She was besieged with so many different emotions that she stood there with a blank look on her face. Love seemed to burst from her heart and she wanted to throw herself into his arms, but she could not. She had to send him away. Why did he have to come home now? "Julian, where did you come from?" she managed to ask.
"Close that damned window, and I will tell you," he growled. Lavender stood her ground as he approached the window, fearing he would see Nicodemus and Brainard. He gave her a condescending glance and reached over her head to slam the window shut. "Have you no thought for the baby?" he demanded in an irritated voice.
She felt the chill of the night and began trembling with cold. Julian scooped her up in his arms and laid her on the bed, where he pulled the covers over her. Turning away, he moved to the fireplace and piled several logs on the glowing embers.
Lavender watched him, wondering why he had come home. She thought of Nicodemus and Brainard, and hoped they would understand why she could not come to them. Julian appeared at her side and eased himself down on the bed. His eyes swept across her face and down to the bulge of her stomach. "To answer your question as best I am able, I missed you, Lavender. I tried to stay away, but I couldn't. I had important business to attend to in London, but I could only think of you. You have thoroughly bewitched me."
She was happy to hear his confession, yet she still remembered how cold and distant he had been to her the day he had left. She reminded herself he had been away for three long months without a thought of her or the baby. "I am sure it is a condition you will recover from," she said, raising her chin. "I do not believe it is fatal."
He surprised her with a smile that touched the corner of his lips and danced in his eyes. "Ouch, pull in your claws, little she-cat. I have become accustomed to groveling at your feet. Is that what you want of me now?"
She tossed her golden hair in a show of defiance. "I have never asked anything of you, nor will I now."
He arched an eyebrow. "I was told by the doctor not to upset you, so I will just let that pass."
When he reached out his hand to touch her face, she flinched away. She had to make him leave before Nicodemus took it in his head to climb up to her room and find out why she had not come into the garden. "1 am weary, Julian, and I wish you would just go, I am sure the doctor told you that I need my sleep."
Somehow he had hoped for more from her. It seemed she had not missed him at all. He had been truthful with her when he told her he had been unable to think about anything but her. He looked at her through lowered lashes. "Is it your wish that I leave you alone?"
Lavender wanted to beg him to hold her in his arms. She tried not to think about the lonely nights she had ached for the sight of his face, or how she had longed for the sound of his voice. But she had to send him away for fear he would discover that Nicodemus and Brainard were below in the garden. She had to go to the garden as soon as possible. It took all her willpower to turn her back to him. "I am tired, Julian. Please go away. We can talk in the morning."
Lavender squeezed her eyes tightly together trying not to cry. She heard him stand up, and watched as the room fell into darkness when he blew out the candle. "Good night, Lavender. As you said, we will talk in the morning."
Lavender lay still long after she heard the door close and the sound of Julian's footsteps fade down the hallway. Tears gathered in her eyes as she resisted the urge to run after him. She waited for what seemed like hours, but in reality was but a few moments. Getting out of bed, she slipped on her boots and pulled her fur-lined cape about her shoulders. She had to go into the garden to find Nicodemus.
As Lavender cautiously entered the garden, she noticed that the moon hung in the sky like a big bright ball, lending its golden magic to the snow-covered landscape. She took in a deep breath of the frosty air, hoping it would quiet her thundering heart. Her eyes ran over the garden, but she saw no sign of Nicodemus or Brainard. What if they had gone? Surely it was too cold for them to remain in the garden all night.
She moved down the brick walkway, knowing she dare not call out Nicodemus's name for fear someone else would overhear. Why had Julian come home tonight of all nights? she wondered frantically. If she had not felt compelled to be cold to him, perhaps she would now be in his arms.
She glanced toward the conservatory, thinking she had seen a flicker of light somewhere inside the glass structure. It could have been Nicodemus, or maybe Muldoon was working late in the garden. Her footsteps carried her in that direction.
Lavender's hand closed around the cold doorknob, and she pushed the door open. Feeling a rush of warm air from the conservatory hit her in the face, she called out, "Muldoon, are you here?" There was no answer, so she called again. Still there was no reply.
