Page 81 of In the Heat of the Jungle

The redhead’s malicious words wiped the taunting smile from her rival’s lips and eyes. “It isn’t about those stupid bets you and Chad have with Jace. Not even about the secret one you have with our handsome guide.” When Leigh’s eyes widened in surprise, Louisa scoffed, “Yes, I know about all of them. I do have ways of extracting information from men. I was hoping both Chad and Jace would realize they aren’t the hunters and you aren’t the prey; it’s the other way around. They only thought they were winning you, but you’re duping both of them. Would you like to know why they really made that wager? Why both of them are so eager to get their hands on you? It isn’t your virginal body or huge inheritance, Miss Webster; it’s for revenge. Has either of them mentioned Joanna Harris to you?”

Leigh came to full alert. “Who is Joanna Harris?”

The redhead glared at Leigh. “I see; neither of them told you about her. I’m not surprised; it would spoil their wicked sport. She’s more beautiful and desirable than both of us put together, but she was gullible and weak. She’s what happened between two good friends. She’s the reason they hate each other. After that trouble in South Africa, Jace and Chad were at each other’s throats and doing all they could to spite each other. Joanna Harris was supposed to move to Africa with Jace as soon as everything was prepared here. While Jace was gone, Chad charmed and seduced Joanna. The bitch moved in with Chad. When Jace returned to London, he was furious. They got into a fight. Jace was jailed for a month for nearly killing Chad. On Chad’s orders Miss Joanna refused to visit Jace in prison and explain. When Jace was released, Joanna still refused to see him or to leave Chad. Jace left London swearing revenge. That’s what this wager is about, silly girl, another woman! Jace wants to take Joanna’s replacement and all she owns away from Chad. And Chad’s flaunting you in Jace’s face because he thinks he has you hooked and turned against Jace. Chad didn’t consider Joanna’s conquest and ruin enough punishment for what Jace had done to him.”

Leigh glared. “You’re so full of lies and hatred.”

Louisa laughed. “You know I’m telling the truth.”

Leigh knew such words could be checked out too easily for her to lie. She wondered if that woman was the missing clue to the mystery, as Louisa alleged. “Where is this Joanna Harris?”

“After Chad was finished with her, he discarded her, just like he’ll do with you after you’ve served your purpose. Joanna was very special to Jace Elliott. It was quite a scandal. Jace wouldn’t forgive her or take her back, so Joanna was forced to leave town. Jace hates Chad for destroying her. I wouldn’t be surprised if Chad is responsible for those London crimes as Jace suspects. Frankly I don’t care. I think William Webster either discovered or realized the truth, and it caused his heart to fail. Chad and Jace despise each other. This wager and safari were for revenge. That’s all you mean to either of them. Oh, I know he’s discarding me for you. I know Chad craves your wealth and the firm, but those are merely added benefits. What he’s truly after is destroying Jace Elliott for trying to kill him in South Africa and for stealing his diamonds,” Louisa charged, having learned that fact from Cynthia, who had gleaned it from a drunken Reid.

“You’ve never seen Chad without his shirt. Have you wondered why? I’ll tell you. He and Jace hired out as guards for a peace mission to warring Matabeles. On a dare from one of the men, Chad stole a sacred knife from their leader. The natives tracked him and abducted him. Every morning and night, they used the ritual knife to carve one of their pagan symbols on his back and chest. They poured a stinging liquid over the cuts to make him scream and beg. When his torso was fully marked, they were going to sacrifice him to their god. Every night he was kept suspended from a tree. I’m surprised the insects eating on those wounds didn’t give him a disease and kill him. Luckily those savages didn’t harm his handsome face. Chad used it to charm one of the native girls into freeing him, the chief’s daughter. She led him to safety, then he killed her to punish her father. You know the other details of that misadventure, or what each man claims is the truth.”

“If Chadwick Hamilton is so terrible, Lady Louisa, why are you trying to kill me to get him? What do you want with a wicked earl at such a risk and price?”

