Page 21 of Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

“Come, I’ll show you – it’s a surprise I think you’ll like.”

He took that outstretched hand, feeling the heat from her touch flood through him, straight to his groin, and allowed her to pull him to his feet. She did not release his hand as she led him from the room, and through the house to the library. He was acutely aware of her touch, of her scent, every moment as they walked. She did not speak, but simply led him into the book filled room.

Just inside the door, she released his hand, lifted a lantern from a small table, and went to the fire to light it. Once it was lit, she continued deep into the large room, past long shelves. He followed, wishing that he still held her hand, feeling the loss of that contact acutely. They came to a deeply shadowed niche between high shelves, and she slipped into the darkness.

“Take care, Dash, the books here are dusty, and the space is very narrow.”

“Mariel, surely you do not think that I fear a little dust? Or a lot, for that matter. You have seen me brushing dust from myself every time that I have been uncrating more of my collection.”

“Your valet must hate it.”

“He does – he positively sulks, and will no doubt celebrate on the day that I empty the last crate.”

She laughed, then lifted the lantern high, turning to him a little.

“Here, please hold this up, so that my hands are freed for a moment.”

He took it, doing as she had asked, puzzled. For in front of them was a blank wall.

She lifted a few books from a shelf, and set them on the floor, for some incomprehensible reason, as he watched. Then she reached out her hand to a carving on the end of the bookshelf, and did something – he could not clearly see what. There was an odd click, and the wall… moved.

“What….?”

She pushed the stack of books on the floor halfway into the doorway, then reached back and took his hand again, pulling him forward. It was a small room, obviously built into the very wall of the building, but it was full of shelves and cabinets. She took the lantern from his hand, and moved to stand in front of a set of drawers. Holding the lantern high, she pulled the top drawer open.

His breath left him in a gasp, and he reached out, without thinking.

“Dilettos….”

“Is that what they’re called? Wonderful! Another word for my list.”