He would gladly pay off her wager with Jace, and he wouldn’t mind paying Jace an added bonus for canceling the safari. He caressed Leigh’s cheek, then bent forward to kiss it. As she shifted her position, he slipped her golden head into his lap. For a long time, all he did was stare at her. She was exquisite. A marriage between them was perfect, even if he had to give up his revenge on Jace to prevent anything or anyone from stopping it.
That thought shocked Chad. Yet he realized it might not be wise to take any chances of ruining things. He had punished Jace many times, and Jace would surely lose Leigh and the wager. There was nothing to implicate or connect him to the Stokely and Elliott crimes, so perhaps he shouldn’t press his luck. The same was true of killing Jace or having him slain. With so much within his grasp, it was crazy to threaten it. A curious relief surged through Chad. Once he had this woman and all she offered, he would possess enough to make him happy for the rest of his life.
Cynthia was staying with Leigh tonight, so once more, Jace could not get at his love. He was nervous. It couldn’t be a trick, he decided, so what was happening to her? Johi was keeping a watch on the two women, so Jace knew they were innocent. As for Chad, he seemed too taken with Leigh to injure or endanger her. That left …
In their tent, Louisa prepared for bed. “What do you think is wrong with her, Chad?” she asked.
“The climate, like Jace said. If she keeps this up, I might have to take her home. I can’t risk her well-being for a little fun.”
“Why can’t she stay in camp while we finish the safari?” the redhead ventured. “There are plenty of servants here to tend her. She doesn’t need a doctor, does she?”
“I doubt it, but I’ll keep an eye on her.”
So will I, my cunning lover. Louisa had seen the way Chad had behaved for the last two days. It filled her with fury and hatred.
Leigh reclined on her side, toward the canvas wall. She pretended to be asleep to avoid conversation with the dozing brunette. She felt anxious and alarmed. The ailment had attacked her twice. It wasn’t normal. Was it unfamiliar food, water—or insects? She certainly had enough bites to irritate her. Or, she mused, it could be someone’s doing. But how? Everyone ate the same food, drank from the same bucket, and suffered from the same pests. Louisa had calmed down. Chad desired her. The others were strangers. And, Jace …
Jace what? She contemplated in torment. Loves you? Desires you? Wants to win the bet? He already has three points. If you get sick and can’t complete the safari, what then? Could he be playing unfairly with you?
Their leopard trek continued. They traversed the savanna without trouble. This was an area of intense and gripping drama, a place of the swift and cunning, of violent death, of wild beauty. Zebras mingled with wildebeests for protection from predators. One brown creature wasn’t lucky today, they remarked, seeing a female lion hanging on to the nose of a wildebeest, trying to drag it to certain death. Another lioness struck at the animal’s vulnerable throat, strangling it to death. Soon the feast began and later the scavengers would finish off what the sated lions left behind. Other lion prides were on kopjes—rock or earth mounds— dozing or watching the scene before them, deciding when and who to attack for their next meal.
Jace explained the seasonal migration of the wildebeest, which began in June. The vast herd was joined by zebras, gazelles, and cape buffalos; and all were stalked by lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and vicious wild dog packs. Jace talked of how many creatures didn’t survive the annual journey, many trampled or drowned while crossing the Sand River on the trip to and from Tanzania and British East Africa. Their carcasses fed crocodiles and other predators.
As they entered light woodland, impalas exploded into flight, leaping high and fast to escape the intrusion. A herd of elephants with lifted trunks moved toward another feeding area. Gray infants were nearly undetectable in the midst of towering creatures with large legs. Birds and animals scattered in fear before them.
Leigh frowned as her head swam in a bleary sea. It was happening to her again. She was confused, angry, and alarmed. They were far from medical help, if it was required. She did not know if this annoyance was caused by nature or man.
“If his whiskers are down, he’s relaxed,” Jace was saying. “When they bristle upward, he’s angry and nervous, so be careful. Once we—”
“Chad!” Louisa called out, “Leigh’s in trouble again.” Louisa caught the blonde’s arm and steadied her. “Sit down before you fall.”
