“You think Chad wants to kill her to silence her?”
“Yes, but he can’t find her. I can’t either. The reason I was in London was to see Lord Salisbury. It’s due to him I haven’t been arrested. He’s stayed the law and has men from Scotland Yard searching for my stepsister and trying to prove me and Father innocent. I told you before, the two witnesses against us are dead. Chad isn’t one to leave loose ends. I know Joanna is still alive because she’s written to me a few times over the years. Somebody mails letters for her from different ports, so I can’t track her. She’s hiding something, Leigh, and she’s afraid. That night in the garden, I was waiting around to see Salisbury. He left town before I could reach him, and I had to sail the next morning to beat you here. That’s why I didn’t know about William’s sudden death or who you were.”
“What about Grandfather’s will, Jace? I don’t understand it.”
“Neither do I. He and Father were friends, but he didn’t know me. If he was involved in Father’s frame—and mine—that could explain why he felt guilty and made retribution before he died. If he wasn’t, and discovered Chad was, that would explain his curious decision, too. Since he’s dead, we’ll never know the truth. He could have left Fiona included because he didn’t know about her and Reid, or to keep them from getting suspicious and angry. We don’t have any evidence against Chad, except for what Johi overheard. It’s Lord Hamilton’s word against an alleged criminal’s and his best friend’s. I don’t even know if we can have Reid and Fiona investigated and arrested. Hopefully that cable will incriminate them. Maybe we can unmask Cynthia and Louisa. I hate for any of them to get away with this.” Jace looked at Leigh. He smiled. They had talked enough about such terrible matters. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look? Was your outfit supposed to appease my temper and distract me?”
Leigh laughed. “Abena gave me several sarongs. They’re comfortable and cool in this steamy climate … I’ve missed you, Jace.”
He pulled her into his arms. “And I’ve missed you, woman. After what you’ve been through, this isn’t the best time to complete my confession, but I love you.”
Leigh leaned away to look into his eyes. She smiled and refuted. “It’s the best time in the world, Jace, because I love you, too. What a complicated mess we’re in. How will we get out of it?”
“By getting married, if you’ll agree.”
Her pulse raced. “Marry you?”
“That is what I wanted to wager but realized it wasn’t the right time. You know why. I was a fool not to tell you that was my intention all along. I wanted time to win your love and trust. When I feared I didn’t have them and wouldn’t have a chance to get them, I had to act boldly and rashly. I know I don’t have the right to ask you to marry a criminal and exile yourself here with me, but I can’t help myself. As long as Chad thinks we’re dead, he can’t stop us. I wanted to clear my name before offering it to you, but that might be impossible. I love you, Leigh, and I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life without you. As soon as I prove myself to you, will you—”
Her fingers on his lips halted his remaining words. “You don’t have anything to prove, Jace. I believe you; I was only confused for a time. I don’t care about the past or those charges against you. I don’t care if having you costs me my entire inheritance. I love you, and I want to marry you. Name the date and place.”
Jace beamed with joy. “Abena told me the Protestant missionary will be in the village in a few days. Is that too soon?”
“Not soon enough. What shall we do until then?”
Jace smiled and nestled her into his arms. “It’s almost dawn. We’ve talked all night. You must be exhausted. What do you want to do?”
“I want you and need you, Jace.”
“You have me, love.”
“All of you, now. Do I need to explain my meaning?”
He chuckled. “No, Miss Webster, I hear you clearly, thank goodness. I love you and want you so much I might have broken my promise not to seduce you.”
“What about Abena?” she queried.
“I told her not to return to work until I sent for her. I knew we needed privacy to talk.”
“We’re finished talking for now, aren’t we?” she hinted.
Jace stood and pulled her toward him. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to his room. Beside his bed he lowered her bare feet to the floor. Dawn’s first glow lightened the cozy room, creating a romantic aura. Jace loosened the sarong and let it flow to her ankles. He unbuttoned his shirt and removed it. His boots and pants followed the khaki garment to their feet.
