The Masqueraders · Character

Mr. Markham

A scheming opportunist who smells secrets on every stranger, he trades in information and has his eye fixed on the mysterious Lord Barham.

supporting

Also known as Markham, Gregory Markham, Gregory

First appearance: A Lady in Distress

See Mr. Markham in A Lady in Distress Book page

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Gregory Markham moves through the margins of fashionable London, a man whose friendships are transactional and whose instincts for weakness are sharp. When a nervous stranger comes looking for Lord Barham, Markham sees not a threat but a commodity, and his willingness to squeeze information from the desperate puts him on a collision course with the Tremaines. He is the kind of enemy who does not need proof to act, only suspicion and the promise of profit.

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See Mr. Markham in A Lady in Distress

Character Web

28 connections

A slice of how Mr. Markham sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Major Characters and Schemers
Minor Characters and Servants

+23 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Prudence arrives at Fanshawe’s house expecting a social gathering where her duel with Rensley will be noticed,…

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Relationships

Letty Grayson
romantic · positive
Lord Clevedale
social · ambivalent
Sir Anthony Fanshawe
social · ambivalent
Lord Clevedale
social · ambivalent
Sir Anthony Fanshawe
social · ambivalent
Letty Grayson
romantic · positive
Lord Clevedale
social · ambivalent
Letty Grayson
romantic · positive
Sir Anthony Fanshawe
social · ambivalent

Letty Grayson
Letty and Mr. Markham are involved in a flirtatious, romantic courtship with playful tension.
Lord Clevedale
Lord Clevedale and Mr. Markham are acquaintances moving in the same social circles, with occasional interactions.
Sir Anthony Fanshawe
Mr. Markham and Sir Anthony are social acquaintances, moving in the same fashionable circles.
Lord Clevedale
Lord Clevedale and Mr. Markham are acquaintances moving in the same social circles, with occasional interactions.
Sir Anthony Fanshawe
Mr. Markham and Sir Anthony are social acquaintances, moving in the same fashionable circles.
Letty Grayson
Letty and Mr. Markham are involved in a flirtatious, romantic courtship with playful tension.
Lord Clevedale
Lord Clevedale and Mr. Markham are acquaintances moving in the same social circles, with occasional interactions.
Letty Grayson
Letty and Mr. Markham are involved in a flirtatious, romantic courtship with playful tension.
Sir Anthony Fanshawe
Mr. Markham and Sir Anthony are social acquaintances, moving in the same fashionable circles.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mr. Markham in A Lady in Distress

In the story

Mr. Markham appears across 17 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

A Lady in Distress
The antagonist who had abducted Letty Grayson; he is knocked down by Mr. Merriot and later finds his chaise gone.
Arrival of a Large Gentleman
Letty's elopement partner; mentioned as having been in his cups and frightening her.
Mistress Prudence to Herself
Mentioned as a man of mauvais ton, a gambler, and friend of Lord Barham; Lady Lowestoft warns against him.
The Polite World Receives Mr. and Miss Merriot
Not directly present in this chapter.
A Taste of a Large Gentleman's Temper
Seen at White's with Lord Barham, scowls at Prudence but later smiles, suspected of mischief.
IX: Mohocks Abroad
Seen at White's writing letters; later hears of the attack and is confronted by Lord Barham.
X: Sudden and Startling Appearance of the Old Gentleman
Mentioned as the likely instigator of the attack on Robin; Sir Anthony warns Prudence about his vengeful nature.
Encounter at White's
At White's with Rensley; recognizes Lord Barham as a former gaming-house keeper from Munich after seeing him throw dice.
My Lord Barham Becomes Mysterious
Continues to ingratiate himself with Letty; faces financial troubles and seeks a new patron after Rensley's decline.
Sad Falling Out of Friends
Angry with Rensley for spoiling their plans; acquires a letter from a stranger implicating Colney in Jacobite activities and considers blackmailing Lord Barham.
Ingenuity of My Lord Barham
Attempts to blackmail Lord Barham with a Jacobite letter but is outwitted and forced to accept a lesser exchange.
Proceedings of Mr. Markham
Plans to abduct Letty and blackmails her with her father's Jacobite letter to force her into marriage.
Tortuous Methods of My Lord Barham
The villain of the plot; he blackmails Letty with a letter from her father and plans to elope with her, unaware that Lord Barham is manipulating him.
The Fight by Moonlight
Blackmails Letty into elopement, fights a duel with the masked stranger, and is killed.
Return of Miss Grayson
Killed by Robin in a duel; his body is carried to the coach and later taken to his lodgings.
Arrest of Mr. Merriot
Mentioned as the deceased; his murder is the basis for the warrant against Prudence.
XXVII: Violence on the King's High Road
Referenced as the man Prudence is accused of killing.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mr. Markham in A Lady in Distress