Madame Bliss by Charlotte Lovejoy

Author:Charlotte Lovejoy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Chapter Eleven

In which the binding ties of Friendship are sorely

(if pleasurably) tested; & Marianna learns the

wondrous calculation of making One from Three

Shocked and stunned and likely feeling a good many other emotions besides, Marianna fell back on long practice, and offered an awkward curtsy to the earl. “My—My Lord,” she stammered. “Forgive me, but I—I was not expecting you.”

“You weren’t?” Lord Rogersme scowled, stopping with one coat sleeve still turned halfway wrong hanging from his arm, and looked at Calliope. “What is this, Callie? You told me the girl knew, and was willing. Damnation, she will be rewarded.”

“She’s quite willing, My Lord,” Calliope said quickly, coming to stand before Marianna to reassure her. “It’s the knowing part where she’s perhaps a bit lacking. Marianna, my dear, sweet innocent, I know you can be, ah, astonished by how we do things here in London, so I thought it best not to tell you everything just yet.”

But by now Marianna had already guessed the truth without being told. The careful placement of the chair opposite the bed and the timing of Calliope’s “barbering,” as suggested by Turner, were ready clues she couldn’t mistake.

“There’s another peephole, isn’t there?” she asked, swiftly scanning the wall behind the bed. “In the other bedchamber opposite mine, for His Lordship to watch us here?”

“You’re a clever lass, Marianna,” Calliope said with happy admiration, and not a hint of contrition or shame. She took Marianna’s hands playfully in her own, trying to coax her into taking no offense. “I didn’t wish you to feel shy, you see. Dear cousin! I knew you’d give a better performance if you didn’t realize you’d an audience.”

“Your dear cousin’s performance was admirable enough,” the earl said, coming to stand behind Marianna. “More than admirable for a novice. After a session or two of skillful tutelage, who knows how high she’ll fly, eh?”

At once Marianna turned as still as when Calliope had wielded the razor. She wore a silk dressing gown and nothing more, not even the fleece that had once masked her cunny. Her dark hair was loose and rippling down her shoulders like a bacchante’s, and her cheeks were painted with circles of rouge that would have marked her as a wanton, professional beauty anywhere in London. A single black taffeta patch in the shape of star—the very apex of fashion!—was affixed near the corner of her mouth, like a question mark to whatever pretty words of love slipped from her lips.

Before her stood her dearest friend, perhaps her only friend, who was now inviting her to frolic in the most delicious sport. Behind her, so close she could feel his hot, lusty breath on her shoulder, stood the other party in this proposed adventure, fair snorting and pawing at his traces to begin. There was certain to be great pleasure if she agreed to join them, and, as His Lordship had promised, there would also be rich rewards.

She still could leave now, if she wished to. They would not stop her.

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