The Price of Pleasure (21 page)

He had to get inside her now before he embarrassed himself.

Surging up, he braced his hands on the mattress beside her head and entered her with one hard thrust. He shook with the effort to contain himself but found it wasn’t necessary. Fleur was wet, hot and ready. With her head thrown back, her eyes closed, back arching, nails digging into his back, she was on her way to ecstasy.

“Now,” Reed murmured against her lips. “Come now, love.”

Wildness seized them both as he pounded inside her. Then her breath broke in a cry of completion. He watched her for one unbridled moment before the clamoring of his body forced his own release. With an exultant cry, he emptied himself inside her, the scent of their lovemaking swirling around him like a warm, wet caress.

Fearing his large frame was too heavy for her smaller one, Reed started to withdraw. With a small cry of protest, Fleur wrapped her legs and arms around him, refusing to let him go.

“No, not yet, Reed.”

“I’m too heavy for you.”

She shook her head. “No, you’re just right. This may be the last time we’ll be together like this.”

Not if I have anything to do with it
, Reed silently vowed.

Chapter Ten

Fleur awoke alone in a strange bed in a strange bedchamber. The room wasn’t as large as Reed’s, nor was the furniture as heavy and masculine.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,” she called. A maid slipped through the door.

“Good morning, my lady. My name is Peg. If you’re ready, I’ll have a bath prepared for you.”

“A bath sounds wonderful, Peg, thank you. Is Madame Lisette up yet?”

“She’s still sleeping. Mrs. Peabody said not to wake her.”

“Mrs. Peabody probably knows best. I’m sure her tisane was of tremendous help.”

“Lord Hunthurst said to take your time. When you’re ready, he’ll be waiting for you in the breakfast room.”

“Then I’ll have my bath immediately,” Fleur answered. She needed to make some decisions and the sooner the better.

Fleur’s bath arrived shortly. The brass tub was rolled into the chamber and set up before the hearth. When it was filled with water that had been carried up by two burly footmen, Fleur sank into the tub and rested her head against the rim. But as much as she wanted to just lie in the warm water with her eyes closed, Fleur didn’t linger. She needed to check on Lisette before joining Reed.

Fleur finished her bath and let Peg help her into the same black dress in which she had arrived. She couldn’t wait to shed her widow’s weeds. The color was associated with unhappy times, death and danger. All that was behind her now, and she didn’t want to be reminded of past sorrows.

Reed was sitting at the head of the table when Fleur entered the breakfast room. She had already checked on Lisette and found her sleeping peacefully with a maid in attendance. Smiling in welcome, Reed rose and seated her on his right. A footman stepped forward to pour tea into her cup.

“Can I fetch you a plate?” Reed asked, gesturing toward the buffet set up on a sideboard. “Cook knows what I like and usually just sends a plate to me from the kitchen. But she wanted to do something special for my guests.”

“Everything looks wonderful, and I am hungry. I’d like eggs, ham, a muffin and some kippers, thank you.”

Reed filled her plate and set it before her. Then he filled one for himself and joined her. “I’d rather not have all these servants around,” Reed said as he dismissed the footman. “I prefer to be alone with you.”

They ate in silence for a time. Then Fleur said, “This is wonderful; thank your cook for me.”

Reed grinned. “I’m delighted I can please you—” he paused—“in more ways than one.”

His double entendre did not escape Fleur. It was all she could do to keep from blushing. “You’re wicked, Lord Hunthurst.”

“I try.” Reed pushed his plate aside. “I sent word of your arrival to Lord Porter this morning, but there is no hurry to see him. You’ve had a harrowing experience, and Lisette needs time to recover.”

Fleur put down her fork and picked up her cup, looking at Reed over the rim. “Lisette and I need a place to live and new clothing to replace what we left behind. I need to sell my jewelry as soon as possible.”

“There’s no hurry. You and Lisette can stay here as long as you like.”

“That won’t do at all. These are your bachelor quarters; we don’t belong here. What I need is for you to direct me to a competent modiste and a reputable jeweler who will give me a fair price for my jewelry.”

“I will take you to the same modiste Helen and Violet use. She is known to keep ready-made outfits on hand for emergencies such as yours.”

“Who are Helen and Violet?”

“My sister-in-law and her sister; they are currently residing at the Hunthurst mansion on Park Avenue. I thought it would be less stressful for me to stay at my bachelor quarters while they are in London. I shall accompany you to the modiste as soon as you’re ready.”

“What about my jewelry?”

“Don’t worry. Trust me to take care of the matter for you.”

Her chin tilted defiantly, Fleur pushed back her chair and rose. “I’m not your mistress, Reed. I can take care of Lisette and myself. I’ve been on my own a long time.”

“I know it, love,” Reed soothed. “There’s no woman as independent as you. Until your life is more settled, let me take care of you the same way you took care of me. How soon can you be ready to leave?”

Fleur gave a resigned sigh. There was no arguing with Reed. “I’ll fetch my shawl.”

Moments later Fleur was seated beside Reed in his fancy phaeton, on her way to Bond Street. He pulled out of traffic and parked in front of a shop with a sign proclaiming it to be Madame Henrietta’s Establishment for Discerning Women.