The moonlight filtered through the glass top of the conservatory, lending its light so she could find her way. She had just decided that she must have been mistaken about seeing a light when a hand clamped over her mouth.
"Don't scream, Lavender. It's me, Brainard."
She pushed his hand away from her mouth and turned to him. "What are you doing here? Don't you know it is dangerous to come here?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "What's a little danger, compared to rescuing you from the Englishman?"
Lavender was not happy about seeing Brainard. She still had not forgiven him for what he had done to Julian, but she did so want to see Nicodemus. Looking past Brainard, she searched for her old friend. "Where is Nicodemus?"
"He left thinking you would not come tonight. We saw the Englishman's coach arrive so he decided to try and reach you another time, but I refused to give up the vigil. I know you well enough to realize you would find a way to get out of the house."
"Where have you and Nicodemus been staying?" she wanted to know.
"We have been hiding out at a deserted barn on the other side of the village."
"How did you know which window was mine?"
"I bribed one of the gardeners. He was a most informative young lad." It seemed to Lavender that Brainard's eyes were cold. "I found out many things about you, Lavender." He reached out his hand and ran it over the expensive fur on her cape. "Can you be bought, Lavender? Has the Englishman won you away from your own country?"
She was beginning to feel uneasy, and she immediately took offense at his accusations. "No one bought me, Brainard. How dare you even suggest such a thing. I am still angry for what you did to Julian in Williamsburg."
"I wasn't too happy when I found out you had helped the Englishman escape, either. But you partly redeemed yourself when you wrote your aunt that Forbes had become a turncoat. You might like to know he was hanged."
Lavender shivered. "Poor Sarah. It must have been hard on her."
"She left soon after. But let's talk about you. Have you turned traitor, too?"
Lavender was too angry to answer. "1 understand why Nicodemus would come after me, but I do not know what you are doing here."
"Did you think I would not come, Lavender? Nicodemus and 1 caught a ship soon after Westfield's letter reached your aunt, informing her that you had married him and would be sailing to England with him. Did you really think I would allow him to spirit you away without lifting a hand to help you?"
"You could have saved yourself the trouble, Brainard. For you see, I will be returning to Williamsburg as soon ... as my baby is born."
His face became distorted with fury when he glanced down at her round belly. "How dare Westfield touch you," he ground out in a whisper. "I will kill him for this!"
"No, you will not, Brainard. What I do is none of your affair. You and I have been friends for a very long time. I don't want to see it end this way."
He stared at her in surprise. "I was sure that we were more than friends, Lavender. I still remember the time in your aunt's garden when you allowed me to kiss you. I thought it was understood that when this war was over, you would consent to marry me."
"If I gave you that impression, I am sorry, Brainard," she said. "As you know, I am already
married."
He reached out and took her hand. "I am sorry, too, Lavender." There was genuine sadness in his eyes. "I thought you were in trouble, so I came to help you. You belonged to my alliance, and we always take care of our own."
All the anger went out of her. This was the Brainard she knew. She felt his arms go around her, and she was comforted. How good it felt to have a friend who would cross an ocean because he thought she needed help. "I am not in trouble, Brainard. As I told you, I will be going home as soon as this baby is born."
Suddenly his arms tightened and she felt his lips on her neck. "I will not let that Englishman have you," he said in an angry voice. "You are mine!"
When she tried to struggle, his arms tightened even more. "You are hurting me, Brainard," she cried, trying to pry his hands loose. "Please let me go," she pleaded.
"No, I will not release you. I am taking you back to America with me."
Lavender could see his eyes, and felt a shiver run down her spine because they were angry and possessive. "I will not go with you, Brainard. But if you don't leave soon, someone will find you here and it will go hard with you."
He acted as if he had not heard her. "It will be all right, Lavender. When I get you away from this place, you will forget this man and be your old self. You will depend on me again, and I will never let anything hurt you."
