This story doesn't get the same response as my other story, Lasting Affection, but I'm enjoying writing it so I shall continue. : P I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 2

JPOV

I decided to be bold and stepped forward before anyone could say anything, my hand reached out for a handshake, "An honor to meet you General Swan."

Having entered through the back door Bella and I had ended up in the manor's dining room. It was a long rectangular room with a stretching gleaming mahogany dining table going down the middle, extended enough to seat twelve people. Already set with fine blue china prepared to have an extravagant feast at any give moment. There was a china hutch, the same shining mahogany as the table, filled with extra collectable china varying between blue, green, and red print. The chair cushions and the lengthy drapes that followed the stretching windows to the floor gave the room, through their detailed patterns, a light blue and deep gold theme. All and all the room gave the vibe of utter luxury.

Just a Bella and I had entered through the back French doors General Swan had been passing the doorway that lead from the dining room and into the rest of the manor. Having heard the noise of our entrance he changed course and came into the dining room. His expression not showing much other than slight curiosity and hesitance, whatever else he was feeling he kept to himself.

This situation leading to where we are now, a false humble smile plastered to my face, my hand still stretched out, General Swan raising one eyebrow in question, and slowly extending his hand to meet mine.

"The pleasure is mine Mr.…." he trailed off expectantly.

"Whitlock, Jasper Whitlock."

"Yes, nice to meet you." He cleared is throat and turned to his daughter. "Isabelle? Would you like to explain how you… meet… this young man and why you are in a males company without an escort?"

"Well," she turned her face towards me, shielding the right side of her face from her father and winked at me, smirking, before turning back and continuing her explanation. "it seems that Mr. Whitlock here," she gestured to me with her hand, "got turned around in the woods and accidentally ended up on our property. Form what I found out; he has no resources and needs a place to stay. Knowing you to be the gentleman of generosity that you are Father I offered him a place to stay with us." She finished smiling innocently. It didn't make it passed me that she never mentioned I was from the South.

"A complete stranger?"

"A complete stranger in need." She rebutted and continued, "Surely you wouldn't leave him out in the cold."

Charles' eyes flashed to me to see what I hoped to be a smile that communicated 'I'm a good guy.'

He turned back to his daughter, it barely showed but I think he was a bit flustered. "Well of course not but we don't know by what code this man conducts himself." He turned to me, "Forgive me," then turned to Bella once again, "but he could be a danger to you and your mother."

"I would never harm a lady Sir." I knew his suspicions were just but I couldn't help but defend my morale.

"Plus," Bella spoke up, "I thought you said you were a good judge of character Father."

"Well yes…" he looked between us and sighed, "Alright," Bella had a bright smile on her face, "he can stay for however long he may need as long as he conducts he's self in an upright manner." He trained his focus on me, cold green eyes holding none of the happy warmth as his daughter's, I could see why so many men followed his lead. "And you answer any questions I may have."

"Yes Sir." I said with a respectful nod, fighting off a smile at how perfectly this all was falling into place. I was where I needed to be, Fairbrook, in the home of a general where I was sure to pick up some Yankee tactics, and I'll be able to spend more time with the ever interesting Bella Swan.

~About an hour later~

After getting General Swan's 'okay' for me to stay with them at the manor he called over a maid, Lucy, to show me my room and the restroom where I could clean up before dinner that was to be served at 6. Thirty minutes from now. Bella was sent to go explain the situation to her mother.

As Lucy walked me to my room on the second floor, explaining she'd find some fresh clothes for me to change into, as Mrs. Swan hates dirty clothing, I noticed how well off the Swan's must be. Everything in the manor, which was colossal in itself, was luxuriously decorated, and carved, and designed. All the colors we rich and deep. Many things looked like they came from outside of the country implying much travel. It was nothing like the two-story farm house my parents had back in Texas.

Now I was showered and dressed, in what I assumed to be some of Charles Swan's clothes from his younger days, sitting in my room, not exactly sure what to do with my self other that wait for dinner time to come, when a soft knock sounded at my door.

"Come in."