“Are you crazy? Don’t you realize Chad and Jace are behind those incidents just to turn you in their favor? Don’t be blind and naive. What good would it do me to risk prison to kill you? Chad would only find another woman to conquer. Why don’t you confront them when they return to camp? I dare you. If you don’t, I will. I swear it. I’m ready for this game to end. Chad has used me and humiliated me for the last time. They should return at sunset. We’ll both be ready to greet them. Chad told me he was going to marry me when we returned to London. He said I was a problem between you and him, that you would fire him to get rid of me. I moved out of his tent to appease you. After thinking it over and watching you two lately, I know he lied.”

Leigh could not resist vexing the awful female. “Yes, he lied to you. He asked me to marry him. I said yes.”

“Youwhat?”

Leigh enjoyed the look of shock, then fury on the woman’s face. “I also told Jace I would marry him. I’m not as stupid as you all think, Louisa. It was only a trick until I return home and get rid of both of them. You can have Chad or Jace, or both. I’m only playing with them to keep the peace, nothing more, you hateful witch.”

“Are you telling the truth? I don’t trust you.”

“No more than I trust you. But it’s the truth.”

“Why did you lie about a sweetheart in Texas?”

“To shut you up and to halt your petty jealousy. You are so damned worried about me stealing Chad that you never realized I don’t want him. I never have, and I never will. There is one thing you should know, Louisa. This may have begun as a plot for revenge, but Chad is really in love with me. So is Jace. It seems both got snared in their traps for me. That’s a real shame.”

“Love doesn’t change your mind about them?”

“No,” Leigh replied in a cold tone. “I could never desire or trust either of them. As with you, I don’t like being used, duped, or entrapped. I’m selling the firm—but not to Chad—and I’m going home to America after the safari and Webster sale. Both men can simmer and suffer over their foiled plans for all I care. As for you, you deserve a snake like Lord Chadwick Hamilton, and he deserves a bitch likeLadyLouisa Jennings.”

The redhead glared at the blonde, mentally vowing she’d be dead soon and trouble her no more. She left the tent unseen, hurrying to share this news with Cynthia.

As Leigh lay on her cot with her eyes closed, she waxed between alarm, anguish, and anger. Another woman was not the missing clue she had expected to find. Her treacherous lover had duped her for the last time, and so had her devious guardian. She yearned to get far away from all of these hateful scavengers who had provoked her to behave and speak so badly.

Leigh looked up as one of the men from the safari sneaked into her tent. She was seized, disabled, and forced to drink a bitter drug. As blackness engulfed her, she knew the ruse was over…

Chapter Seventeen

Later, Jace entered camp and greeted Mkwawa. Louisa and Cynthia left their tent to join him. “Where’s Leigh?” Jace inquired.

“In her tent, reading as usual, I suppose. We don’t socialize much. Where are the others?”

“Reid nicked a lion,” Jace responded. “Wounded predators are dangerous to the natives, so the law says a guide must trail an injured beast and slay it to prevent trouble. We’re supposed to meet back here. I guess they’re still hunting with Johi and the men. I’ll fetch Leigh for a nice walk before Chad returns. This is a lucky break for me. If you ladies will excuse me …”

Louisa followed the whistling male to Leigh’s tent. Through the mosquito netting, she and Jace saw the blonde lying on the ground, with a decapitated reptile nearby. She grinned maliciously.

Jace yanked the thin flap aside and dropped to his knees. He examined Leigh and groaned. “Bush snake. They’re deadly. It’s been some time since she was bitten. See how the area’s discolored. Damn! Hardly anybody survives such a bite.”

“He’s so big.” Louisa stated the obvious. “Is she …”

Jace listened to Leigh’s heart. “Not good. It’s too late to cut the wound and suck out the venom. There’s a Kikuyu village a few hours away. If anybody can save her, it’s the witch doctor there. It’s probably a waste of time,” he mumbled. As he worked, he fumed aloud, “How the hell did he get in here and why did she challenge him? Bush snakes normally avoid clearings, and they’ll crawl out of your path if you give ’em time. She should have screamed and run, or stayed on the cot. Hell, at least she got him. I’ll return or send word as soon as possible. Don’t tell Chad but I doubt she’ll make it. Let me handle him when I get back.” He lifted Leigh, tossed her over his shoulder, and rushed from camp.

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