Lavender Lies (Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

flickering flames of the fireplace. "I would think she has become too valuable to the rebellious cause. She will strike again, and when she does, I will be waiting for her!"
    Colonel Grimsley shivered at the bitterness he saw in the duke's eyes. He had very little doubt that if anyone could catch the Swallow, it would be this man. "Do we work with you, then, Your Gr— Julian?"
    "No. Both of you are to immediately cease any and all activities concerning the Swallow. I want her to feel safe and to be lulled into complacency. Given time, she will become careless and 1 shall have her!" Julian's eyes narrowed, and his voice came out in a harsh whisper. "I alone will bring down the woman who is responsible for my brother's death!"
     
    At that very moment, upstairs, in one of the bedrooms of the Fife and Drum, a single candle burned low in the pewter sconce, casting shadows across the wall. Soft laughter tumbled from the lips of the beautiful young woman as she tucked a crumpled piece of paper into her scuffed boot.
    She gazed cautiously at the British captain who was sprawled across the bed. Moving to his side, she lifted his eyelids to determine if the drug she had put in his drink had rendered him fully unconscious. When she saw that he was beginning to stir, she hurriedly removed the black wig she was wearing and stepped out of her green velvet gown. The man groaned, and she immediately reached into the lining of her cape and removed the clothing she had placed there earlier.
    Hastily the young girl pulled on the man's trousers and shirt and placed a powdered wig on her head. As she pulled the cape about her, she crossed the room. With an urgency, she moved out the door and walked toward the stairs that led below to the common room.
    When the girl reached the bottom of the stairs, her heart skipped a beat when she saw that there were three men seated at a table. For a fraction of a second, her eyes locked with deep brown eyes, and she was touched by an icy breath of fear. The dark, handsome man seemed to view her with boredom, and still she shivered with a feeling of strange foreboding. Quickly ducking her head and breaking eye contact, she pulled her hat low over her forehead and moved to the door, knowing the man followed her with his dark gaze.
    Once outside, the wind whipped at the young woman's cloak, and the rain stung her delicate face. She strained her eyes in the downpour until she saw a familiar figure leading her mount forward. Losing no time, she sprung into the saddle and gathered her cape about her.
    "Let's get away from here, Nicodemus. I have an uneasy feeling about this place."
    Nicodemus checked his prancing horse. "Did you get what you came for?"
    "Yes, I have the captain's papers," she replied, kicking her horse in the flanks and propelling him into the blinding rainstorm.
    It was only moments after the door closed behind the young lad that Julian heard a commotion and glanced up at the English officer who staggered down the stairs waving his pistol in the air. His red captain's uniform was in disarray, his wig askew on his head. "To horse, men," the captain cried. "The Swallow struck, and she took my papers. After her, before she gets away!"
    "Damnation," Julian swore, rising to his feet. He remembered staring into the young lad's face and thinking he was too pretty to be a boy. How was he to know that it had been none other than the Swallow! Even as Julian had been planning her downfall, the Swallow had been operating within his grasp. It was as if she had been mocking him!
    Julian watched as the captain fumbled into his cape before darting for the door. He knew no one would catch the Swallow tonight. His eyes narrowed, and he stared out the window, noticing that the rain had intensified and would probably aid the woman in her escape.
    Grimsley and Wilson stared in disbelief as the drugged captain staggered out the front door, hurling obscenities to the wind. The room became strangely silent. Turning to