Lady Catherine's Secret: A Secrets and Seduction book by Sheridan Jeane

tentative, but a shiver of sensation sped through her as she inhaled that heady, woodsy scent that enveloped him.
    Huntley’s kiss became even more ardent as he ran his tongue against her lower lip and gently entered her mouth. He released her legs, and her body slid down his as he grasped her bottom through her thick petticoats. He pressed her against him as her feet descended to the floor.
    Catherine’s breathing became shallow as she experienced a deep, yearning desire. Heat grew within her, searing her. She wanted to be consumed, to dwell within this sensation.
    Without thinking, she brought her hands up and slid her fingers into his hair, pulling him to her as she lost herself in his kiss.
    Catherine heard a clattering of feet on the parquet floor in the hallway, and, with a start, was drawn back to the present. The music had stopped, and she wasn’t sure how long ago it had fallen silent.
    Her eyes widened in panic as she snatched her hand back and jumped away from the man. Watching him smooth his hair back into place and straighten his clothing, she followed suit, making sure she didn’t look disheveled. She straightened her rumpled skirts with a twitch of her hand.
    “We have a much larger music selection in our library.” Lady Wilmot’s voice preceded her through the open doorway, causing Catherine’s stomach to knot with apprehension. “We also have an extensive collection of opera librettos... or libretti, if you prefer.”
    Huntley grinned at Catherine conspiratorially and then lunged forward to shove the library ladder to one side, causing it to clatter against the brass rails as it rolled down the wall.
    “Lady Catherine, are you injured?” he called loudly. They both heard the sudden flurry of footsteps hurrying toward the library as people in the hallway rushed to see the cause of the commotion. Huntley gave Catherine a steadying look and cocked an eyebrow. With a small nod of encouragement, he silently invited her to join him in a deception.
    Catherine nodded and quickly replied, “Oh, my, I’m not sure!” in a loud voice. She did her best to appear flustered, which wasn’t difficult, considering the situation. She turned to see her mother and a few other guests as they stood aghast at finding Catherine and Huntley alone in the library.
    “I slipped on the ladder while retrieving a book,” Catherine said as she snatched up the volume from where it had fallen to the floor. She handed the volume to Huntley, avoiding his eyes.
    Her mother, not easily fooled, intercepted the volume in question as it passed between them, shooting Huntley a quelling look as she sought to uncover any deception. The book was quickly snatched away from her, however, by M LeCompte. The man had a devilish gleam in his eye, and Catherine had the sinking feeling that he hoped for a scandal.
    “A book, oui ? And just which book did you feel it necessary to retrieve?”
    “Cicero,” Catherine and Huntley said, in unison.
    LeCompte checked the title, and was clearly disappointed that had both named it correctly.
    “How dreary.” He languidly passed it back to Mother. “I would have thought you would read something a bit more engaging, my dear.”
    “It’s not for me. It’s for Lord Huntley.”
    Mother shot the marquess a searching look as she passed the book to him. Apparently she found him as inscrutable as Catherine did, because her expression didn’t alter.
    Huntley accepted it with a polite smile, his expression calm. Outwardly, he appeared to focus his attention on her mother, but Catherine knew better. A current snapped between them, and his intense awareness was focused solely on her.
    “How kind of you,” Lady Wilmot said. “I had intended to bring Lord Huntley to the library after dinner, but I became quite distracted by Lord Wentworth’s magnificent tenor voice.” She let out a ladylike trill of laughter as she stepped between Catherine and Huntley.
    “You’re such a good girl to show him Lord