Page 75 of In the Heat of the Jungle

She took a breath and continued her ruse. “What I can’t figure out is, if he needs to marry me to win or to get my holdings, why not woo me or lose to me? Unless he doesn’t trust either of us to honor our wagers. On the other hand, perhaps he can’t lose to me because he’s guilty and can’t clear himself. Or he assumes one night with him will soil me so much that you’d never want me and he’d have revenge on you and the Websters. I don’t grasp his motives. I think it all hinges on how much he hates you and Grandfather, and on how far he’ll go for vengeance. And on whether or not he knows of that codicil. I’ve watched him, but I haven’t uncovered any clues. He also told me about your claims of love and marriage,” Leigh added, “and he’s hinted that you and Louisa are trying to get rid of me.”

Chad grasped her hands and gazed into her eyes. His voice carried a pleading note as he said, “Surely you didn’t believe him.”

Leigh withdrew her hands. “Frankly, I don’t know what or whom I believe. Both of you have tricked me, and tried to use me for your own gains. I can’t understand why you would do such a thing to me. I’m a stranger to Jace Elliott and he could have just cause to beguile me, but you didn’t. I’m hurt and disappointed. We’ll complete the safari, then see what happens.” Leigh turned and left him standing there.

Chad feared that Jace and Louisa had misled him. He realized that Louisa shouldn’t have known about the fort attack. He had dropped his new plan too swiftly and rashly. Perhaps there was still a chance of winning Leigh and the bet with Jace. He should have known this sweet and innocent angel couldn’t be wicked and devious. It was incredible, but he truly loved and desired her. Chad rushed and stopped her at the edge of the clearing. “Leigh, I love you. Please let me prove it. I’ll do anything you say. You can test me and punish me, but forgive me. Please love me and marry me. Before the ceremony, we’ll get a lawyer and I’ll sign away all rights to everything you own. I swear it. Let me prove myself to you, prove it’s you I want, not the money.”

Leigh observed her handsome guardian. No matter how much Lord Chadwick Hamilton had lied to her, she was certain he was telling the truth at this moment. That astonished her, swayed her broken heart, and convinced her dazed mind. Jace should have told her about that awful contract. If she confronted him, he would give a logical explanation that she could not disprove, or believe, at this late date. Jace had deceived her in the worst way. She looked at Chad. “All I can promise is to think seriously about your proposal, Chad. I believe you, and I’m very fond of you. No matter what happens between us, you’ll always be a part of Webster International, if I don’t decide to sell it to you. Just remember your promise to keep the truth from Jace, as I have. It’s been difficult at times not to tell him everything and get the past cleared up, but I don’t know how he would deal with such facts. We came here to study him, and we have. He doesn’t know anything, so we’re safe. Let’s keep it that way. Agreed?”

“Agreed. I’m going to guard you, Leigh. I swear I won’t let anything or anyone harm you. I’m relieved that you’ve kept what your grandfather did a secret. If he knew, Jace would kill both of us.”

“Perhaps, and perhaps not. He trusts me and desires me. Mr. Jace Elliott isn’t hard to fool. As I told you, I have no intention of honoring my secret wager with him. If he tries to follow me back to London to collect, he’ll be arrested. Let’s go. I need a drink.”

~*~

Jace kept his seat on the ground behind the bush near where they had halted. As soon as he could get away from Reid Adams’s questions, he had tried to sneak up on Leigh to see what he could learn. He had been too distant for listening, until they had paused nearby. What he had discovered staggered him, and he wished he knew the rest of their conversation. Pain knifed his heart, and fury burned hot and destructive inside his head. A ravenous hunger for revenge chewed at his tormented gut. As first suspected, he was the target of a cunning plot. But Leigh Webster was pulling the strings to her puppet Chad. He had never seen his old friend behave this way before. Apparently Louisa was being duped and framed to hide their guilt. All of those incidents had been to ensnare him. Leigh had lied to him. She had gone too far to beguile him. She had won his love. She had lowered his guard and dazed his keen wits. He had let her get to him and enchant him, just as Chad had done. She would pay!

~*~

In camp later, darkness engulfed the site. After finishing the strong Scotch, Leigh’s anguish numbed a little. Knowing she couldn’t trust Jace hurt deeply and intensely. Knowing she couldn’t trust Chad, or the others, alarmed her. She just wanted to get out of this steamy jungle. She wanted to go home to her aunt Jenna. She wanted to exchange her new problems for her old familiar ones. She left the table and walked to loosen taut muscles. Jace swaggered to her and grinned, a sly and devilish expression.

“I’m seven points ahead, Miss Webster. It looks as if I’ll win our little wager. You owe me one passionate kiss and six extra glorious nights. Maybe the ship will need repairs again to give you time to pay up. If not, we’ll figure something out. Maybe I’ll sneak into London again and you can help me in two ways.”