She shook her head, feeling fear in the pit of her stomach. Brainard was not acting lucid. She wished she had not come into the garden at all. "I cannot go away with you, Brainard. I have given my word that I will stay here until the child is born."
"You lie!" he shouted, shaking her until she thought her head would snap off. She pushed against his hands, and he finally released her. That was when Lavender heard Nicodemus's beloved voice.
"Damn you, Brainard, I will kill you for this," he yelled out angrily, charging Brainard with a force that took them both to the ground.
Lavender could hear the fierce struggle that was going on within the conservatory. As the moon came out from behind a cloud, she could seem them, and it was apparent that Nicodemus was in trouble. Brainard had straddled him and had a knife poised, ready to plunge it into his heart! In spite of the danger to herself, Lavender threw herself against Brainard, giving Nicodemus time enough to hurl Brainard off and roll out of the way.
As Brainard came to his feet, Lavender ran to him placing a restraining hand on his shoulder. "Try to remember that the three of us are friends, Brainard. If we fight among ourselves, then you will have come here for nothing."
His eyes softened and he reached for Lavender's hand. "It's us against the English," he whispered. In a quick move that startled Lavender, Brainard grabbed the rapier that he had worn about his waist and waved it in the air. "I am taking you away from here tonight. If you don't come willingly, I'll take you by force."
"Let her go and we will discuss this," Nicodemus urged, knowing that Brainard was not thinking rationally. Nicodemus feared in Brainard's frenzied state of mind he might hurt Lavender. "There is no reason to frighten Lavender," Nicodemus reasoned, taking a step closer. But when he saw Brainard's arms tighten around Lavender, he halted. Out of the corner of his eyes, Nicodemus saw Julian Westfield move silently up behind Brainard, so he knew he had to keep Brainard distracted until the duke could intervene.
"We could always take Lavender back to Williamsburg with us, Brainard. Once we get her out of England we will all be safe," Nicodemus said. "Give her over to me so we can decide what to do."
Brainard looked doubtfully at Lavender. "Will you come away with us?"
Lavender, not knowing how dangerous Brainard was in his present state of mind, shook her head. "I told you no. I have given my word that—"
Nicodemus intervened, realizing that Brainard must be humored. "You know how women are, Brainard. They can never make up their mind about anything. They say one thing while meaning something entirely different. We will just force her to come with us and—"
At that precise moment, Julian moved forward, his rapier poised, ready to strike. "Let her go, Thruston. Your quarrel is with me. I believe you and I have an old score to settle."
Brainard turned to face the man whom he believed had stolen Lavender from him. There was a murderous light in his eyes when he shoved Lavender out of the way and raised his rapier to clash with Julian's.
Lavender spun around, her eyes on the rapiers. She knew Brainard was an expert swordsman, and she feared for Julian. This was a life-and-death struggle, and when it was over, one of the men would be dead! The clash of steel echoed through the conservatory, and in no time at all, Lavender saw that Julian was the master swordsman.
"You have had this coming," Julian hissed, his face grim as he artfully caught Brainard's thrust. "I still have the scars from our last little encounter."
Brainard fought to the best of his ability, but Julian drove him backward. "I should have killed you when I had the chance, Westfield."
"Yes, you should have. The fact that you didn't will cause you to forfeit your own life." With a lightning-quick move, Julian lunged forward and plunged the point of his rapier into Brainard's chest. A surprised look moved over Brainard's face and he slumped to the ground.
"My God, Nicodemus, he's dead," Lavender cried. She would have gone to Brainard, but Nicodemus pulled her back, and she buried her face against Nicodemus's chest, while his comforting arms went around her. "You can't help him now, Lavender. No one can," he soothed. "It's all over."
"Not quite," Julian said. He sliced his blade through the air and stood before Nicodemus. "You are next, bond servant."
Lavender shook her head as she faced her husband. "No, I will not allow you to harm Nicodemus. You killed Brainard. I consider that enough bloodshed for one day."
Julian ignored Lavender, while his eyes locked with Nicodemus's. "Pick up your friend's rapier, Nicodemus," he said in a cold voice.
