The Price of Pleasure by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online Page A

Paris, waiting for Pierre to join us. Not long afterward, I learned that Pierre had been seized with other noblemen and sent to the guillotine.”
    “I’m sorry,” Reed murmured.
    Fleur seemed not to hear. “I remained with Antoine’s parents but planned to leave before my presence put them in danger. We lived on the coins Pierre had provided for me without having to sell my jewels. Soon after, we moved to this cottage. It belongs to Lisette. It had stood unoccupied after her parents’ deaths. Andre contacted me shortly thereafter.”
    “How did he find you?” Reed asked.
    “I don’t know. But one evening I had gone alone to the village church to pray. Andre knelt in the pew behind me and began speaking in a low voice. No one else was in the church. He told me he knew who I was and asked if I’d be willing to help my homeland.
    “At first I feared he had been sent by someone to trap me, but the longer he talked, the more I began to believe he actually was an English operative. He seemed to know everything, even the fact that Lisette owned the cottage. I didn’t even know about Devil’s Chateau until he told me.
    “He laid his plan before me in that holy place,” Fleur continued. “Together we invented the Black Widow. Andre provides the coin we use to bribe the guards and support ourselves. You are the third Englishman I’ve taken from Devil’s Chateau.”
    “Each time you enter the prison, it becomes more dangerous,” Reed warned. “It won’t be long before the warden learns about you and puts a stop to your activities. You could die, Fleur.”
    “I appreciate your concern, Reed, but that day is far off. My work here is not done.”
    Reed did not argue. He still had time to convince Fleur to return to England. “Do you have relatives in England?” he asked.
    “I haven’t heard from her in some time, but as far as I know, the aunt I lived with before I married Pierre is still living in the country. When the time comes for me to leave, I will have somewhere to go. She has no other relatives, so I will inherit her home, but not for a good long time, I hope. She is a dear woman.”
    Reed’s relief was heartfelt. At least Fleur had a place to live once she returned to England. She was also a countess, which increased her chances of finding a worthy husband.
    But did Fleur want another husband? Or had she loved Pierre so deeply that she refused to consider another marriage? “You are too young to be alone, Fleur. You need someone to take care of you.”
    Fleur bristled. “I do very well on my own, thank you. You needn’t worry about me, Reed. I do what I do for my own peace of mind. What is happening to France is horrific. Executing innocent people just because they were born with a title is unconscionable. In my small way, I am doing my part to combat this Reign of Terror.”
    Reed knew that arguing with Fleur was getting him nowhere. The woman had a mind of her own; no one was going to convince her to leave France until she was ready. And then it might be too late. One thing was damn sure: When Reed returned to England, he intended to chastise Lord Porter for placing Fleur in the path of danger and keeping her there.
    Reed continued to recover at an amazing pace. He had discarded the sling and found that his bones had healed perfectly. His arm was as good as new. He was putting on weight, too. No more hollows in his cheeks, and his muscle tone was improving.
    He had begun a program of exercises to strengthen his body. He ran, hefted increasingly larger rocks over his head, and performed sequences of lifting and squatting. Were he at home, he would practice swordplay and boxing, but here he had to improvise. And it seemed to be working.
    Fleur knew it was time to contact Andre about Reed’s return to England. Her patient’s health had improved dramatically during the weeks since he’d left Devil’s Chateau. With each passing day, Fleur became increasingly aware of Reed’s masculine allure. He