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office?   Of course, he is also half English.   Clarissa Blackerby, you sound like a snob , she reprimanded herself.
    “Your mother never told me you were doing work for the government.”
    “Mother doesn’t know.”
    “Justin,” Gertrude sounded quite alarmed.
    “Now I will have to tell her.   It would kill her to know that you know something about her own son that she doesn’t.   Father and I felt it best that she not know right now, especially with the instability on the Continent.”   He did not mention the death of his brother, but it weighed heavily on his mind.   He looked at Gertie and saw how bright her eyes had become and knew she thought of Jonathan as well.
    “Yes, I believe she should know,” the older woman said getting herself under control.
    “Back to the matter at hand,” Justin directed them back to the conversation.   “There is no way I can get out of this meeting other than death, and since I am not planning on an untimely demise, I will be leaving for London in a few hours.”
    “When do we leave to look for my father?”
    “Two days at the most.”   She nodded her head in agreement.
    “Gertie, I have some bad news.”
    “I can’t go along, can I?”
    “I’m afraid not.   It’s going to be too dangerous.   I wish Clarissa would change her mind about going but since it is her father, I don’t foresee that happening.”
    “You do not have to talk about me as if I am not here.”
    “Pardon my callousness,” he gave a deep bow to Clarissa.
    “Nor do you have to be sarcastic.”
    “Are you positive the two of you can do this without killing one another?”
    “We’ll see,” they said in unison.
    “You two make yourself comfortable.   I have some things to see too before I leave.”
    “Two days?” Clarissa asked before he left the room.
    “I promise,” he turned and paused at the door.   “Do you promise not to run off on your own again?”  
    “I promise,” she said, sounding much too sweet, and blinking her eyelashes innocently.
    He looked up to the ceiling, muttering under his breath, and walked out of the room.

Chapter 3

    Justin thought back over the verbal skirmish he had engaged in with Clarissa.   She had made the blood pound through his body and not only in anger.   She enticed him as no one woman ever had, not even Mikala Simmons.   Clarissa was a surprise.   You thought you were dealing with a fragile woman, and then all of a sudden this hellion showed through.   The difference in her personality challenged and excited him.   He did not know which one he would be dealing with at any given time.  
    Then there was the physical aspect of Clarissa.   She was beautiful, and no other words could describe her better.   He caught himself wondering how her silvery blonde hair would look cascading down her back.   Justin could imagine catching a fistful and smelling her fragrance that he knew would be clean and fresh.   His body tightened as he imagined what she would look like reclining in his bed, her hair covering her nakedness, teasing him with glimpses of her creamy skin.
    He shifted on his horse and shook his head as if that would clear his thoughts.   The moon shone full tonight, so he let the horse from his father’s stables have his way on the open road.   He made good time and arrived in London in the early hours of the morning.   Justin passed the Duke of Hamilton’s lumbering coach on the outskirts of London.   If Franklin were smart, he would gather what he needed, namely his sister, and then come after Clarissa, which is what Justin counted on.   After arriving home and removing his clothes, he climbed into bed and caught a few hours sleep.
    The next morning began a busy day.   Justin found himself in his director’s office in an attempt not only to give his report, but also to receive counsel and to seek more answers about the missing duke.
    “Good morning, Lord Bathurst.”
    “Southerby, come in, come in,” the older man