Gift of Gold

a thief who got into his home one evening.”
    “How awful,” Verity said with more depth of feeling than Jonas would have liked under the circumstances. “Was he a friend of yours?”
    “Merely a business acquaintance.”
    “Did the police ever catch the murderer?” Verity persisted.
    “I have no idea. I didn’t follow the story.” Kincaid dismissed the subject as he glanced around the throng. “So the mysterious, reclusive artist finally greets her public. I must admit she’s doing it in grand style. Miss Evanger is a striking woman. Pity about the scar and that leg.”
    “She was in an accident,” Verity muttered defensively. “She’s lucky to be alive.”
    “Is that right?” Kincaid studied Caitlin from across the room.
    Jonas gave serious consideration to throttling his lady. He contented himself with putting his arm around her waist and squeezing. Hard. She flinched and slanted him a reproachful glance. Silently he shook his head and she finally got the message. He saw the chagrin in her eyes as she realized she was getting too mouthy in front of Caitlin’s enemy.
    Verity’s problem, Jonas decided objectively, was that she tended to be too mouthy most of the time and the tendency got worse when her temper was aroused.
    “You’ll be back here tomorrow along with the other bidders?” Jonas asked smoothly, hoping to distract Kincaid from his intense study of Caitlin.
    “Yes. I can’t say I appreciate the delay or all this nonsense Evanger is insisting upon, but I guess we must humor the eccentric artist. A relatively small price to pay for a chance at Evanger’s final work,” Kincaid replied absently. “What about you and Miss Ames?”
    “We’ll be at the auction, but we won’t be bidding. We’re here as Caitlin’s guests,” Verity volunteered.
    Once again Jonas let his grip tighten unmercifully around her waist. Jonas didn’t want Kincaid to have any more information than he already possessed. The whole damn situation was already too dangerous.
    “I see. Miss Evanger must value your company,” Kincaid said blandly. “Have you known her long? I understood she had few acquaintances.”
    “We’ve known her awhile,” Jonas replied stonily, wishing Kincaid would leave before he pried any more information out of Verity. In the next moment, he got his wish.
    “There’s someone I should speak to across the room. A fellow collector. I’m surprised he’s here tonight. He usually avoids this kind of gathering. If you’ll both excuse me?”
    “Of course,” Verity said primly.
    Kincaid’s eyes went to her bare shoulders and the white skin above the blue bodice. “I hope you will honor me with a dance later, Miss Ames. Unless, of course, Quarrel objects?” He smiled blandly at Jonas.
    “He does,” Jonas said easily. “I keep close tabs on Verity. I’m sure you understand.”
    “For heaven’s sake, Jonas,” Verity exclaimed in exasperation.
    Kincaid chuckled and moved off into the crowd. Verity rounded on Jonas. “Let’s get something clear, Jonas. I don’t particularly want to dance with that bastard, but I’m perfectly capable of making the decision and acting on it myself. I don’t want you thinking you can pick and choose my dance partners for me.”
    “When it comes to partners like Kincaid, I’ll make the decision and you’ll abide by it,” Jonas said calmly. He reached for another slice of paté on toast.
    “Damn it, Jonas, who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?”
    “I’m the man you sleep with these days. That gives me all kinds of rights.”
    He could tell his imperturbable attitude was getting to her. Verity’s eyes were glittering more brilliantly than the jewel on her forehead.
    “Jonas, this is an asinine argument to be having right now.”
    “I couldn’t agree more. Let’s skip the argument and have something else to eat.”
    “How can you eat after talking to that man?”
    “It’s simple. I just put this cracker into my mouth and chomp down with both sets of teeth. Works every time.”
    “Jonas, that’s the man in Caitlin’s painting. Don’t you understand? He’s the one who…Oh, my God, the
painting,
”
Verity gasped.
    “What about it?”
    “I just realized. It’s unprotected upstairs. Caitlin locked the door to her studio but that’s the only precaution she took. But what if you’re right and he is suspicious? What if Kincaid snuck up there and destroyed it before he walked into the party? That would