Leigh was astounded by his words and mood. “You’ve been eating loco weed. I’m not an animal in one of your traps. You’ve been paid plenty for any honest debt I might have incurred. As for the rest, I can’t be blamed for accidents or for carelessness on the parts of others. This wager is a farce to get at me. It’s over, Jace.”

“I’m afraid it isn’t, my golden lioness. That wasn’t our deal. Until you lose the contracted bet, points can’t be tallied and payments can’t be made. You owe me one kiss and six nights so far.”

“You’re a deceitful beast, Jace Elliott. I haven’t lost fairly, so I’m not paying for a crime I didn’t commit.”

“That isn’t my fault, my wild beauty. A bargain is a bargain. I warned you to think hard and long before giving me your word. You’ll have to stick to it. I’ll be watching you closely to make certain you don’t turn coward or traitor on me. Just so the others won’t get suspicious, I’ll keep my distance until the safari is over. Maybe you’ll be hungrier for me by then and be a tigress in bed. Good night, love.”

Leigh gaped at him, glad her back was to the camp so the others couldn’t see her expression. She was also glad they were preoccupied in a card game so no one would interrupt or overhear. She couldn’t get Jace’s wager with Chad off her mind, but she thought it unwise to mention that knowledge. She couldn’t understand how he could sign such a wanton wager, even if done before their love affair. The man that she loved was suddenly a mystery to her, and possibly worse. “You’re only two points ahead, Mr. Elliott. You’ve endangered my life five times, so that’s five points in my favor.”

The handsome guide looked her up and down. “How do you figure that, Leigh? I know how I’ve earned my score: one scream during the rhino hunt for a kiss, three nights for being endangered by drugs three times, a night for quicksand peril, two nights for being endangered during the buffalo and rhino hunts to equal six extra nights and seven points in my favor. Where did your score come from?”

“You didn’t tell me about the powder in my canteen three times, so my life was imperiled by your careless oversight and lack of defense. My gun was unloaded or mishandled during a dangerous hunt, putting my life in jeopardy, since you’re in charge of weapons. The same applies to my last point: your carelessness with a broken weapon nearly caused Louisa to shoot me. Since Johi is your hired man, you’re responsible for mistakes he or the others make. That’s five points for getting me into trouble or peril, as per your rule two, Mr. Elliott.”

Jace grinned and shrugged. “That’s very cunning, Miss Webster. But I’m still two ahead and I will win. By the way, since I broke rule two five times at five kisses each, when do you want to collect those twenty-five tasty tokens? Just let me know. I’ll be obliging.”

Leigh watched him stroll away, whistling. He had won another battle with his quick and keen wits. She was unnerved again.We’ll see who wins our final battle, Jace,she vowed to herself.It could have been so wonderful between us, if you were honest and really loved me. Maybe you do and don’t even realize it. Maybe you’re too controlled by hatred and resentment to see what you’ve done to us. God help us both, because I love you and want you and I believe you feel the same way.

Chad approached her. “What did Jace want? He looked annoyed.”

Leigh had to fool her guardian to prevent any problems with him. “Jace was just teasing me about our secret wager, playfully warning me to watch my step or I’d lose more points to him.”

“I’m glad you trust me to discuss the matter.”

Leigh sent him a convincing smile. “We have to stick together until this is over. I don’t think it would be a good idea to let Jace know I told you about our real bet, or to let him discover that I know about his wager with you. We can’t confront him with his duplicity. We burned our proof. I was afraid someone might find my contract, and I’d be humiliated. If we expose his game and demand to leave, it might cause big trouble. We don’t know this jungle, Chad. If we angered or challenged him, there’s no telling what he would do. He could lead us around in circles for weeks.” She frowned. “I can’t decide if Jace is dangerous or not. Every time I try to relax him enough to trust me and open up to me, he gets skittish. Are you sure he’s serious about his wager with you? He’s certainly not trying to win me.”

“Jace never was a woman-chaser, so maybe he doesn’t know how to charm and woo one. Or maybe duping you comes hard for him. Or maybe he realizes he can’t collect on our bet even if he won your heart. You can’t marry a criminal and exile yourself, and I guess he knows it. If he fell in love with you, he couldn’t ask you to share such a fate; no proud man would. He probably knew all along that neither of us could win such a wager. But I’m sure he wishes he could. I do.”

“Until this matter is settled, I can’t think beyond friendship. We need to get to know each other better.”

His eyes glowed from more than moonlight. “I understand, Leigh. First, we have to get Louisa and Jace out of our lives.”

“Louisa will be easy to discard, but I’m not so sure about Jace Elliott. He’s too suspicious of you, Grandfather, and me. If we tip our hand, we’ve got big trouble. If Jace knows about the will and is behind these accidents, he might be willing to settle for half of Grandfather’s estate rather than pursue me for all of it.”

From knowing Jace for years, and suspecting Louisa was the real culprit, and not wanting Leigh to panic into a slip, Chad said, “I honestly don’t think you need to fear Jace. Even if he’s behind these curious happenings, I’m sure it’s to compel you into his arms. Don’t worry; I’m here to protect you from all harm.”

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