Page 22 of A Courtesan Countess Worth the Scandal
Sir Arnold squinted. “No… what letter?”
“I received one from her a few days ago, informing me of what she intended to do.” The gentleman pointed to the scandal sheets. “She explained that she was giving me an opportunity to offer her a fee, in exchange for not having my name included in her memoirs. Of course, I sent money to her immediately, and received a reply to say that she would not expose me.”
Liam looked to the fellow. “And who are you? Apologies, I am atrocious with remembering people.”
“I am Simon, Marquess of Scorsborough.” The gentleman offered his hand, and Liam shook it reluctantly.
“Did you have a similar… encounter?” Liam pressed. “Did youtakefrom her?”
The Marquess looked horrified. “Goodness, no! She accompanied me to various events over the course of, perhaps, six months. I will not deny that it frustrated me in the beginning, to have her refuse my advances, but she was so charming and amusing and sweet natured that I did not mind, in the end, as long as I could continue to have her at my side.”
“Why did you stop?” Carlton cut in.
The Marquess chuckled nervously. “I became engaged and she suggested that I ought to cast her aside, so I could be loyal to my wife. At first, I did not want to. Now, however, I feel fortunate that I heeded her advice, for I have never been happier.”
Miss Black told you to do that, though she knew it would mean no longer gaining your coin?
The revelation surprised Liam, though he was not about to offer her credence fornotescorting a married man. Perhaps, she had merely wished to avoid any unpleasant encounters with a new bride who would surely bring her wrath down upon the courtesan.
“Well, how joyous for you,” Sir Arnold spat. “You do not have to return home to what I can only imagine will be a flaming pit of utter Hell. If I ever see that witch again, I shall wring her neck and truly throw her into the gutter.”
Carlton chuckled. “I would not do that if I were you, Sir Arnold. That would only confirm your guilt to the rest of London. Yours is the first name printed—if Miss Black suddenly turns up dead, whom do you think will be blamed? She has trapped you, well and truly, as you trapped her.”
“And there are many gentlemen here who would speak out for her, if any harm were to come to her,” the Marquess added quietly. It seemed some affection still lingered between this young man and his former courtesan.
Sir Arnold turned so purple he looked as though he were about to explode. “A pox on anyone who reads this drivel! A pox on anyone who would protect a callous whore! And a pox on all of you, for reveling in my misery! And you…” he fixed a stern gaze on Liam, “you would do well to heed your own words. Avoid women. They are naught but trouble.”
With that, he whirled around and stormed off through the gambling hall. As he went, those who had already read the scandal sheets started to wave the pamphlets at him, jeering and howling with mocking laughter. Keeping his purple face lowered, he endured his walk of shame and hurried out of the hall as fast as his chubby little legs could carry him.
“She always said she would get revenge upon those who had hurt her,” the Marquess said, with a sly smile. “I knew she was bold, but I never thought she would be this… ingeniously savage. I suppose there is only so much a lady can bear before she snaps.”
Denninson eyed him disapprovingly. “I doubt she is blameless in this. You should not act as though she is a wronged heroine.”
“Indeed. I have heard of the ways in which she tempts and tantalizes, and leaves men wanting until they are half crazed with lust,” Carlton added. “There is only so much agentlemancan bear before he snaps.”
The Marquess frowned at Liam’s friends. “That is no excuse for a fellow brutalizing a lady, no matter what her employ. If he did not care for her refusal, then all he had to do was not purchase her company again. There are plenty of bawds who would do as he pleased for coin. Miss Black is a rare creature, and he violated her. I will not stand here and listen to you justify his disgusting behavior.”
Liam wanted to speak up and tell the Marquess that he wholeheartedly agreed, but the words would not come. Put so simply by the fellow, it made perfect sense. If Sir Arnold had not cared for the terms, then he was not obliged to acquire Miss Black’s company again. Instead, he had behaved like an uncivilized animal, changing the terms to suit himself and his lustful impulses.
She must have been so afraid—
The thought came unbidden to Liam’s mind. He had seen Miss Black’s terror when she thought there was a chance she might be forced by Lord Westleigh. He could only imagine how frightened she must have been, to awaken and find that a client was violating her while unconscious and unable to fight back.
“Goodnight to you all.” The Marquess walked away without another word.
Watching him go, Carlton let out a low whistle. “All I can say is, I am mightily glad I never purchased Miss Black’s delightful company.” He grinned. “I would not have behaved as Sir Arnold did, but I certainly would not have the money to pay for her silence if she threatened to expose me in these memoirs. Though I suppose I am not married, so only my Mother would be disappointed. My Father would likely pour me a whisky and congratulate me.”
“Do you think this has anything to do with you?” Denninson arched an eyebrow at Liam. “You saved her last week. Perhaps, it gave her inspiration.”
Liam batted the suggestion away. “Goodness, no. It is far more likely that she did not receive her payment from Lord Westleigh and needed a swift solution.” He forced a laugh. “These sorts of women are expert manipulators. If any man is foolish enough to put himself in a position where he can be extorted, then he must bear the consequences.”
He knew he was not talking about Miss Black, per se. Élodie was the one who had influenced him, making him believe that she was his sweet and loyal wife, when she was anything but. She had made him think he was her savior and her dearest love, but it had all been a means to distract him from what was really going on. He had lavished her with gifts, her own chambers, decorated however she pleased, and any money she asked for, to purchase garments and trinkets. All to please herself.
I bore the consequences of that. No… I am still bearing them.
As for Miss Black, she had not left a cruel impression upon him. Indeed, to him, she had seemed more like a woman who had gotten out of her depth and feared men more than she wanted to toy with them. Nor were the words in the pamphlet those of a vicious harpy who merely wanted to inflict humiliation for the sake of it, for she had taken care to apologize to Sir Arnold’s wife and children.
Perhaps, the Marquess of Scorsborough had been right. Perhaps, after Lord Westleigh, she really had just snapped.
