Free The Harlot Countess by Joanna Shupe Page A

escape, but Quint proved too quick.
    Markham took this as an invitation to move closer. Desperate for help, Maggie glanced wildly around the room. Her gaze swung in Simon’s direction, then stopped. Sharp blue eyes were locked on her, the irises bright with cold fury. She’d never seen him so furious. What in heaven’s name?
    “Lady Hawkins,” Markham whispered, boldly reaching out to touch her hand.
    Simon didn’t miss Markham’s audacity either. A muscle in the earl’s jaw clenched before he pointedly turned away. An idea occurred. Perhaps if she kept Markham close this evening, Simon would maintain a distance. The notion was a harsh one and would ensure a tedious evening—but a woman must do what she must, after all.
    She gave Markham a blinding smile. “Yes, my lord?”
    The viscount blinked. “Oh, yes. Well, I had hoped to escort you to dinner. You never—”
    “Yes,” she blurted. “I meant to say, I would be honored.”
    “Excellent.” Markham puffed up, his ruddy face turning a bit ruddier. “I quite enjoyed your last party. Interesting how Rowlandson had that cartoon about the mermaids.”
    “Lemarc,” she corrected.
    Markham’s brows dipped. “I beg your pardon?”
    “The cartoon was drawn by Lemarc, not Rowlandson.”
    “Oh, yes, Lemarc. Clever gents, those cartoonists. I wonder how they’re privy to the on-dits used in their drawings.”
    If they’re smart, they host parties. “Who knows? Perhaps they are more resourceful than we give them credit for.”
    He leaned in, as if to share a great secret. “All you need is to press a coin into the right palm, m’dear. Any information can be bought.”
    That comment gave her pause. Markham was active in Parliament, so was he speaking from experience? More to the point, perhaps she could use this opportunity to undermine Winchester’s proposal. Yes, this evening was looking up.
    At that moment, the duchess announced dinner. Markham presented his arm. “Shall we?”

Chapter Six
    “Simon, really. You must stop glaring at her,” Julia said.
    Simon and Julia were making their way down to dinner, last in the line of guests. He clenched his jaw and forced his gaze away from Maggie and Markham. Anger still burned in his gut, however. Markham had attached himself to Lady Hawkins like an apothecary’s leech from the moment she’d arrived. Did the man have no shame?
    “And you are the one who insisted I invite Markham,” Julia continued.
    “Thank you for the reminder,” he muttered.
    “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you jealous. This is quite interesting.”
    He made a dismissive noise as they reached the stairs. “I’m hardly jealous of Markham. There’s a reason his wife stays in Cornwall and no mistress will tolerate him for more than a few weeks. The man wouldn’t know what to do with a woman if she dropped, naked, into his lap.”
    “A good thing we’ve been friends forever, otherwise my husband might take offense to the nature of this conversation.”
    “Colton hardly scares me. After all, I’m the reason you two reconciled. He should thank me every chance he gets.”
    “Oh, it was your doing, was it?”
    He grinned down at her. “You never would have made it to Venice without my assistance.”
    “True, but I had the hard part.”
    “Please.” He held up his free hand. “Let’s not discuss Colton’s virility before I’ve food in my stomach. I’m likely to lose my appetite.”
    Julia chuckled. “You are incorrigible. It’s a wonder anyone takes you seriously in Parliament.”
    “They don’t know me as well as you do, that’s how.”
    “Quite so. Otherwise, they would not be so easily intimidated by the illustrious statesman you’ve become.”
    They entered the enormous dining room. Colton had taken his place at the head of the elaborate table, Julia’s aunt on his right. Simon noted that Markham had, of course, secured the chair beside Maggie. Bloody fool.
    “Ease up, Simon,” Julia muttered. “You are