Whispered Kisses

by Taylor, Janelle

  Seeing such a beautiful creature slain to mount its head on a wall and to use its skin for a cape took away part of Leigh’s enjoyment of the safari. She was glad the British government had placed controls on how many leopards could be slain and was trying to halt poachers, as it would be a crime to see them vanish from existence one day.

  Three-fourths of the bearers packed up extra goods and supplies, and everything the party could do without for a while. Chad helped Leigh gather her un-needed items and placed them before her tent. The sleek, dark-skinned carriers headed for the next campsite, to clear the area and prepare it for use, and to avoid the slower pace of the safari group. The hunting party was to leave early the next morning.

  While Leigh and the others enjoyed a cooling swim, Jace searched his lover’s tent once more to find the bottle of powder gone. While one of his men stood guard, Jace searched the other tents, finding nothing.

  When Johi returned to camp, he told Jace, “The animal walked strange. He was weak, thirsty. He slept in danger. It is bad sign.”

  Jace was puzzled and unnerved. “I looked in her tent, Johi; it’s gone. She doesn’t have to lose her bet on purpose to have me. But if she got sick and had to be taken home, or pretended she was, what could I do? I have to question her. I don’t like the fact she’s to marry someone and hasn’t told me. And I don’t like how friendly she is with Chad.” His green eyes were full of conflicting emotions.

  “Jace ana wivu sana,” Johi hinted.

  Jace scowled. “No, Jace is not very jealous.”

  “We hunt nyati, simba, tembo, soon. Must clear head.”

  “I’ll be ready to stalk buffalo, lion, and elephant, my friend. First, Leigh has some explaining to do. It could be someone hid that bottle there for me to find, so I’d blame her and doubt her. Or figured that was the last place I would search. That sneaky redhead is mighty jealous of Chad and Leigh. Watch her closely. As for my old friend, I know how deceitful he can be.”

  By nightfall, Leigh hadn’t mentioned the missing bottle to Jace, so it wasn’t medicine she needed. Nor had she mentioned the sweetheart awaiting her return in America. It was clear she did not suspect Chad of mischief, because she was too friendly with her guardian. Jace was disturbed. He couldn’t forget the incidents in London, at the fort, and with her unloaded weapon. Yet they could have been all accidents.

  Jace didn’t want to panic Leigh, but he was worried about so many “accidents” atop this one with her canteen, which was clearly intentional. He had ordered Johi to make sure he handed Leigh her canteen as soon as it was filled, allowing no time for tampering. If Leigh was to blame, why? If not, who was framing her, and why? And was the motive potentially lethal? All he could do was wait and watch.

  Chad noticed how tense Jace was, and knew why. While helping Leigh pack, he had recovered the tiny bottle from Leigh’s boot to realize part of the powder was missing. He had hidden it there each day because it should be the last place Jace looked if his suspicions were aroused. To make certain Jace could not confront Leigh and the others with the bottle, he had discarded it in an abandoned termite mound during a private walk this morning while Jace, Johi, and the others were busy. If Jace made a fuss, he had no evidence. Besides, the drugging powder had affected Leigh so strongly, especially yesterday. Too, he could expose himself by pressing her to go home, as Jace had hinted accurately at his guilt and motive. All he needed to do was be patient, persistent, and charming. If Jace or Leigh became a problem, he could use the altered contract to—

  Louisa nudged Chad and asked a second time, “Don’t you think Leigh’s better today? I was worried about her.”

  “Really?” Chad chuckled and taunted.

  “Of course I was. If anything happens to your ward so soon after William’s death, it might look strange to the authorities. It’s to your advantage and safety, lover, to see that she stays alive and well.”

  Chad looked at her. “I hadn’t thought of that, Louisa,” he remarked, “but I’ve always tried to take good care of her. You didn’t have anything to do with this odd illness, did you?”

  Louisa glared at him. “Don’t be absurd. As your … lover, I could be considered an accomplice if she died suspiciously. We had better make certain little Leigh returns to London in excellent health. I think Jace is responsible for her troubles.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “I’m not blind or stupid, Chad. You two hate each other. And Jace does have that silly wager with Leigh, and that large bet with you.”