Bella walked in smiling brightly, in a different darker blue dress. She must have noticed me looking because the first thing she said was, "What? Mother insists that dinner clothes are somehow different from the clothes to be worn during the day." She rolled her eyes, I was glad she disagreed with her mothers notions because I definitely did. "It's best to just get changed rather than argue with her." She gracefully walked over to where I was sitting on the edge of the guest bed and sat next to me. Looking me right in the eye she asked bluntly, "Does this make you uncomfortable?"

I could help but laugh and smile, answering honestly and shaking my head, "No."

She smiled and leaned back on her elbows, "Good, I don't like how overly formal things often have to be. It's not like I'm going to ravage random men just because I'm alone with or sitting next to them."

I leaned back on my elbows next to her, she truly was beautiful and one of the strangest women, North or South, I had ever meet. I had the fleeting thought that I wouldn't mind her 'ravaging' me.

"So you came here for a reason or you just couldn't get enough of my company?" I asked. She was the first woman, besides the women in my family, that I felt comfortable joking with this way. I knew she wouldn't get mad or insulted. I was completely comfortable with her.

"Of course I had a reason." She sat up, I frowned and followed. "Confidant aren't you?" She smirked and raised an eyebrow.

I self-assuredly smirked back, "As much is warranted."

She laughed loudly, throwing her head back, "As much as I truly do enjoy your company," she stood up and gave me her hand to help me up. I didn't need her assistance but took the hand gratefully anyway. "I was sent here to collect you for dinner." She paused and seemed to consider what she had just said, "Well, Lucy originally was to be sent to collect you but I insisted that it'd be me." She smiled. "As it seems I am an addict to your company," she said sarcastically. "Though I didn't tell them that bit."

~Halfway or so through dinner~

Despite the awkward small talk and randomly getting drilled with questions by General Swan, dinner was delicious. I commented to Bella that it almost competed with my mother's Sheppard's Pie, only to have her parents stare in open confusion. Clearly confused by our easy demeanor and that we had even known such things about each other.

I cleared my throat and spoke, "It really is a fine dinner Mrs. Swan, tastes wonderful" in hopes of getting her parents to stop staring.

Mrs. Swan smiled softly, "Why thank you." She had such a soft voice, seeming cautious. From what Bella told me I figured she feared to miss up her social status in any way and spoke careful accordingly. Her eyes shifted to the right of me to where Bella was sitting, "Oh Isabelle do sit up straight."

I looked at Bella to see she was already sitting perfectly up right, she moved around a bit to make it look like she was changing her posture but essentially stayed in the same position, its not like she could sit any straighter if she tried. It had been like this all throughout dinner. Mrs. Swan would pick a random thing Bella was doing and correct it, although Bella was already doing whatever it was flawlessly. Bella wouldn't argue; she'd get a blank expression and make it look as if she was correcting herself as asked. This happened every time Bella would start to relax and act like the happy girl she was when away from her mother. For this reason, Mrs. Swan bothered me to no end. Bella's wistful expression as I talked about my family earlier now made more sense.

"I'll tell Abigail you like it." Bella's voice brought me out of my thoughts, "She's our ingenious cook." Bella was looking at me with a knowing grin, I knew her mother couldn't cook squat according to what Bella told me earlier.

"Oh Isabelle, I doubt Mr. Whitlock wants to hear about our work force." Her mother broke in, once again scolding.

Isabelle met her mothers eye, "Abigail does her job excellently and deserves to know when her talent is being appreciated."

"It's her job Isabelle." Mrs. Swan said irritably, "It's what we pay her for."

"And she does that job well."

"Oh do leave the girl alone Renee." General Swan broke in. Thank goodness he was taking his daughters side.

Renee looked to her husband, to me, then stared coldly at her daughter, "Eat your dinner Isabelle; you're letting it get cold."

Bella complied without any more comment. Her expression a blank mask, something she probably picked up from her father. I hated seeing happy go lucky Bella being restricted and treated so coldly by her unemotional mother.

"Please do give my compliments to the chief," I spoke up, hopefully showing Bella I was on her side, "this dinner really is delicious."