Reed set the brake, jumped down and walked around to hand Fleur down. Then he escorted her into the plush interior of the shop. Madame Henrietta herself met them at the door.

“Lord Hunthurst, welcome. Whom do you bring me today?” she asked in heavily accented English.

Fleur sent Reed a startled look. “You’ve been here before.”

Reed shrugged. “I’ve been here a time or two with Helen and Violet. I sometimes act as their escort.”

“Madame Henrietta, I present to you Countess Fleur Fontaine.”

Henrietta’s eyes sparkled. “Ah, a fellow émigré.”

“No, not exactly,” Fleur explained. “I am an Englishwoman once wed to a Frenchman. I am now a widow and have just recently returned to England.”

“Ah, that explains the black gown. And now you are out of mourning and wish for something less depressing. Something in mauve or gray, perhaps?”

“No,” Reed cut in. “The countess needs an entire wardrobe in a variety of colors, one fit for her station in life.”

Madame Henrietta raised an elegant brow, as if to question Fleur’s ability to pay for a costly new wardrobe.

“I will bring the countess’s companion in for new clothing after she recovers from her
mal de mer.
You are to bill everything to me and send it to my man of business.”

“Reed—Lord Hunthurst, I cannot accept your charity,” Fleur demurred.

“We will settle this later, Fleur,” Reed said for her ears alone.

Henrietta clapped her hands, and an assistant appeared from behind a curtain. “Take Countess Fontaine to a fitting room and measure her. I will be there directly.”

Fleur sent Reed a speaking glance before following the assistant behind the curtain.

“Do not spare any cost,” Reed informed the proprietor. “I want Fleur outfitted with walking costumes, ballgowns, day dresses, morning gowns, riding habits and appropriate undergarments. Do you have a gown or two already made up? The countess needs something decent to wear immediately.”

Henrietta’s eyes sparkled. “I do indeed. I have two ready-made gowns that would look stunning on the countess. One in blue-and-gold striped satin and the other in flocked muslin.”

“Good. If they fit or can be altered quickly, we’ll take them. As for patterns, I believe Fleur’s taste to be impeccable. She will know which patterns and materials will look best on her. I’m sure she’ll object to ordering more than two gowns, but do not listen to her. Watch her closely for her likes and dislikes and make up what she likes regardless of her wishes. You will be amply compensated for your attention to her needs.”

“I understand perfectly, my lord.”

Fleur returned a few minutes later. Henrietta seated her at a table with a pile of pattern books and fashion dolls while she collected material swatches. When Fleur paused overlong over a pattern or material swatch, Reed caught Henrietta’s eye and nodded. In turn, Henrietta scribbled notes in her notebook. Thus the morning progressed. After Fleur had chosen two daytime frocks and a somewhat fancier one for nighttime outings, she pronounced herself finished.

Reed exchanged a look with Henrietta over Fleur’s head that said otherwise. “Madame Henrietta has two gowns already made up that might fit you. Try them on, Fleur. Anything would be better than what you’re wearing. Although black suits you rather well, I know you’re eager for something colorful.”

“The gowns I just ordered will be sufficient for my needs,” Fleur demurred.

“Humor me,” Reed said. “Surely you don’t want to visit Lord Porter wearing widow’s weeds, do you?”

Reluctantly Fleur agreed and accompanied Henrietta behind the curtain. Both gowns fit her. She was particularly taken with the blue-and-gold striped walking dress.

“The gown suits you,” Henrietta complimented.

Fleur thought so too. “It’s lovely. I haven’t worn a gown as pretty as this since . . . ” Her words fell off. She didn’t want to think of Pierre and the turmoil that followed his death.

“Will you wear it? I’m sure Lord Hunthurst will approve.”

“It’s far too costly,” Fleur said, fingering the fine material of the skirt. “But,” she added, “I do need something quickly.”

“It’s settled then. What should I do with the black gown you wore when you arrived?”

Fleur wrinkled her nose. “Donate it to charity.”

Fleur never wanted to see it again. Somehow she would repay Reed for her new wardrobe. She hoped to gain at least five thousand pounds from the sale of her jewelry. The emeralds and sapphires were especially lovely. Then she and Lisette could retire to the country and live a simple life with her Aunt Charlotte.

Reed nearly lost the ability to speak when Fleur appeared from behind the curtain. Though she looked lovely in black, the fashionable blue-and-gold gown instantly transformed her. Her creamy complexion glowed. Her warm brown eyes sparkled mischievously as she spun around in a circle for his inspection and approval.

“That gown was made for you,” Reed said. “No other woman would look as magnificent in it as you.”

“Flatterer,” Fleur teased. “It does feel rather wonderful to wear something attractive again,” she admitted.

“Did the flocked muslin fit?” Reed asked. “Did you like it?”

“Oh, yes, but I like this one better.”

“You shall have both,” Reed decided. “Wrap the other gown, Madame Henrietta. We’ll take it with us.”

“No, Reed, there’s still Lisette to clothe. I cannot afford both gowns with everything else I ordered.”

“I said we’d discuss this later,” Reed said rather sternly.