Page 45 of Once Upon a Midnight Dream

Hard.

Ouch.

That would leave a bruise, for certain. He rubbed the offended spot.

“You egotistical dunderhead,” she snapped with more fire than Zander had ever witnessed in her before. “I most assuredly am too sensible to lu—do any such irrational thing.”

What a delightful, adorable prude.

Zander almost snorted because she refused to say the word lust again, but as riled as she had become, she might haul off and slap him. Most especially if he reminded her that lust did not listen to reason or logic, which is what made it such a dangerous, unpredictable beast.

“But not all of my staff possesses the same degree of pragmatism, and it is my responsibility to ensure they do not make choices or behave in a manner that will in any way bring censure upon Kelston Hall Children’s Home,” she finished on a breathless rush.

“I apologize, Lilly.” He touched her shoulder. “I would never⁠—”

“Miss Granger?” Miss McKenzie called.

Just as well she had interrupted him before he made an asinine declaration Lilly would not want to hear and he had no business professing.

“We are done picking the fruit, so we’re taking the children to the house to clean up now.” With a nod, Miss McKenzie indicated Miss Wobblecroft and Mrs. Ruth Jones, both of whom practically leered at him.

“We are going too, Miss Granger.” The maid, Florence, gave a little bob and a wave. “Mrs. B will need our help with the apple dumplings.”

She and the other two maids, sisters Martha and Eliza, walked side by side toward the main house.

“Very good. I shall be up shortly.” Forehead puzzled, Lilly glanced around. “I did not realize how quickly the fruit and nuts had been gathered.”

Not only was the wagon beside Zander and Lilly filled with baskets, but several more clusters of bushel baskets sat throughout the orchard. The abundant harvest was a blessing for the home and would ensure plenty of fruit preserves, tarts, and the like throughout the long winter months.

Zander planned to be here to enjoy them as well, but who knew what his future held?

Charles still maintained Zander’s memory could come flooding back at any moment. The minutest thing might trigger a recollection and open the floodgates. Then there was the letter Lilly had written to Cambridge, which might very well help identify him.

Never had Zander been so conflicted.

If he discovered who he was, then he would know if he was unmarried and free to pursue his growing feelings for Lilly. Or if he had already exchanged vows with another and must do right by his wife. Not to mention trying to wade through the nefarious circumstances that had brought him to Kelston Hall to begin with.

He still believed he had been abducted, and that meant someone posed a threat and danger to him and possibly to Lilly and the others because of his presence here. That knowledge plagued him and kept him awake long after the house had settled each night.

Zander should leave.

That would be the unselfish thing to do.

The noble and honorable thing.

For the safety and wellbeing of everyone at Kelston Hall.

But he had discovered he was a selfish arse.

Not only did he have nowhere to go, he refused to leave Lilly unless forced to. She might never know the depths of his feelings for her, but he would protect her with his life.

Regardless, there was something to the adage that ignorance was bliss because at present, not knowing who he was, if he was married, or who had abducted and beaten him, meant he could continue this happy interlude.

And he was happy.

Very much so, truth be told.

Despite all those irksome uncertainties.