The Price of Pleasure by Connie Mason Page B

Helen.”
    Helen’s hand went to her throat the moment she recognized Reed. She turned white and promptly swooned. Reed caught her before she hit the marble floor; then he carried her into the drawing room. Carefully he placed her on a sofa and ordered a stunned Lawson to send for her maid. He scurried from the room as if the devil were at his heels.
    Moments later a maid bustled into the parlor with a bottle of smelling salts. Reed grabbed it and waved it before Helen’s nose. Helen gasped and nearly swooned again when she saw Reed standing before her. He thrust the bottle under her nose once more. Helen choked and waved it away.
    “You
are
alive,” she said, struggling to sit up. Her wide-eyed gaze slid over him. “You’re pale and far too thin. What has happened to you?”
    “Let’s say I was unavoidably detained in a place where the food was abominable and the sun nonexistent. Tell me, who in blazes is posing as the Earl of Hunthurst?”
    “Your cousin, Gallard Duvall. He arrived in England shortly after you were reported missing. Jason was still alive then. Jason, Grandmamma and I all knew you were involved in some kind of secret government work and when you disappeared we feared the worst. It was about then that dear Gallard arrived at Hunthurst Park seeking refuge from the turmoil in France.”
    “Duvall is a distant cousin,” Reed ground out. “How did Jason die? I knew his health wasn’t the best—he had never been strong—but wasn’t his death rather sudden?”
    Helen sighed. “The doctor said his heart gave out. He just seemed to grow weaker and weaker and then one day he awoke practically at death’s door. He tried to tell me something before he drew his last breath, but it didn’t make sense.”
    Reed grew still. “What did he say?”
    “He gasped out but a few disjointed words before he . . . he died. He said, ‘Tell Reed to look for . . . ’ ” her words faltered, “ ‘the truth.’ And then he said—” she wiped away a tear—“ ‘Nothing is as it seems.’ ”
    “Is that all?”
    Helen nodded. “What do you think it means?”
    “I wish I knew. But if there is a truth to be found, you can be sure I’ll find it. What did Grandmamma think of Duvall’s showing up when he did?”
    “She thought it a fortunate coincidence. How could he have known Jason was dying or that you would be reported missing? As it turned out, he’s been a big help. You were gone so long, we all assumed you were never coming back. Gallard took over the reins of the earldom even though he hadn’t been declared the rightful heir. The Crown is still investigating your disappearance. . . .” She let the sentence dangle. “Nevertheless, Gallard saw that the staff was lax and sacked most of them. I could not have done it myself.”
    “So you all gave up on me.”
    “What were we to think? It had been a year. Jason was gone, and Gallard was here to step in when I needed him. We all assumed he would be named heir to Jason’s title.”
    “Even Grandmamma?”
    “Well, no, not Grandmamma. She never lost faith that you would return. She sought every channel available to her to learn what had happened to you. I fear she was quite relentless in her pursuit of the truth.”
    “Thank God for Grandmamma. Her persistence is the reason I am here today.”
    “We are all grateful,” Helen murmured.
    Reed’s words held a hint of mockery. “So where can I find this paragon who stepped in as earl when he was needed?”
    “He’s out riding the estate with Violet. She’s been living here with me since Jason passed. They should return soon.”
    “I’m going up to my bedchamber. Have one of the footmen inform me when Duvall returns, and ask Duvall to await me in the study.”
    A pained expression crossed Helen’s face. “Well . . . um . . . your chamber . . . ”
    Reed held up his hand. “No, don’t tell me. Duvall has taken over my bedchamber.”
    “Well, he couldn’t very well use the master suite with the