  “I told you it was to trick Jace into working for me. But if you get jealous and tattle to Leigh about it, love you or not, I’ll have to squash you like one of these pesty insects.”

  As if teasing, Chad laughed as he mashed the bug into bloody pieces, but Louisa knew he was serious, and dangerous. “I only meant that I doubt Jace views it as a joke. A lot of money and his pride are involved. Whether or not you realize it, lover, Jace is wooing Leigh. I tried to ensnare him as you requested, but he spurned my charms. He said it was to prevent trouble with you and Leigh. Sorry, but I can’t distract him from his goal. That bruises me something awful.”

  “Don’t worry about it. You did your best. Thanks, Louisa.”

  “Our best isn’t enough, Chad. From the way I see it, she owes him a thousand pounds for being unable to take the hardships of this safari. Would Jace pull this deceit to win a meager bet with her? Or use it to score points with her by playing her concerned friend and fearless protector? Would he try to spite you by harming her?”

  “Seduce her, if he could; but harm her, never.”

  “Aren’t you forgetting he’s a dangerous criminal?”

  “Alleged criminal,” Chad corrected.

  “You can’t argue he’s a desperate and resentful man.”

  “But a fair and honest one. Don’t worry. She’s fine now. I’m sure Jace wouldn’t endanger Leigh’s health and life for either or both bets. Just don’t get edgy when it looks as if I’m wooing her. It’ll only be a pretense to safeguard my bet with him.”

  “I asked Cynthia to sleep in Leigh’s tent tonight and to keep an eye on your ward. She’ll call us if Leigh has any more problems. I’m sure Reid won’t miss her tonight. They aren’t getting along well.”

  “That’s a shame. We make a good foursome.”

  Louisa didn’t know why Chad was defending Jace, or which man was responsible for Leigh’s spells. Maybe Chad was getting anxious about his wager with Jace and was using a way to get Leigh out of the jungle man’s reach. Or maybe, Jace was to blame for making Leigh lose their private wager, or to win Chad’s. True or not, it gave her the opportunity to point a guilty finger at Jace Elliott for what would happen next. During the episodes, she had been careful with her words and expressions to make herself appear innocent when Leigh had her next and last accident. Chad didn’t know it, but Jace stood to gain a lot more than a thousand pounds from Leigh Webster. Louisa knew she had to get rid of the blonde before they left Africa, because it was easier here. “Since Leigh’s better, we won’t have to return home early. That’s good.”

  “Are you finally enjoying yourself?”

  She smiled and licked her lips. “Yes. It took a little adjusting, but it’s wonderful. Of course, today wasn’t the best, not with so many of our nice things taken ahead. When do I get me a trophy?”

  As the redhead skillfully caressed and aroused Chad, he replied, “Soon, my sweet. We’re aiming for cape buffalo at our next camp. We leave in the morning, so we should get to sleep.”

  As she trailed her fingers over Chad’s shirt, she felt the scars underneath and wondered if Jace was involved in that painful mystery. With their cots gone and sharing a bedroll, Louisa murmured, “We should take advantage of this last night of privacy for a while.”

  Chad seized her and agreed, pretending she was Leigh …

  Restless, Chad left Louisa’s embrace without disturbing her. He found Reid outside, a cup in one hand and a bottle in the other. The campf
ire was aglow as usual to chase away darkness and predators. Chad approached his friend and asked, “Couldn’t sleep, either?”

  “Not tonight. I’m worried about you, Chad. You’re too charmed by your ward to think clearly. If I were you, I’d be worried, too.”

  “About what?” the dark-haired man, inquired in intrigue.

  “About your wild plan and Jace Elliott.”

  “Everything’s going great, Reid. What has you troubled?”

  “I don’t agree that you’re winning. Leigh offered to sell the business to you, not marry you. It sounds to me as if she doesn’t plan to remain in London. I find it strange and unsettling that she changed her mind after meeting Jace. If I didn’t know you were behind those drugging incidents, I would think Jace was up to mischief.”