Leigh was too shaky to argue. Chad and Jace rushed to her and dropped to their knees, both questioning her with concern.
“I’m just a little dizzy. I’ll be fine in a minute. It’s the heat.”
Chad and Jace eyed her and argued, “No, it isn’t.”
“You go ahead,” Chad turned to Jace. “I’ll stay with her again. She can’t continue like this, and there’s no need to lose the whole day. We’ll camp until you return this afternoon. Reid hasn’t gotten his leopard.”
“Why don’t I stay with Leigh?” Jace suggested. “Johi can take over for me, and the bearers are all skilled hunters. If she needs doctoring, I’m the one best qualified to treat her here. After she’s regained her strength, I’ll carry her back to camp. We’ve already lost three days with rain and stops. Johi can help you get that leopard. Just do as he says, and no taking risks.”
Chad knew Leigh would be safe in Jace’s hands, and that Jace couldn’t make any romantic progress with her in that condition. Chad didn’t want it to look as if he wanted to get her alone. To prevent suspicion, he agreed. “That sounds fine to me, Jace. I would like to get one of those creatures before we leave this area. You sure she’ll be all right and you can manage alone?”
“I think so. She only needs to adjust to our climate.”
“Why can’t Louisa and I rest here and go back to camp with Jace and Leigh?” Cynthia asked.
“Jace will have his hands full tending and carrying Leigh.” Chad answered. “He doesn’t need two complaining females atop his task.”
“We wouldn’t be any trouble, and we can act as guards.”
“If trouble arose and you two panicked as you did during the rhino hunt, Leigh could be injured. No, both of you are coming with me and Reid. No more arguing. We’ll see you back in camp this evening. Let’s go, everybody. I hear a leopard growling my name,” Chad jested.
With Johi in the lead and the bearers behind the foursome, off they went to hunt for the day.
Jace was surprised that Chad allowed him to be alone with Leigh. Yet the woman was in no shape to be wooed or seduced, and Chad wanted that fearless trophy. Slinging his weapon over his shoulder, he lifted his love and carried her into the shade of an acacia.
“Leigh, can you hear me?” he asked. His keen eyes studied her. She was ashen and trembly but her cheeks were red.
“Yes,” she replied, her dry tongue feeling thick.
Their gazes locked, ocean blue with jungle green. “When you feel strong enough to walk, I want to get you into the jungle so I can check you over for injuries. If you don’t feel up to it soon, I’ll carry you. Do you know if you have any odd bites? Or any festering cuts?”
“Only a few mosquito bites. Nothing strange.”
“I need to get privacy to remove these clothes and check you over thoroughly. If a tsetse fly or malarial mosquito got to you, I need to know, now. You have been taking your quinine tablets?”
“Yes, and I haven’t played in any bad water. I’ll be fine. Is this a trick to get me alone and naked?” she teased, feeling drowsy.
“I wish it were, but it isn’t. I haven’t seen any symptoms like yours around here. Is there an illness you might have inherited?”
“None that I know of, Jace,” she replied after drinking from the canteen he lifted to her mouth, his canteen.
When Leigh felt steady again, Jace shouldered both their weapons and canteens. He placed one arm around her waist and guided her into the jungle. He found a safe spot and halted them. L
eigh took her canteen and drank again, her thirst seeming unquenchable.
“There’s no polite way to say this woman, but strip.”
Leigh’s head whirled and her knees buckled. “I can’t.”
Jace laid her on the verdant ground, working anxiously to undress her. He examined her from head to foot, and found nothing unusual. When she pulled him to her and entreated him to make love to her, he protested. “That isn’t fair, Leigh. You’re ill. I’ll let you rest here, then carry you back to camp. If you aren’t better by tomorrow, I’m getting you to a doctor.”
“I’m completing this safari,” she argued. “Even if I have to remain in camp every day, I’m not canceling it.”
