Les Liaisons dangereuses

Context:

Though the novel itself isn't explicitly named, Lady Melbourne is repeatedly compared to Madame de Merteuil from 'Dangerous Liaisons,' and Byron to the Vicomte de Valmont. The hosts describe the entire web of relationships — Lady Melbourne manipulating Byron, pimping out her niece Annabella, and scheming against her daughter-in-law Caroline — as being 'very, very dangerous liaisons.' The comparison structures much of the episode's narrative.