The Price of Pleasure (15 page)

“It’s proper if I say it is.”

Updike perched on the edge of a chair. “May I ask what happened to you during your long absence?”

Reed contemplated the remaining liquid in his snifter. “I will speak of it just this once, Updike, but never again. The reason I am telling you is because there may be times when I do not seem myself and cannot be reached. Would you believe that not too many weeks ago I prayed for death?”

“You, my lord? Never!”

“It’s true, Updike. The only thing that kept me alive was pain. Since you are my valet, you will see me unclothed and realize I have suffered indignities no man should have to suffer. There were days when I would have welcomed death.”

Updike went white. “My lord, how ghastly for you. Were you in some kind of prison? How did you escape?”

“It was called Devil’s Chateau. That I left there alive was a miracle. I cannot tell you the specifics, even though I trust you implicitly.”

Reed pictured the first time he had seen Fleur in the guise of the Black Widow. Even then he knew she was someone special. How special he did not know until she whisked him away from Devil’s Chateau and nursed him back to health.

“Think no more of that terrible time, my lord,” Updike said, rising. “Please accept my condolences on your brother’s death. And might I add that you will make an admirable earl. I shall inform Mrs. Peabody that you have arrived. I’m sure she will be thrilled. If you’re hungry, she can put together a cold collation for you in no time.”

Reed grinned, happy to drop the subject of his incarceration. His spirits were on an even keel right now, and he wanted to keep them that way. “A light meal would be welcome. I’ll eat in my bedchamber. Since there are no other servants available, I will make do with a jug of hot water instead of a full bath. Tomorrow you can visit the employment agency and hire a full complement of help.”

Reed left his study moments after Updike and climbed the stairs to his chamber. Nothing had changed, he thought as his gaze roved over the hunter green drapery and bed hangings. The dark, masculine furniture had been polished to a high luster and a fire danced merrily in the hearth. Home had never felt so good.

There came a knock on the door. “Come in,” Reed called. Mrs. Peabody entered the chamber, followed by a maid carrying a tray.

“Welcome home, my lord,” Mrs. Peabody said, beaming and executing a clumsy curtsey. Reed caught her and steadied her. “We never gave up on you, Lord Reed,” the woman declared. “Updike, Mary—” she indicated the blushing maid—“and I never lost hope. Will you remain home now?”

“My duties as earl will keep me in England, so I doubt I will be leaving again, though I will miss the excitement of my former work.”

“ ’Tis grateful I am to have you home safe.” Her concerned gaze swept over him. “Enjoy your food, my lord; you look like you could use a few good meals. You’re far too thin and pale. The offering tonight isn’t grand, but I promise you’ll have better tomorrow.” She beckoned to the maid. “Come along, Mary, we’ve a great deal to do to prepare for the arrival of new servants.”

Reed ate the excellent cold collation, consisting of slices of ham, roast beef and cheese, accompanied by crusty bread and crisp apples. Reed ate his fill and had just dropped the apple core on his plate when Updike arrived with the hot water.

The valet cast a jaundiced eye on Reed’s apparel. “Shall I help you undress, my lord?”

“I can manage on my own tonight, Updike. Are the clothes I left behind still in my wardrobe?”

“Indeed, my lord, and might I say they are finer than what you are wearing.”

“I didn’t have much choice, Updike. You wouldn’t have let me in the front door had I been wearing the clothing I was given for my return to England. I’ve decided a new wardrobe is in order to accommodate my thinner physique.”

“Very wise of you, my lord. Good night, then.”

Reed washed and prepared for bed, exhausted from his long ride to London and the excitement of being home again. He knew he would have to move into the London mansion one day, but he wasn’t ready yet. He fell asleep immediately, aware that he had much to accomplish on the morrow. Visits to his grandmother and Lord Porter would be his first order of business.

