Page 72 of In the Heat of the Jungle

“I mean the second one,” Louisa divulged.

“What second one?”

Louisa took great delight in revealing what she had discovered in Leigh’s tent. If Chad was duping her, this news would change matters. “Do you believe me now? With all that’s happened, you and Leigh have both lost your bets to Jace. That’s why I think he’s behind these curious events, just to win. If Jace marries Leigh, you’ll lose everything. I’ve tried to interfere by making Cynthia sleep in her tent, but I can’t do it all the time. They’re making a fool of you behind your back. I bet Jace is licking his lips in anticipation of revealing the truth to you. I’ve never liked or trusted that little witch. You’re so smitten by her you can’t see through her pretense. She’s smart and selfish. She fools everyone with her angelic face and false behavior. I was so afraid she’d take you away that I’ve been acting badly.”

Louisa glued her gaze to Chad’s. “There’s another clue you missed, lover: if Leigh lost her locket at the waterfront, how was she wearing it that day she had lunch with me and Cynthia? She wore it beneath her dress, but I saw it when she tried on a gown. How, when, and where did Jace return it,ifshe only saw him once? I bet he sneaked into her London suite and they got real acquainted between the sheets.”

Chad narrowed his glacial blue eyes. “That deceitful bitch! That bastard! They won’t get away with tricking me. Jace will never marry Leigh and get her inheritance. I’ll make certain of it. Don’t worry about me loving that guileful twit. I’m marrying you, Louisa, as soon as I get control of the firm. Until this safari ends, we’ll be the best friends Leigh has. Understand?”

~*~

Leigh had hurried from her tent to investigate the commotion. She watched Jace drag the daring but reckless animal from camp. She lifted the tea kettle and poured herself a cup. As she sipped it, Jace returned. They exchanged probing looks.

“How are you?”

“Better now, thank you.” She had withdrawn from Jace and now all she wanted to do was run away with him. Would he marry her if she sold out to Chad and agreed? How would he feel about the sale to his old enemy, a sale including all he had lost to her grandfather? What would Chad do and say about such an event? According to Jace, and she believed him, Chad had full authority over her and her actions until she was twenty-one. If only those two men didn’t distrust each other, everything would be fine. How much did each want vengeance? Where did she fit into their puzzle?

“That was a close call, Leigh.”

“It was an accident, wasn’t it?”

Jace knew his answer would control her emotions and actions. “I plan to find out as soon as possible.”

Their talk ceased as Chad and Louisa returned. Chad and Jace looked at each other. Louisa poured the couple a glass of wine.

“How about you, Leigh? It’ll calm the nerves.”

“No, thanks. Hot tea is fine. Are you all right? That must have been a terrible scare.” From the redhead’s reaction after the incident, Leigh felt it hadn’t been intentional, not on Louisa’s part …

Louisa inhaled, then released the spent air. “It was terrifying, but it’s over now. I’m glad you’re safe. And the others, too. I could have wounded someone badly. Did you examine the rifle, Jace? We heard gunfire.”

Jace related the killing of the marauding jackal. “That doesn’t happen often. He smelled fresh meat and thought he could sneak off with our dinner.” Jace hadn’t been given time to deliberate what he had overheard. He wondered how Louisa knew about the fort incident. He should have taken in the whole conversation.

Cynthia and Reid, who had been in their tent, joined them. They were smiling at each other, and everyone noticed the drastic change in their moods. They, too, poured wine.

“The bearers are packing up,” Jace informed the group. “We’ll move out in the morning. I know a good place for elephants.”

“I’d like to speak with you privately, Jace.”

“Fine, Chad. Let’s take a walk.”

All the while they walked along the jungle trail, Chad was wondering if Jace was behind some of those incidents, as Louisa suggested. To provoke information, he asked bluntly, “Is there anything serious between you and Leigh? Are you plotting and using these so-called accidents to get my ward into your arms? I don’t like her being endangered just to win a bet.”

Jace stared at the man. He knew why Chad was angry and suspicious: because of Louisa’s accusations. He had to stay away from Leigh in private. He knew Chad had lied to his mistress and used the redhead. But Louisa’s charge about getting both of them with one scheme sounded logical. Yet what had him worried was Chad’s firm belief that Leigh would never be won by Jace Elliott. He had to be careful. “Whatever I answer, old friend, you wouldn’t believe me. But I’ll respond anyway. No, nothing has happened between me and that beautiful creature. Not that I haven’t tried or wanted it to, but she’s too innocent to charm quickly. Since we’re being honest for a change, I’ll tell you what I suspect. I think you’re responsible, and you’re questioning me to throw me off guard. I think you’re trying to find a way to end this safari and our bet before I have time to win it. I think you want to get Leigh out of my reach and back to London, where only you can work on her. I warn you, I won’t let her be killed or hurt.”

Chad exploded like a short-fused stick of dynamite. “You think I’m trying to harm Leigh? Are you crazy?”

Jace used his skills and wits to explore this perilous territory. “Harm her and kill her, no way, old boy. You just want to scare her into your arms and away from me. You want her to believe I’m plotting against her. She told me you can’t inherit even a sixpence if she died, that Webster’s holdings will go to two friends. I bet that shocked you and your mother. No, you don’t want her dead; you need to marry her to keep all you have and to get the rest. You aren’t fooling me with that redhead. If your jealous mistress is playing deadly games, you’d stop her, or neither of us has a chance of winning our wager. I’m warning you, don’t try to sneak out on me.”

“What will you do? Track us home for revenge?”

“Is that why you dangled that tasty bait before me? You hoped I’d be so ensnared I’d lose my wits and follow her home where the law would get final revenge for you. It won’t work, Chad. If I don’t win the bet here, I’m not leaving. If I do win her heart, will her guardian give us permission to marry after the safari?”

“No. If Leigh chooses you over me, it’ll be November before you can collect. Until then, I’ll do and say all I can to change her mind.”

“I thought as much, so what good is our wager?”

“If Leigh says she wants to marry you in November, you’ll be the winner and I’ll pay off before leaving here. If she doesn’t, you haven’t won. Did Leigh tell you she’s planning to sell me the business?”

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