Bella met my eyes and let a smile break through her mask, she mouthed "Thank you."

~Now night time, the household has gone to bed~

Everything was going well, through the questions General Swan asked, everyone was under the impression that I was a Southerner gone astray, or in the right direction in their eyes I suppose, who came to the north to fight for what I truly believed in. First I just needed to get on my feet to obtain a job and permanent housing. Till then the Swans graciously offered me food and shelter.

I felt a twinge of regret lying to Bella, who, as far as I could tell, has only been honest with me. Oddly enough, that's what kept me awake now, lying in bed in the dark guest room. Moonlight falling across my form, I left the curtains open to over look the eerily lit woods in the Swans backyard, the wind tossing fall leaves through the chilled air. I lay spread out on the bed, a thick blanket pulled up to my hips, wearing soft night pants and no shirt.

I was trying to think of plans for the following days, ways to obtain more information of what the Yankees might be planning, but my mind kept wondering back to Bella. Her kind sweet charm, her natural beauty, her honesty… the fact I was lying to her. What would happen if she found out? It would be disastrous, she would tell her father, my cover would be blown, I'd probably be taken to be questioned, a prisoner of war. What made my stomach clench though, was the thought of Bella being offended, hurt. We connected so well, it certainly had to affect her somehow, to find out it was all because I was seeking information for her enemy… that I was her enemy. She'd certainly be less trusting of people in the future.

I rubbed my face roughly and pulled my fingers through my sleep tousled blond locks, although I had never actually had the bliss of falling asleep yet, my hair was still a mess. What was wrong with me? She may be sweet and gorgeous but I don't really know the girl. Should it really bother me this much? Of course I'd never want to see any woman cry, not that she would, she was strong and we barely knew each other. From our earlier encounter I can guess she'd show her anger at me above anything else. I have a mission to do. None of this should matter, I need to man up. Who says I'd get caught anyway?

With that last thought I was determined to fall asleep. Until I distantly heard a door open and shut, a dog barking. The Swans had dogs? I couldn't recall. But who would be walking around at this time? Maybe a servant, but why? I looked at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room; it proclaimed it to be one-twenty in the morning. I heard another door, this one squealing on hinges that badly needed to be oiled. I could tell it was outside this time, somewhere in the backyard.

I could ignore it and go to sleep, but I being myself, curiosity got the best of me and I headed toward the window to look out into the Swans enormous backyard. I couldn't help but smile at what I saw. At the stable not to far off from the house was Bella, opening the stable door slowly, wincing every time it squealed. In nothing but a flimsy white night gown, which clung to her body from the force of the wind, Bella looked… with no other way to describe it, sexy.

A jovial Blue Nose Pit-bull circled her feet, wiggling in unrestrained happiness, its tail moving a mile a minute. Bella was apparently its preferred company. The dog unable to contain itself any more jumped up, paws forward, and collided with Bella's side. Unprepared Bella went down, hands breaking her fall but none the less ending up on her butt, and then her back as she dodged her furry friend's fast striking tongue. I couldn't hear Bella but I could tell she was laughing as she swung her head from side to side trying to avoid getting licked and simultaneously petting the dog. I couldn't help but laugh myself; it was an unbelievably cute sight… man I sound manly.

After a minute or two I came out of my Bella induced haze and regained my logical thinking. What on earth was Bella doing out there in the first place? Let alone without a jacket. It must be freezing, I bet if I saw her close up her lips would probably be blue, what the hell was she doing?

I knew it was a probably a bad idea to go out there with her and find out what exactly she was doing. I knew it was a bad idea to get more attached to her. She is definitely going to distract me from the real reason I was here and if General Swan woke up to find his daughter and I alone in the freezing cold it wouldn't go down well. And I knew, as I threw a shirt on, slipped on my shoes, and grabbed my jacket, that I was going to do it anyway.

Have you every seen a Blue Nose Pit-bull? They're adorable, I have one, sweetest little thing. Not at all mean if they're raised with love.

Look it up if you really want to picture it. : )

Hope you enjoyed the chapter : ) tell me what you think.