Jace was scared. He didn’t want to lose her permanently. “This isn’t a trick, Leigh. Forget the bet. My only concern is you.”
Dazed, she argued, “Oh, no, you don’t, Mr. Elliott. The safari and wager are on. I owe you four points, so you’d better collect them before we lose count and time. I’d better pay up as we go.”
Leigh was so insistent and seductive that Jace lost his head and made passionate love to her. The tropical world where colorful birds sang, playful monkeys chattered, and exotic flowers bloomed was wildly enticing. It was as if they were secluded from everyone and everything in the lush green haven. Primitive instincts took control.
As they lay nestled together, she murmured, “I’m fine now. I was merely faint from hunger for you.”
“That’s a condition I wouldn’t mind you keeping, woman.” Despite his jesting words, Jace was convinced something was wrong with Leigh. He needed to get her back to camp so he could search it for clues while the others were gone. If he didn’t find anything suspicious, he would need to decide what to do about her illness. He couldn’t be selfish and keep her with him if her life or health was in jeopardy. He also wanted and needed more time with Chad, to open up the man about those crimes, but he had to think of Leigh first.
As Leigh slept on her cot, Jace searched Chad and Reid’s tents to find nothing enlightening. He was disappointed because he wanted to discover a reason for her condition. He walked to the eating tables outside, lifted the canteen lying there, and drank from it. Within moments, his head was spinning like a leaf in a brisk wind. He sat down and shook his head to clear it. When the spell passed, he noticed the canteen on the table was Leigh’s, as each person had one with initials scratched on it. He recalled they had shared his canteen during the return trip, but she had drank from hers before her last dizzy spell and nap.
Jace sniffed the contents to detect no unusual odor. He went to his tent and poured the remaining liquid into a cup. He rinsed her canteen and hung it on the post where all canteens stayed when not in use. Johi filled them each morning from water boiled by a servant, filled Leigh’s with the same water everyone else drank. What had been slipped into hers? By whom and why?
Jace searched the two men’s tents again. He hadn’t missed anything. He was vexed with himself for doing so, but he entered Leigh’s tent to search it while she slept nearby. He knocked over her spare boots, and a small bottle rolled to the ground. He bent and fetched it. White powder was inside. Jace used his handkerchief to take a sample. He returned the bottle to its hiding place. He wondered if she did have an illness she had kept from him and this was medicine. He would try to find out from Chad—without letting his old foe know just what he had discovered.
The others entered camp while Leigh was bathing in the river, and Jace kept guard at a respectable and concealed distance.
Chad approached Jace as he sat on the ground cleaning his pistol. “How is she?”
“Like new. Do you know of any family illness she may have inherited?” Jace inquired, looking at his old friend.
Chad shook his dark head. “Did you ask her?”
“Yep, and she answered the same. Leigh says she doesn’t have any suspicious bites or scratches. She’s taking her quinine; I counted her supply to make certain. She slept most of the day. When she got up, she was fine. Maybe it’s just the heat and climate. We’ll watch her closely. If she continues like this, we’ll have to head back.”
“I understand. The important thing is Leigh, not the money.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, old friend. Since neither of us has made any progress, our bet doesn’t really matter, does it?”
“You’ll still earn the twenty-five-thousand pound salary.”
“What about her bet? You covering it, too?”
“Naturally I’ll pay the thousand pounds, but it isn’t her fault she got sick. No matter, you won it fairly, if she can’t finish our trek.”
“I can see this situation doesn’t upset you. I suppose you wouldn’t mind getting her away from my temptation so you can woo her.”
“What does that mean?” Chad asked.
Jace smiled. “If she stays here, I’ll be after her as soon as she’s well. Leigh Webster is one exciting and beautiful woman.”
“Too bad you can’t follow her back to London,” Chad taunted, “if we have to leave early.”
Jace stood and stretched. “Ah, yes, those charges against me. You could assist me there, old friend.”
Chad looked intrigued. “How could that be?”