Their gazes locked and revealed their inner emotions. They were alone in a dreamy world, safe and together. No longer were they strangers. No barriers were separating them. Their hearts beat as one; their spirits soared in tune; their bodies yearned to join. Neither moved nor spoke for a time, merely savoring their closeness, this special moment in their lives.
Their hearts pounded with intense love, and their bodies burned with passion’s flames. It was strange how just gazing at each other and standing close could have such a powerful effect on them. They smiled. No modesty, reservations, or mistrust, were present.
Jace’s hands captured her face and he lowered his head to hers. The first kiss was leisurely and soft. The second was long and deep. The ensuing ones were swift, urgent, and greedy. His mouth brushed over her face, exploring the tawny surface with delight. His mouth drifted to her ear. “I love you and need you so much. I was afraid I’d never win you. That would have been torture, Leigh.”
His tenderness and desire aroused Leigh to a heady level. Her arms encircled his body and she leaned against him. “I love you, Jace. I was so anxious for you to come home so I could prove it. I wanted to teach you that our love is more important than revenge.” She cuddled closer, adoring the contact of his flesh pressed to hers. She loved his smell. She loved his touch. She loved him with all her being.
Jace’s mouth roamed her throat. He buried his nose in her fragrant hair. His fingers traced over her skin. She was the one woman to complete him. He had no doubts, no hesitation, no fears.
They sank to the bed to kiss and caress. Their bodies pleaded for an immediate union, but they wanted to linger a while at the entrance to paradise. They wanted to stimulate each other, to whet their appetites until they were so ravenous that they feasted wildly.
Jace’s touch was tantalizing, gentle and demanding. His naked body was splendid. Leigh longed to see, feel, touch, and taste every inch of it. His frame was hard and well-toned from physical labor. She felt her senses responding madly to him.
Jace’s mouth journeyed down her throat, leaving fiery and tingly kisses along its path. His lips climbed one mound and claimed its peak. Slowly he traveled to the next one to pleasure both of them. His hands trekked lower and lower, exploring and teasing until she thought she’d explode.
Leigh responded in like fashion by capturing every sensation and by roaming his blazing body. Her hands stroked and enticed; her mouth kissed and enchanted. She knew how much he wanted her, and that sent thrills through her. Her heart overflowed with an abundance of love. It made her bold and brave. She felt hot all over, and couldn’t wait to possess him. Leigh guided him over her.
Jace obeyed her mute request, as he was enduring blissful torment. Control was hard to maintain. His mouth returned to hers.
They breathed, thought, and loved as one. Their desires were so great and their emotions so intense that ecstasy claimed them quickly. Both shuddered and moaned, as they extracted every ounce of pleasure from this reunion. Rhythmically they fused over and over until contentment surrounded them. They snuggled and kissed as their bodies calmed. It had been the most wonderful experience they had shared, because love had been exposed, renewed, and strengthened.
Jace kissed her forehead and hugged her. “It feels so good to have you here with me,” he murmured. “I love this house, but this is the first time it’s seemed like a real home. We’ll make a
fine life together, Leigh.”
She stroked his chest with her fingertips. “Yes, we will. I’m so glad I found you, Jace. We’re going to be happy together.”
Jace closed his eyes and sighed in rapture. He was relaxed, and drowsy, fulfilled in body and spirit. All else could wait.
Leigh felt the same. Happy and sated, she closed her eyes, remained in his arms, and fell asleep.
Leigh and Jace warmed some bread and prepared coffee. They sipped the aromatic liquid and ate bread smeared with jelly.
“Did you grow this coffee?” she asked. “It’s very good.”
“I’m afraid not, but you can enjoy our new crop by spring.”
“I love that word,” she murmured with a glowing smile.
“What word?” he asked.
“Our. I can hardly believe we’ll be married soon. I never dreamed I would find a man as wonderful, handsome, and virile as you. I’m very lucky, Mr. Elliott.”
