The Harlot Countess by Joanna Shupe

and politics. She’d once told Maggie that information proved almost as powerful a currency as money.
    “The proposal has to do with rape. Forgive me for speaking plainly about an indelicate matter, but—”
    “No, please do so. There’s no need to dance around it with me. Pray go on.”
    “As you know, the facts can be hard to prove to a magistrate. Many times the woman may cry rape, but the man claims the act to be consensual. Lord Winchester’s law would, in such cases, force the man to provide compensation to the woman. An annual sum. Into perpetuity.”
    Maggie’s jaw lowered. “A yearly stipend? No woman would want to be tied in such a manner to a man who’d violated her. A yearly reminder of what’s been done, and her attacker knowing where she lives . . . it’s terrible.”
    “Precisely, my lady.”
    “Why on earth would anyone even assume it to be a good idea?”
    “I could not say. But perhaps your ladyship can set his lordship straight?”
    The last thing she wanted to do was engage Simon in a political discussion. Perhaps there was another way, however. Many members of Parliament attended her parties, providing any number of opportunities to undermine Winchester’s efforts. “I’ll see what I can do.”
    “I shall leave it in your ladyship’s capable hands, then. I’ll certainly use whatever influence I have with my meager connections.”
    Maggie suspected Pearl’s influence remained considerable, though she currently had no protector. “Excellent. I will do the same.”
    “Now, I have one last request. One of our houses, over in Long Acre, has thrived with the embroidery instruction, so much so that a few girls would care to apprentice with a dressmaker. Perhaps your ladyship knows of a modiste who would appreciate a somewhat sullied pair of helping hands.”
    “How many girls?”
    “Three.”
    Maggie bit her bottom lip, thinking. Possibly she could browbeat her own modiste into taking one girl, but she did not spend much on clothing or fripperies. And her social rank, while titled, was not as powerful as that of a lady without a scandalous past. That left her with little leverage. “I fear my position is not powerful enough for such a feat. It would take a lady with tremendous cachet to convince a modiste to take on these girls.”
    “I know a lady who qualifies,” Pearl said. “And she happens to be in my debt. I once did her a favor and she was exceedingly grateful.”
    “Wonderful. Let’s ask her.”
    Pearl shook her head. “I cannot. For many reasons, I must not approach her directly. But your ladyship can....”

    Simon presented his card at the door, unsure of his reception. Would Maggie refuse to see him? She’d been politely cool the previous evening after changing her costume, and there was every possibility she had a guest in the house.
    His hand tightened on the crown of his walking stick.
    One glance at his card and the servant ushered him inside. He noted she was the same woman who had admitted them the previous evening. Had Maggie no butler, then? He quickly handed over his things and followed to a comfortable sitting room in order to wait.
    Aside from her lavish parties, it seemed Lady Hawkins lived responsibly, even frugally. The furnishings exhibited some wear. The rugs were serviceable plain wool rather than fashionable Aubusson carpets. True, an ample amount of coal sat in the grate, giving off a nice amount of heat, but it was a comfortable space without pretension or artifice. It suited her, he thought. Certainly a refreshing change from the extravagance of the other women he’d consorted with over the last few years—though, to be fair, mistresses were not exactly known for pinching a penny.
    After a few moments, a small landscape portrait on the far wall caught his eye.
    He closed in for a better inspection. A watercolor seaside scene. Quite smartly done, in fact. Waves pounded the beach and a selection of birds littered the sand, perfectly capturing the