At the start of the episode, Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) struggles to keep her new girls under control. She hears a ruckus upstairs. Someone has thrown a rock through the top window. Nobody outside is willing to say anything. Margaret orders Fanny (Bronwyn James) to fetch Nancy. She takes Jacob (Jordan A. Nash) with her. Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay) wakes up near the Marquess of Blayne. The Marquess (Julian Rhind-Tutt) confirms that he will be returning to Charlotte soon enough. Meanwhile, Lucy (Eloise Smyth) wakes up to Lord Fallon (Ben Lambert) sitting on her bed. She believes he is teasing her. The staff is told that they should treat Lucy as if she is his wife. At the pub, Emily (Holli Dempsey) and Harriet (Pippa Bennett-Warner) scout out new women. Emily spots Limehouse Nell (Sheila Atim). She likes her looks.

William North (Danny Sapani) speaks to Noah (Eric Kofi-Abrefa) about getting involved in prizing fighting. Noah is interested in sleeping with Harriet. William reminds him that he is not her pimp. Nell seems eager to join Emily. Margaret walks through the door with Jacob. They both blame Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville) for their troubles. William is told to look after Jacob. Nancy (Kate Fleetwood) meets with Margaret. Meanwhile, Charlotte learns about Lydia being hit. They speak about Justice Hunt (Sebastian Armesto) and the trouble he is causing. Lydia suggests testing his virtue. They visit him a short time later. The Justice isn’t willing to cooperate. They believe the Marquess can sway his opinion. Lydia runs into Florence (Dorothy Atkinson) outside.

Lydia learns that Florence is staying with Margaret. She tells Florida that she works for her when she says so. Margaret asks Charlotte about the windows. She tells Charlotte to be careful. Margaret wants Charlotte to get into Lydia’s mind and pass along the information to her. They intend to cooperate to bring Lydia down. William passes by. Cherry (Francesca Mills) manages to make a few coins. She gives them to Charles (Douggie McMeekin). Emily surprises them with Nell. Charles tells them that they’re running a house of exotics. The Marquess returns home to Isabella (Liv Tyler). He tells her about his night with Charlotte. Isabella wants to find out about her own unnatural lust for Charlotte. Margaret visits Lucy to warn her about Lydia. She apologizes for her previous behavior.

She encourages Lucy to go to the justice. Charles and his girls meet up with Lydia. Lydia claims that they will not make a penny in Emily’s house. Lydia invites Nell to come and visit her. The windows are boarded up. Florence tells Margaret that she needs to bite back. Florence tells Amelia (Jordon Stevens) that they need to find a shield of their own against Lydia. Isabella meets with Lydia. She wants a moment with Charlotte. Charlotte tells Isabella that her brother can buy her body but not her mind. She encourages Isabella to find a weakness in her brother and exploit it. Isabella is interested in helping bring down Quigley. Charlottes reveals that Lydia wants her to get close to the Marquess again. Then, the attention turns to what Isabella wants. Charlotte kisses her on the cheek.

Isabella invites her to her brother’s card party. The Marquess speaks with Fallon. Fallon tells him about Lucy being his now. She enters a short time later. Lucy tells them that she is going out. Charlotte tells Lydia about the invitation. She asks Lydia about Nell being there. She believes that Lydia wants a spy in Charles’s house. Nell turned down the request. Margaret and her girls attend a party. The Marquess arrives with Lucy and Fallon. Lucy learns about the attack on the house. Another Lord attempts to flirt with Lucy. She sends him away. Lidington (Jack Staddon) runs into Fanny. During the encounter, Fanny notices his button. Then, he harasses Lucy. She knocks him down. Fanny tells Margaret about the buttons. Margaret rushes to see the Justice. Hunt learns about the button and Lidington. Fallon checks on Lucy.

She says that he doesn’t scare her. They begin making out. Lucy tries to take things one step further, but Fallon steps her. He explains that he wants her to ache for him. Charlotte visits Emily. Emily asks Nell about it. Nell confirms that Quigley tries to pay her to seduce her son. Emily tells Harriet all about Lydia. Cherry listens to it all. Emily suggests she can send Lydia to the gallows. Margaret finds William back at home. Noah sleeps with Harriet. He offers to pressure her for free this time. In the morning, Lucy tries to convince Fallon to sleep with her. Margaret enters. They speak about Lord Lidington. Fallon insists he is no friend of his. Margaret tells Lucy that she and Charlotte are different creatures. Margaret explains that she fears for Lucy because of the way she went after Lidington.

Lydia and Charlotte arrive at Isabella’s party. They speak about playing cards. Fallon wants to teach Lucy how to use her instinct for violence. The Marquess asks Charlotte why she doesn’t have a keeper. He wants her to be his. He tells her that she has until the end of the game to decide. Isabella and Lydia play with Lord Dodds the Lord Chief Justice. Lydia wonders why Isabella isn’t married. She asks if she longs for children. Moments later, Lydia and Isabella argue calmly in private. Lydia says that she might be tired of keeping the secret of Isabella’s bastard child. Emily visits Margaret and reveals that she will seek the justice. Charlotte refuses to let the Marquess become her keeper. He pays her enough for a good time though. Lydia speaks with Lord Dodds about her work. He seems interested in getting involved. Amelia tells Hunt about her own run in with Lydia.

Hunt agrees to listen to Emily. Hunt wants Emily to stand up in court and give evidence publicly against Quigley. Amelia and Emily agree to cooperate. Dodds joins Lydia at her place of business. Dodds makes it clear that he wants Lydia and no one else. Lucy practices her sword play with Fallon. She ends up cutting Fallon’s hand. Lydia takes Dodds to bed. Lucy tries to get Fallon to sleep with her. He finally takes her. Justice Hunt prepares to arrest Lydia. Justice Dodds isn’t going to let that happen. Charlotte tells Isabella that she is going home. Hunt gives Margaret the bad news. William arranges a fight between Billy and Noah. Margaret gives the bad news to Emily and the others. Charlotte joins them. Cherry visits Lydia and tells her about Emily’s actions. Emily and the others agree to work together to get Quigley.

 

Harlots Review

This episode of Harlots was pretty good. There were plenty of humorous moments. Margaret and her comrades thought they had Lydia trapped, but she managed to escape justice. Lucy seems to be playing a dangerous game with Lord Fallon. Now, Justice Hunt is powerless to do anything to Lydia. Will Margaret and her group be able to give Lydia what she deserves? We’ll find out soon enough. The episode scores a 7.5 out of 10. Catch up with previous recaps of Harlots before you go!