Jace captured her hand in his. His gaze locked with hers. “I’m the lucky one, Leigh. I have you. If Louisa hadn’t pulled that waterfront stunt so we could meet before we discovered each other’s identities, this romance could have been hard and long in coming.”
Leigh nodded. “Bad as she was, she did one good thing; she got us together at the best time. When I had lunch with her and Cynthia in London, she made a toast: ‘May the best woman bring home the best prize.’ Well, I won the best trophy of the entire safari.”
“Do you have any objections to making this our home?” Jace inquired. “It is secluded, and it can be dangerous.”
“I love it, Jace. It’s so beautiful and comfortable. You’re a clever man. I’m impressed with your water system.”
He beamed with pride. “I saw it during my travels. It certainly does make life easier and nicer. So do you, woman.”
She nuzzled her cheek against his hand. “It’s both tranquil and exciting here, Jace. It already feels like home. I hate to leave it to …”
He knew she had halted to prevent spoiling their tender morning. “I know, love, but they have to be exposed and punished. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this morning and I have a clever plan.”
“Let the law do it for us, Jace. Don’t get into more trouble. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
Jace rose, walked behind her, and kissed the top of her head. “I promise, no violence on my part. I’ll let the authorities handle almost everything. But I will do whatever necessary to protect us.”
Leigh looked up at him and smiled in relief. “I understand and agree. What do we do until November?”
Jace bent over and kissed her lips before answering. As he was taking his chair again, he said, “It’ll take them three weeks to reach London. They should dock about July first. Fiona should reach home about the same time. If we sail as soon as we’re married, we’ll be five weeks behind them. With luck, Reid and Fiona will be together, proving our charges. I’ll let Lord Salisbury know we’re coming. We have to defeat them now, love.”
“We can’t go; you’ll be arrested. If it means endangering you, I don’t care about the money and firm, and I don’t care about punishing them. Until you’re cleared and safe, I can’t let you go to London.”
“Don’t be frightened, love. This mess must be straightened out. The only way to do that is go in for questioning. Even if I can’t exonerate my father or dispel all suspicions about me, I have to clear myself. I’m giving you a blackened name; I’d like to clean it up for both of us, and our children. You do want children, don’t you?”
“Yours, yes. But I don’t want you to take such a risk. What if our testimonies and evidence aren’t enough to clear you and convict them? It’s too great a gamble, Jace.”
He reasoned with a tender gaze and gentle voice, “I have to try. I need to get the past behind me. If I tell the truth, and they can’t prove I’m lying and don’t have any fake evidence I’m ignorant of, they’ll have to close the case and release me. What kind of future can we have with this black cloud hanging over us? We’d be exiled here permanently. We both have business interests in London. You have the firm and I have coffee to market. Too, Chad and Reid are still threats to us. Until they’re arrested and imprisoned, we’ll have to keep looking over our shoulders. We don’t want to live that way, love, and I doubt they’ll wait long to make sure we’re dead. Right now we have the advantage of surprise.”
“You’re right, Jace, but I’m frightened for you, for us.”
“Now that we have each other, everything will work out fine. There doesn’t seem any way to clear my father, so I might as well accept that fact. I have to think about us first. My father would understand.”
Leigh realized how much Jace Elliott had changed. She smiled.
“What is that sly grin for, woman?” Jace asked.
“I’m so happy, Jace. I know everything will work out for us.”
Jace put their dishes in the sink. “Would you like some fresh air and exercise?” he asked. “I need to check the fields. It’s been months since I was home. Would you like to see them?”
“Yes,” she replied in excitement.
“You’ll need to change clothes, put on boots, and get your topee. It’s hot beneath that sun. I don’t want you suffering heat stroke.”
Leigh hurried to don a shirt, long skirt, boots, and pith helmet. She joined Jace outside. The gate was unlocked and opened. She walked to him and teased, “No more prison, my tricky captor?”
Pulling her into his embrace, he replied, “Only these arms and my determination never to lose you.” He kissed her.
