother’s garnet ring and earbobs, she knew that anything was worth not having to endure Kingsley another moment.
    It wasn’t until word came of Kingsley’s heroic death in defense of his country that Diana and Harlan learned he’d joined the militia. “At least he wasn’t a coward at the end,” Harlan had said upon hearing the news. Days later Harlan suffered chest pains and was put to bed by the physician, who privately told Diana that Harlan’s heart was weak and he needed constant attention. Diana had decided to care for him, but Naomi appeared one afternoon and declared that she’d tend to Harlan. She explained that she owed him for taking care of her and her son all of those years ago, but Diana thought Naomi loved Harlan and that Harlan loved her. And so life slipped into a predictable and comfortable pattern until the British commandeered Briarhaven, forcing Diana to open her ears for any scrap of useful information about their activities in the area.
    “Diana Sheridan, dutiful patriot,” she mumbled under her breath and quelled the urge to laugh. She began washing the dishes. When she had finished and was drying her hands on her apron she turned to find Samuel Farnsworth staring worriedly at her. In his hand he held what looked to be a letter.
    “I’m sorry to disturb you,” he said, “but I just received a missive from General Lord Rawdon in Charlestown about your sister, Mrs. Richmond. It seems she has been taken quite ill and wishes to see you.”
    “Anne is sick? Does Lord Rawdon say what is wrong with her?” Diana was so upset at this news that she barely realized how odd it must seem to Farnsworth that word of Anne’s illness would come from Lord Rawdon himself.
    Samuel shook his head and tapped the paper with a well-manicured fingernail. “Lord Rawdon requests that you leave as soon as possible under my protection. I admit I find this most puzzling, because your sister is married to David Richmond, a lieutenant in the South Carolina militia. And if I’m not mistaken, Rawdon pardoned him and his men when we captured Charlestown, under condition that they not join a rebel band and fight against us.”
    Goodness but Farnsworth had a good memory for names, Diana decided, a bit on her guard. If Farnsworth knew that, then surely Lord Rawdon, who was in charge of the British forces in Charlestown, must remember David’s name, too. What was happening here? Anne must be dreadfully ill for Lord Rawdon to send a message to the relative of a known rebel.
    “You’re quite correct,” Diana admitted. “David was pardoned. Does the fact that my sister’s husband fought for the opposite side bother you?”
    “No, not if he has remained loyal to us. But, you see, I wonder sometimes if you have a guardian angel in the guise of Lord Rawdon.”
    Diana lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t understand what you mean. I’ve never met Lord Rawdon.”
    A half smile of amusement and bafflement turned up the corners of his mouth. “In that case, my dear, then I can’t explain why Briarhaven was chosen as my headquarters. Originally, the plantation five miles down the Santee was to be my choice, but at the last moment Rawdon commanded that we quarter here. In fact, when I protested he was most adamant about the whole thing. Very strange, but be that as it may, I suggest you pack what you’ll need for our trip. We’ll leave at dawn if that’s all right with you.”
    “Yes, that’s fine. Thank you, Captain.”
    He took her hand in his and kissed it. She couldn’t help but flinch at the intimate contact of his lips against her skin. Instantly she pulled away. He stiffened, and she knew that she had offended him. “I had hoped that by now you’d welcome my attentions, Diana, but I sense that you don’t return my feelings. Am I wrong to hope for something more than your