“An asset?” Was that what she was considered now? What about what she wanted? How far did they expect her loyalty to the Crown to extend? To marry a man she barely knew, move to a foreign country, and continue to spy on those around her? She scowled at Bertie. “Anyway, it’s manners to wait to be asked before one starts planning a wedding.”

“Bertie, stop quizzing her,” Mother said. “Juliette, darling, you are under no pressure to marry anyone, much less a foreign duke, merely to provide intelligence and information. If your heart lies with the duke, then we will support you. If not, I’m certain you will find a way to hand him his congé gracefully. Has he made an approach to you?”

“He has not asked me to marry him, certainly, though he did inquire as to whether I might be interested in traveling to Germany to see his home and meet his family. With you and Father as well,” she added.

“It sounds as if he is working up to the pivotal question.” Father grinned. “As your mother says, we will not bring any pressure to bear upon you. You are free to do as you wish as relates to the duke. However, I must reiterate, you should not interfere with the investigation into Mr. Montgomery’s death. Bertie’s correct in saying it is a matter for the police. Your help on the last case was invaluable, but you are not as yet a fully trained agent. The death of Mr. Montgomery is sad, and certainly the culprit must be brought to answer, but a simple murder does not fall under our auspices. Mr. Swann and his associates will learn the truth, and justice will prevail.”

“Your task is to support Agatha through her grief and to continue your tutelage with Bertie in our absence.” Mother placed the card box on a shelf near the door. “We will write to you while we are away, and I’ll bring you some new dresses and accessories from France.”

Her parents linked arms and left the War Room to prepare for dinner, and Bertie tossed aside the towel and shrugged into his coat.

“Well done managing not to let the entire world know you were carrying a pistol today at the luncheon. Though I thought for a time you had blown the gaff. Came untied, did it?”

Drat the man.

“Tomorrow we’ll work on your self-defense. It’s one thing to carry a weapon and another altogether to know how to use it. Or to protect yourself when you cannot reach your weapon. You never know when you’ll need to dispatch an attacker, and you’ve barely begun that side of your training. You have to keep a cool head under pressure and remember what you’ve been taught. That comes with repetition.”

She would not mention that she had been forced to defend herself against the odious Boggs earlier that very day.