He turned to smile at Jade. 'My dear, what say we go over to Nathan's town house next week? If you're feeling up to the outing,' he added. 'We still have to settle her brother's affairs,' he told Lady Briars.
Jade thought Caine had lost his mind. She smiled, just to cover her unease, while she waited for his next surprise.
It wasn't long in coming. 'Perhaps you'd like to accompany us over to Nathan's place and have a look
at the trunk with us,' Caine suggested.
Lady Briars declined the invitation. She insisted that Jade come to see her soon, then took her leave. Caine assisted the frail woman into her carriage.
Jade paced the drawing room until he returned. 'And just what was that all about?' she demanded as soon as he walked inside again.
He shut the doors before answering her. She noticed his grin then. Caine looked thoroughly pleased
with himself.
'I didn't like lying to that dear woman one bit, Caine,' she cried out. 'Besides, I'm the accomplished liar in this family, not you. Why did you tell her there was a trunk, for heaven's sake? Were you thinking to make her feel better so she wouldn't have to give up any of her cherished possessions? Do you know, now that I reflect upon this, I don't like hearing you lie at all. Well?' she demanded when she needed to pause for breath. 'What have you got to say for yourself?'
'The lie was necessary,' Caine began.
She wouldn't let him get any further. ''No lie is ever necessary,'' she quoted from memory. 'You told
me that days ago. Remember?'
'Love, you're really upset because I lied?' he asked. He looked astonished.
'1 most certainly am upset,' she returned. 'I've come to depend upon your honesty, Caine. Yet if you
tell me the lie was reaily necessary, then I must assume you have a plan. Do you think Lady Briars
might mention this imaginary trunk to someone? Is that it?'
She thought she had it all figured out. 'No,' he answered, smiling over the frown his denial caused.
'No? Then you should be ashamed of yourself for lying to that old woman.'
'If you'll let me explain…'
She folded her arms across her chest. 'This had better be good, sir, or I just might blister you.'
He thought she sounded like her Uncle Harry now. She was certainly blustering enough to make him draw that conclusion. He laughed and took his disgruntled looking wife into his arms.
'Well?' she muttered against his jacket. 'Explain, if you please, why you lied to a dear family friend.'
'She isn't a dear family friend,' Caine told her, his exasperation apparent in his tone of voice.
'Of course she is,' Jade protested. 'You heard her, husband. She has kept all the little presents my
father gave her. She loved him!'
'She killed him.'
Jade didn't react to that statement for a long, silent minute. Then she slowly lifted her gaze to stare into his eyes. She shook her head.
He nodded.
Her knees went weak on her. Caine had to hold her up when she slumped against him. 'Are you trying
to tell me,' she began, her voice a mere thread. 'Do you mean to say that Lady Briars is…'
'She's Ice.'
'Ice?' She shook her head again. 'She can't be Ice,' she cried out. 'For God's sake, Caine. She's a woman.'
'And women can't be killers?'
'No,' she returned. 'I mean to say yes, I do suppose…'
He took mercy on her confused state. 'All the clues fit, Jade. Now sit down and let me explain it to
you,' he suggested.
She was simply too stunned to move. Caine led her over to the settee, gently pushed her down on the cushions, and then settled himself next to her. 'It's really very logical,' he began as he put his arm
around her shoulders.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She was recovering from her initial surprise. 'I knew
it would be logical.'
'I was suspicious when I reread the letters, of course. And I never make the same mistake twice, love, remember?'
'I remember that you like to make that boast whenever possible, husband, dear. Now explain to me
what this mistake is that you didn't repeat.'
'I thought Pagan was a man. I never once considered that he could be a she. I didn't make that same error when I was hunting Ice.'
'You are really convinced Lady Briars is Ice? How did you come to that conclusion?' she asked.
He wasn't about to let the topic completely turn just yet. 'Jade? Did you ever consider that Ice could
be a woman? Tell me the truth,' he commanded in that arrogant tone she liked so much.
She let out a sigh. 'You're going to gloat.'