Across the channel in France, Fleur stared into the dark night from the front window of the cottage. She missed Reed, as much if not more than she missed Pierre. In the short time she had known Reed, he had become important to her. So important that she had let him make love to her. When she had first begun working for Lord Porter as the Black Widow, she had vowed to keep her life free of romantic entanglements. And that meant remaining aloof from the men she rescued.

But Reed had been different. Something compelling about him had attracted her from the moment of their first meeting. She admired his determination to recover despite his damaged soul, physical injuries and emaciated body. He’d inspired her, made her care for him deeply, so deeply that she forgot her pledge to keep her emotions in check.

Would she ever see Reed again? she wondered. She seriously doubted it. Since the day the cottage had been searched, she had felt the hammer of doom hanging over her. Fleur seriously doubted she could continue as the Black Widow much longer, and she intended to relay that message to Andre soon. Perhaps she could move to another location near a different prison and continue her work.

“What are you thinking,
ma petite?
” Lisette asked as she joined Fleur.

“I am thinking of many things, Lisette.”

“Ah, let me guess. Is Monsieur Reed one of them?”

“Perhaps. He asked me to go to England with him.”

“Why did you refuse? Did he mention marriage?”

“We both know I cannot marry him. He needs an heir, and I cannot give him one. I can better serve England here.”

“It’s time to leave France, Fleur, and we both know it. You feel it here—” she touched her heart—“just as I do. You risk much by remaining.”

Fleur turned away from the window. “Come sit with me, Lisette.” Both women sat facing each other before the hearth. “There is something I must do before I leave.”

“What is that,
ma petite?
”

“I must rescue Doctor Leclair from Devil’s Chateau. The man means a lot to Reed, and I want to do this for him. After that, I will consider leaving.”

“ ’Tis too soon!” Lisette cried, clearly upset. “The authorities are suspicious. Taking one more man from Devil’s Chateau might mean the end of you.”

“I have to attempt it, Lisette. You have my permission to leave, if you wish. I don’t want to place you in danger. I’ll need Antoine and Gaston for the rescue, but they, too, will be free to leave once Leclair is out of prison.”

“Leave you?” Lisette said, aghast. “Never!”

“Very well, then. I shall prepare to make another visit to Devil’s Chateau. And I promise you this, Lisette, it will be the last time anyone at Devil’s Chateau sees the Black Widow.”

Reed awakened early and rang for Updike. The faithful valet helped him dress. Though the clothing hung on his slim frame, at least it was in step with the current styles. Mrs. Peabody served him a hearty breakfast of eggs, ham, kidneys, tomatoes, toasted bread, jam and strong tea, just the way he liked it. Reed worked in his study until ten. Up-dike had already departed to visit the employment agency when Reed left to call on his grandmother.

Lady Martine’s dignified butler let him into the house. Reed handed him his hat, an item necessary in town though Reed disliked wearing one. Reed cooled his heels in the drawing room while the butler went to inform his mistress of Reed’s arrival.

“My lady will see you in her sitting room,” the butler announced when he returned. “Please follow me.”

The dowager countess of Hunthurst was reclining on her chaise longue when Reed entered. Aside from having acquired a few more wrinkles, she hadn’t changed much in a year. He strode to her side, bent and kissed her wrinkled cheek.

“Dear boy,” she said, dashing a tear from her eyes. “I feared I would never see you again. Our family was in such disarray after Jason’s death. I did everything I could to bring you back to me.”

“You saved my life, Grandmamma,” Reed said. “If not for you, I would have died in a place so dark and evil I do not wish to think about it, much less discuss it. I can tell you, however, that I was betrayed.”

“Betrayed!” The dowager searched his face. “I can see the suffering you endured reflected in your eyes. No need to tell me about it, dear boy.” She made a place for him on the chaise. “Come sit by me. Tell me how you escaped from the hellish place you described.”

Reed looked away. Silence stretched between them. Then he said, “An angel came for me. She took me away even as I wished for death.”

The dowager’s delicate white brows shot up. “Does this angel have a name? I would like to reward her or at least thank her.”