Holding hands, smiling, and chatting, they walked past the towering shed where the coffee beans were cured and bagged. The area around it was cleared. Jace explained how the cherries were spread out beneath the sun and turned several times a day for even drying. It required more time than the “wet process,” but sufficient water for that was unavailable. Afterward, the beans were graded, sorted, bagged, and stored until transported to Mombasa for shipment to England.
As they walked, Jace related all he knew about growing coffee, and Leigh listened with great interest. The bushes were tropical evergreens, and each flower contained two seeds, called cherries. Shrubs had to be planted at the right time, the beginning of the rainy season, and groomed frequently. They did not start producing until three to four years later. It required nine months between blooming of white flowers and maturing of the seeds. When reddish-purple, the fruit was gathered by hand, by his Kikuyu workers.
“Coffee from this protectorate is considered some of the best in the world. The man who owned this place before me only brought in one crop before giving up and selling to me. He didn’t like the seclusion or the time involved. His wife hated the heat and dangers.”
“I don’t,” Leigh said and squeezed his hand.
As they roamed through the fields that seemed to stretch for miles, Jace checked his bushes and spoke to workers. She met all of Jace’s employees, including Kambu, the overseer of his plantation. He told her about the loss of his last crop to disease. Occasionally they cooled themselves beneath thatched sheds where workers did the same. It was vital not to overheat the body in this sultry location.
They encountered Abena who had brought food and water to her husband, one of Jace’s workers. The woman exposed white teeth as she smiled at the loving couple. “You see, Bwana Jace good man.”
Leigh laughed at her implication. She glanced at Jace and said, “Yes, Abena, a very wonderful man, and I love him. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I was mixed up at times. I’m sorry.”
They chatted, then Jace told the African woman, “I’m marrying her as soon as the missionary arrives. Tell Ka’arta to send him to me.”
Upon return to the walled yard, Leigh and Jace sat in the swing. They savored their closeness and deep love while Abena prepared their evening meal. When it was done, the Kikuyu woman left for the night. Jace and Leigh ate, then washed the dishes.
“Where
is Johi?” she inquired.
“He returned to the village. He goes on safari with me, then works around here when we’re home. Maybe when he hears we’re getting married, he’ll take the leap with Ka’arta.”
“That would be nice. I like Johi. Tell me something, my love; why were your office and bedroom doors locked?”
“Abena was afraid you’d get a weapon and try to escape, or go through my stuff. She’s very loyal and protective of me.”
“I know. I almost made an enemy of her by insulting you. I’m glad I was wrong, and you were, too. I’ll see you in a little while. I want to freshen up. It’s so hot.” Leigh went to take a bath.
Jace entered the room. “Mind if I join you this time? It’s a big tub, and you did invite me to share such a pleasure in the jungle. I don’t have to tell you how many times that offer has haunted me.”
Leigh laughed and moved inside. “Why not?”
Jace stripped and slid in behind her. His legs stretched out on either side of her body. Leigh leaned her head against his chest. His arms wrapped over hers. Her hair was pulled atop her head; its lengthy ends grazed and tickled his shoulder. They relaxed.
When she spoke, it was with jest words. “At least you don’t have to worry about your bathwater getting chilled here.”
Jace lifted a cloth and soap. He lathered it and washed her back, neck, and arms. His hand rounded her body and moved the soapy cloth over her breasts, teasing the rosy-brown tips.
Leigh leaned her head backward and Jace nibbled on her ear. She turned her face to him to kiss him. Jace moved the cloth over her stomach and between her thighs. Leigh shifted to allow his stimulating action. Soon she was mindless with desire for him.
She twisted in the tub and rested on her shins. She took the cloth from him and lathered it again. She covered his neck, chest, shoulders, and arms with suds. As she rinsed them off, her gaze met his.
Jace’s hands grasped her head and pulled her mouth to his. Leigh wiggled her legs on either side of him, between his hips and the tub. As they kissed urgently, she straddled him. With boldness and need, she positioned herself on his erect manhood.
Whispered Kisses Page 41