  “You worry too much, Reid. The bottle’s gone, and I’ve been keeping our contract in my pocket lately so Jace won’t find it and see what I added above his signature. He’s been doing fine, no problems.”

  “That’s my point, Chad. Considering your entwined past, Jace’s suspicions about you and William, and what you two wagered—doesn’t it strike you odd that he’s not making any trouble or any overtures to Leigh? They were alone most of the day, and she was bathing when we returned. While strolling around, I made, a curious discovery. Her tent, just hers, has a secret entrance at the back corner. For all we know, Jace has been sneaking in and out during the entire trip. I’ve been observing their behavior. I think he’s already won the bet, and he’s just waiting for the best moment to cram it down your throat.”

  In the dense jungle, their second temporarily permanent camp was ready upon their arrival. They had traveled through bushed grassland and thicket, journeying northwestward along the Tanzania. border for several days before halting there. They had crossed the Amboseli Plains near the Chyulu Range. Eight to ten days’ walk to their north lay the foothills of the Great Rift, and Nairobi.

  Jace hadn’t been given a chance to talk privately with Leigh. They had slept on bedrolls beneath individual tents of mosquito netting, instead of using the time and energy to set up and break a large camp each day. During their walks, Chad had kept Leigh close to him, laughing and joking and talking with her. It seemed to Jace that Chad was making a stronger move on his love. Jace was getting edgy with the new situation and with the denial of her company. Yet Leigh hadn’t had any more problems. For that, he was glad.

  Two hours after reaching camp and settling in, Jace and Johi left to scout the area for game: buffalo haunts.

  Louisa and Cynthia returned to camp with wet heads. The area was safe, so the group had been told they could have more freedom in this location. Reid and Chad were playing chess, drinking, and listening to music on the gramophone. Leigh had been resting and reading, but came outside to join the others for hot tea at four. The head servant, Mkwawa, served it with tinned sweetcakes, and left.

  “That was wonderful, Leigh,” Louisa said. “You should have gone with us. There’s a marvelous rock-enclosed pool not far away. Jace marked the trail with rags tied to bushes. It’s so cool and clear.”

  Leigh watched the woman put away her rifle and rub her curry-colored hair with a drying cloth. Having been drinking for two hours, Reid and Chad separately excused themselves into the jungle for a time. Cynthia took a chair at the table and began to comb her hair. This site was hot and steamy. To Leigh, a bath sounded nice, especially if Jace sneaked a visit later. “I’ll go after I finish my tea.”

  When Chad finally returned, he asked his ward, “Do you think you should take a bearer to guard you? They’re camped in the next clearing. Mkwawa can assign one.”

  Leigh didn’t care to have a stranger nearby during such a private moment, and the other women had encountered no trouble alone. She smiled at him. “I always keep my derringer in my bag. I’ll fire a shot if danger strikes. Be back later.”

  “Just follow the marked trail, to the right when it forks. It’s simple to find,” Louisa told her. “Do you need to borrow anything?”

  “Thanks, but I have everything I need.” Leigh entered her tent.

  Reid and Chad went to a small crate to select another bottle of wine. “It’s odd she didn’t go with Cynthia and Louisa,” Reid hinted. “You think she’s secretly meeting Jace? He is out of camp, and he’s been watching her mighty intently. I think something’s going on, and it’ll cost you everything if it isn’t stopped.”

  Chad looked at Reid. “No, it won’t. I’ve taken precautions.”

  “Flirting with her won’t change matters if it’s too late.”

  “Wooing isn’t what I have in mind, old friend. Wait and see.”

  When the men rejoined the women at the table, Chad grinned at Louisa and suggested, “Why don’t we sneak inside while she’s gone?” Chad glanced at Reid and Cynthia and remarked, “You should relax, too. Maybe a little … recreation will do wonders for both of you.”

  Reid nodded and Cynthia shrugged, and both agreed to comply.

  Leigh gathered clothes from her packs and lifted her grooming bag with her bathing supplies. Through the net-covered entrance to her tent, Leigh saw the two couples go inside. She decided to give them plenty of time for privacy. She surmised that Chad couldn’t be too eager for her and her holdings or he wouldn’t continue carrying on with Louisa. Unless, of course, the virile lord needed appeasement badly and frequently; she had heard that some men did.

