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

was no longer the desperately ill man she had snatched from the jaws of death. Beneath his prison pallor was a ruggedly handsome face, perfect in its imperfections.
    Reed’s silver eyes had regained their luster, and his laughter came easily. Fleur could tell he was growing bored with inactivity, that he thought he wasn’t healing fast enough, but the difference between the man he was now and the prisoner he had been was astounding.
    Reed spoke often of Doctor Leclair, the man whom he had befriended in prison, and for Reed’s sake, Fleur wanted to help the doctor before it was too late. Accordingly, she summoned Antoine and Gaston, and together they planned the doctor’s rescue, even though instinct told her it was too soon to return to Devil’s Chateau.
    Fleur said nothing to Reed about her plans and waited until he’d retired for the night before leaving in the cart with her two servants. Antoine had learned beforehand that Lucien would be on duty tonight, and she had enough money on hand to bribe him.
    When Fleur reached the prison, it was not Lucien but a guard she did not know who confronted her.
    “Who are you and what do you want?” the guard challenged.
    “Names are not important,” Fleur murmured, aware that she had blundered badly. “I wish to visit Doctor Leclair.”
    “Now?” He tried to peer through her veil. “It’s the middle of the night. Besides, no one in Devil’s Chateau has visiting rights.”
    Fleur shook her purse of coins before the guard’s eyes. “Where is Lucien? He knows me. I pay him well to let me inside to . . . visit.”
    Fleur feared she had raised the guard’s suspicion and found out she was right when the guard said, “Stay here while I summon the warden.” Apparently, this guard was above taking bribes.
    The moment the guard’s back was turned, Fleur fled. “Go!” she hissed as she climbed into the cart.
    “What happened?” Gaston asked.
    “Something went wrong. Lucien wasn’t on duty. There was a different guard, and he grew suspicious. He has gone to fetch the warden. It was a mistake to come. I should have known it, but I wanted to surprise Reed.”
    As they sped home, Fleur kept looking behind her to see if they were being followed. They weren’t. But when she walked into the cottage, she found both Reed and Lisette pacing the hall.
    “Are you crazy?” Reed berated. “I heard wheels crunching on gravel and looked out the window in time to see you leaving in the cart. I couldn’t believe you would attempt another rescue so soon after my own. I sought out Lisette, and she admitted you were off to Devil’s Chateau. What were you thinking?”
    Fleur pulled off her gloves and veil and handed them to Lisette. “Obviously, I wasn’t,” Fleur admitted. “Why aren’t you asleep?”
    “I was, but I’m a light sleeper.” He glared at her. “Did Andre send you to Devil’s Chateau again? I intend to have words with Porter next time I see him.” He must have caught something in her face, for he said, “Something happened, didn’t it?”
    “Go back to bed. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
    “You’ll tell me now,” Reed said, grabbing her arm and pulling her into the parlor, where a lamp had been left burning. “What happened?”
    Fleur sighed and sank into a chair. “Lucien was supposed to be on duty, but he wasn’t. A different guard answered my summons. I fled when he went to fetch the warden.”
    Reed cursed. “I’m going to wring Andre’s neck. Who did he send you after this time?”
    Fleur stared down at her hands. She knew Reed was going to be angry when he learned whom she had gone for.
    “Who, Fleur?”
    “Doctor Leclair, but it wasn’t Andre’s idea. I wanted to rescue Leclair for you. I know you are worried about him.”
    Reed thrust his fingers through his dark hair, mussing it beyond redemption. “I’m sorry I asked you to help him. Clearly I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean for you to put your life on the line again. What do you