“Thank Lord Porter instead. His operatives found me.”

“I can tell that talking about this is painful, dear boy. I’m just thrilled to have you home. Jason’s sudden death was such a shock, coming so soon after your disappearance. I didn’t know how the family was to go on. You are our last hope for an heir.” She gave him a stern look. “Mind you, there will be no more traipsing about the world on dangerous missions. If you hadn’t told me about Lord Porter and your work for the government before you left, I wouldn’t have known whom to contact concerning your safe return. I threatened to cut off Lord Porter’s private parts and feed them to the hounds if he failed to find you. I was ready to go to the king himself, if need be.”

“You certainly ruffled some feathers.” Reed chuckled. “And thank you for not mentioning my weight loss and paleness. I’m quite aware of how I look.”

“It’s nothing a few weeks of good English fare can’t cure. What are your plans?”

“I must report to Lord Porter as soon as I leave here. He should know that someone within the organization is a traitor. If time permits, I intend to visit my tailor.”

“I was about to suggest that very thing. Now that you are home, you need to concentrate on finding a wife and setting up your nursery. There’s a commendable crop of debs this year. You could have your pick of them.”

Reed rose. “Time enough to discuss that later, Grandmamma. I need to recover fully first, have a chance to look up old friends and sample some of the pleasures London has to offer before I think about marrying. I’m off now to speak to Porter. By the way, Helen and her sister Violet are staying at the London mansion. If you need me, I can be reached at my townhouse.”

“You’re not staying at the mansion? It’s yours now, you know.”

“I know, but I thought it best to keep my own bachelor quarters as long as the ladies are residing at the mansion.”

“Hmmm. As I recall, Violet Dewbury is an attractive woman. Her dowry is respectable, and she is eminently suitable. You could do worse, Reed.”

“Please, Grandmamma, do not push Violet at me. I’ll choose my own bride when the time comes, and it won’t be Violet.” He paused. “I want to discuss Gallard Duvall with you at a later date.”

Reed kissed her cheek again and took his leave. Whitehall was the next stop on his itinerary. He found Lord Porter’s office and was greeted by Mr. Wainwright, Porter’s secretary. Porter was in charge of a group of secret agents working within the Foreign Office.

“Lord Porter has been expecting you,” Wainwright said. “Henry Dempsey is with him now, but I expect he’ll see you at the same time since you are both agents employed by the Crown.”

Wainwright poked his head in Porter’s office and announced Reed. “Come in, Hunthurst,” Porter said. Wainwright held the door open for Reed to enter.

Reed strode into the office, nodding to Dempsey as he shook Porter’s proffered hand. He was aware that Dempsey was part of the organization but didn’t know him well. Porter had told him once that Dempsey spoke flawless French, just as Reed did, and was operating in France. Apparently their paths had not crossed, for Reed had not seen him during his months on the Continent.

“Are you newly returned from France?” Reed asked Dempsey.

Dempsey appeared shaken and somewhat confused. Reed couldn’t imagine what was bothering the man. “I have been in England less than a fortnight.”

Dempsey stuttered as he asked, “H-h-have you been ill? I remember you as being more robust.”

“It’s a long story,” Reed said, unwilling to reveal more in front of Dempsey. Until he learned who had betrayed him, everyone was suspect.

Porter must have sensed Reed’s reluctance to speak, for he said, “I believe you and I are finished here, Dempsey. I’ll contact you soon concerning your next assignment. I haven’t decided yet where your services are most needed.”

Summarily dismissed, Dempsey bid the men good day and took his leave. Before he reached the door, he threw one last look back, as if something about Reed puzzled him.

“I sensed you wished to speak privately to me,” Porter said, once the door closed behind Dempsey. “Have a seat. This promises to be a long and interesting conversation. Why don’t you begin with your apprehension and imprisonment?”

“First, I want to thank you for leaving no stone unturned in finding me. Few people know about Devil’s Chateau. I truly thought I would perish in that hellhole.”