  She left camp and walked the verdant trail, its foliage heavy on both sides and above her. She hummed music from the gramophone and halted here and there to look at unusual flowers and plants. She was distracted by worries. She wanted to be totally honest with her love, but felt that was impossible at this time. She was certain Jace didn’t know about the codicil and, even if he did, he wouldn’t be a threat to her. She trusted Jace Elliott, but he did have secrets. She didn’t know how facing prison or execution affected a person or what it compelled one to do for exoneration and survival; yet, she felt safe with him.

  Leigh prayed that her grandfather was blameless for the Elliotts’ troubles. She hoped that William had made out the codicil to lessen Jace’s resentment and suspicions. But to enlighten her love at this early date would have the opposite effect. She couldn’t guess how he would react to such a discovery. She didn’t want him to feel duped, which he might. She didn’t want an angered man to end the safari before she could expose her good intentions. Jace didn’t seem impulsive or rash or vindictive, but he had suffered a lot and was in peril.

  Leigh needed more time and closeness with Jace before that stunning revelation. She did not want to damage their budding relationship by inspiring him to doubt her reason for coming to Africa and for yielding to him. William had a reason for including Brandon’s son in his will, and perhaps Jace would unknowingly reveal it. Her grandfather obviously knew Jace was trustworthy, as William would not tempt a dangerous man to harm her for revenge and greed. If Jace came to love her and staked a marital claim on her, he would understand and forgive her protective silence. Jace already mistrusted Chad and her grandfather, and had mistrusted her in the beginning, so enlightening him soon was too much of a risk. Jace needed time to get to know her better and want her even more, and to get reacquainted with his old friend. By the time the safari was over, her love would know she could be trusted, and hopefully she would find her guardian could be, too. It would be wonderful if the two men could bury their pasts and become friends again.

  In time she would explain everything to Jace. For now, silent observation seemed best. Her curious illness had passed and she was feeling marvel—

  The bushes wiggled to her left. Leigh glanced that way and saw ferns and other greenery trembling. No growl reached her ears, but something of size was disturbing the location. Perhaps someone was playing a trick on her. Thinking of Jace and time alone together, she grinned. “Who’s there?” she asked, trying not to laugh aloud.

  There was no response. Bushes and plants moved again. Leigh’s smile faded as she sc
anned the area. Goosebumps danced over her body. Instinct warned of danger. She fumbled for her derringer. It wasn’t in the bag, and her anxiety mounted. She always kept the weapon there, so she hadn’t brought a rifle. How foolish she had been, and where was her gun? Leigh tossed the bathing bag aside and grabbed a broken tree limb for protection. It was short and weak, but anything was better than being unarmed. “This isn’t funny. Who’s there?” Still no response: no voice, no growl, no lunge at her. Leigh began to back away with caution, gluing her eyes to the suspicious location. Lush green leaves moved again, closer to her, but she couldn’t see anyone or anything. Maybe, she thought, it was one of the bearers hunting or strolling. But no, she reasoned, they would answer.

  “Who’s there?” she demanded. Surely an animal would have fled or attacked by now. She was vexed and frightened. She dared not plunge into the ocean of green to remove her fears. She stood tense and still. The movement ceased. Leigh assumed it was a small animal and she had frightened it; yet she remained apprehensive. An eerie silence encased her; even the wildlife was strangely quiet and motionless. She realized she couldn’t hear the gramophone. She must have walked too far. She should return to camp for a weapon and perhaps a guard. As she turned in the narrow path, there was brisk movement in that direction, cutting off her retreat. Watching that area closely, she began to back away again. Something was out there and it was a threat to her. Suddenly her feet gave way and she slipped. To her horror, she realized why: quicksand.

  Leigh screamed, “Help! Chad! Reid! Help! Jace! Mkwawa! Help! I’m in quicksand. Hurry!”

  There was no response. The engulfing foe sucked greedily at her entrapped body. Jace’s words came to mind: “Don’t struggle; it pulls you deeper. Stay limp and get control. You can float on your back in quicksand, but working slow is vital.”