“By helping me discover who framed me and Father, how it was carried off, and why it was done. Got any ideas?”
Chad looked at the brown-haired man. “Are you claiming innocence, or just trying to clear yourself?” he challenged.
“You knew Father well enough to know he wasn’t involved.”
“True,” Chad admitted. “But then who do you think did it, and why?”
“You and Webster,” Jace responded in a calm tone.
Chad frowned at him. “When are you going to stop thinking like that? I would never kill Brandon and Stokely to get at you. I liked your father; he was good to me over the years. He was the kindest and gentlest man I knew. After that South African affair, there were bad feelings between you and me, but I’m not that wicked. My quarrel was with you.”
“You hurt Joanna to get back at me,” Jace reminded.
“That had nothing to do with our trouble. It just happened.”
“It wouldn’t have if I’d been home.”
“But you weren’t. Besides, it would have happened between us anyway. Joanna wanted me as much as I wanted her. When you find her, ask her, and you’ll see I’m not lying.” Chad sighed heavily. “I only let you believe it was for spite because our affair upset you so much. You’re the one who came to our home and attacked me. I had to defend myself. Look at the mess we created. I’m tired of this battle, Jace. Revenge doesn’t matter to me anymore.”
Chad coaxed Leigh into taking a private walk. When they were out of sight, he stopped and asked, “Are you sure you’re all right?”
A glowing smile filled her blue eyes. “I’m perfectly fine, Chad. I’m sure it was nothing. It probably won’t happen again.”
“If it does,” he insisted, “I think we should return home.”
Leigh didn’t want to leave this country where her love was exiled. “And let Jace Elliott win my bet? No way. If I have to remain in camp every day, the rest of you will have fun. Today was the worst, so I think it’s over. It was probably one of those brief attacks people get when they visit unfamiliar areas.”
Chad caressed her cheek and smiled. “You do look better. You had me scared and worried. I don’t want anything happening to you. My ward has become very special to me.”
Leigh feared that someone was trying to harm her. She wanted to make certain it wasn’t her guardian. Then she would check out Louisa. To test him, she ventured, “If I decide to sell Webster International, would you like to buy it? I would make it easy and painless for you to obtain the firm.”
Chad was stunned. “Sell the company? You can’t, not even to me. You’ll be good at running it, and I’m eager to work with you. We’ll make a good team, Leigh. That firm’s been in the Webster family for a hundred years. Don’t consider a sa
le too hastily. if you don’t want to run it, I’ll do it.”
She looked at him. “You don’t want to purchase the firm?”
“Of course I do, if you are determined to sell. I love that company and helped enlarge it. But I hope you aren’t serious and you won’t sell it. We can do great things with it, together. I’d like us to get closer, Leigh. I’m very fond of you.”
She was relieved that he appeared honest. He seemed to want both the firm and her but did not appear to crave the business in a threatening manner. She smiled. “And I’m very fond of you, Chad.”
The call came that dinner was ready. Leigh and Chad returned to camp, smiling and chatting.
“You’d think one man was enough for that greedy girl,” Louisa muttered to Jace. “I wonder what she’s planning to do about her fiancé in Texas. Poor Tyler Clark is pining away while she’s chasing Chad.”
Jace glanced at the annoyed redhead. “Who is Tyler Clark? I didn’t know she was betrothed. Chad didn’t mention it to me.”
“He’s the foreman on the ranch her aunt owns in America. Leigh told me and Cynthia all about him, several times. She said she hasn’t decided if she wants him to move to London or if she’ll return to Texas. From the way she’s carrying on with Chad, Tyler might have lost her.”
Jace eyed Leigh and mused on what he’d learned today …
Chapter Fourteen
The following day, Chad suggested they remain in camp to rest and relax, and to make certain Leigh was all right before their trek continued. Everyone agreed, because they were satisfied with their successful hunt for leopard yesterday. As with the rhino head, the leopard’s was sent downriver to Mombasa, along with its exquisite hide.
Whispered Kisses Page 27