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No, I am not.

How could he be certain?

He did not feel married.

Would his heart yearn for Lilly if he loved another?

Not all marriages were love matches.

In fact, very few were.

Had he entered a marriage of convenience?

An arranged marriage?

Bollocks.

As usual, Lilly was correct.

As a man of honor, he could not kiss her unless he knew for certain that he was unentangled.

He lowered his forehead to rest against hers. “Are you always so sensible?”

“I fear so. To a fault sometimes. Regardless, it has served me well.” She took two paces backward and faced him with courage he could not help but esteem. “If you want the position, nothing like this can ever happen again. If it does, Zander, I shall terminate you on the spot and send you packing at once.”

“I understand.” He did, but his bloody libido did not, and at this moment, the only thing that would calm his desire was an hour—or four—in the frigid brook.

“I would have your word, please.” She folded her hands, once again, prim and proper.

By God, Lilly drove a hard bargain.

That she would take the word of a man she found nearly dead in her meadow and that she had once locked in her bedchamber for fear he was a criminal, struck Zander to his core.

He peered at her closely.

She trembled like a tender new leaf in a blustery wind.

For all her fortitude, Lilly appeared remarkably fragile at this moment. As if it took every last measure she possessed to keep her stalwart composure.

Did she need Zander to resist the temptation, this undefined attraction between them, because she was not positive she could?

That revelation buoyed his spirits, despite the disappointment thrumming through his veins.

Now was not the time.

Nevertheless, that did not mean another opportunity might not present itself, and by thunder, Zander would seize it. But only if he had verification that he was not married. This meant that until he knew his identity, the tempting woman before him was utterly off-limits.

“I give you my word as a gentleman that I shall not attempt to kiss you, Miss Lilibet Granger.”

He winked and waggled his eyebrows to lighten the mood. “I shall not, however, refuse any overtures you make toward me.”

She made an unladylike noise between a scoff and a snort.

Althelia does that too.

Who the blazes is Althelia?

“That shall happen when you catch lightning in a bottle Mr. Brook.”