Lavender threw herself in front of Nicodemus, knowing he had never mastered the rapier, and would have no chance against Julian. "I will not allow you to fight him, Julian—not now or ever."
Julian pushed Lavender aside and placed the point of his blade at Nicodemus's throat. "You either fight, or die where you stand, bond servant. Either way you are a dead man like your friend there."
"I guess it's a fight then," Nicodemus said. He glanced at Lavender just in time to see her pick up Brainard's rapier from the ground. He shook his head, knowing what she had in mind. "No, Lavender! You can't do this," Nicodemus called out. "This isn't your fight."
Lavender held her blade out to Julian. "If you want to draw more blood, try mine."
Lavender and Julian's eyes met in mortal combat. "Go to the house, Lavender. I will deal with you later."
Her blade swished through the air, and she tapped Julian's blade. "You will deal with me now!" Her eyes were like blue steel. "Let us say I am the substitute for Nicodemus." Before Julian could answer, Lavender's rapier slashed through the material of his shirt, nicking the skin underneath.
Julian's rapier came up and clashed with hers. "Damn you, Lavender, I don't want to hurt you, you are a woman."
"Don't let that stop you, Julian. It has never stopped me.
There was a scowl on his face as he watched the pulse beat throbbing in her throat. "Have you thought about the baby?'
"No."
"Well I have. Stand aside. My fight is with Nicodemus. I told you I don't fight women."
"Forget that 1 am a woman. Think of me only as the Swallow, Julian." Her rapier circled his. "I will die rather than allow you to harm Nicodemus."
"Lavender, this is madness," Nicodemus spoke up. "Give me the rapier. I can take care of myself."
"No, you can't, Nicodemus!" Lavender cried out. "You never could handle a rapier, and you are certainly no match for Julian." Her voice broke. "I will not have you cut down as Brainard was."
Julian made a thrust with his rapier, intending to unarm Lavender and put an end to this idiocy. But in the flicker of a moment, he
r blade flashed up to catch and hold his. The challenge in her eyes was meant to bait him into a contest.
To test her skill Julian lunged a guarded attack. She caught his blade, and made her own thrust. "I am not going to fight you, Lavender," he called out as he took evasive action and sidestepped her lunge. "Think of the baby," he cautioned as he caught her attack in another counteroffensive.
"All you have to do to stop me, Julian, is give me your word that no harm will come to Nicodemus. Otherwise, you will have to defend yourself."
Julian was so angry he did not see the tears that blinded Lavender's vision. He was remembering the sight of her in Brainard's arms. With a wide sweep, he caught her rapier, circled it, and wrenched it from her hand to send it sailing through the air. "Now it's your turn, Nicodemus," Julian said, turning away from Lavender. "Pick up the rapier."
"No!" Lavender cried, running for the rapier that had landed near the door. Both men watched in frozen horror as she lost her footing and toppled forward, slamming into the wall of glass. The sound of shattering glass broke the silence, and Lavender held out her hands, hoping to break her fall. Pain shot through her as she fell through the splinters of glass and onto the hard snow-packed ground outside the conservatory.
In a haze of agonizing pain, Lavender felt Julian
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beside her, lifting her into his arms, "Darling, are you hurt?" he asked, brushing slivers of glass gently away from her face.
"I .. . do not feel well," she whispered.
"Damn you," he said, cuddling her close to him. Lavender only knew that she was in Julian's arms and he was holding her so tightly.
"Nicodemus, I have to get her into the house. You follow us, because I have questions to ask you."
"I can't come with you just now. After I have made arrangements for Brainard's body to be taken away, I'll be coming around for that talk," Nicodemus said. "I don't want you to think I was hiding behind a woman's skirt.
Julian paused. "I will have someone take care of the body."
"No, you won't," Nicodemus insisted. "Brainard was a countryman of mine, and at one time he was a good soldier. It is only right that I make sure he has a proper burial."
Lavender Lies (Historical Romance) Page 33
