Page 78 of In the Heat of the Jungle

Jace witnessed the hasty kiss, and Leigh’s manner. Something didn’t seem right in her voice and behavior today. At the river he had seen such pain, such mistrust, such yearning in her gaze. Why? Her own words had exposed her as a liar and a cheat, but … But what? he agonized. It was almost as if she had been turned against him. Yet, if Chad had told her lies, why didn’t she confront him and give him a chance to defend himself as he had with Louisa and Ka’arta? The words he had overheard the other day from behind the bush plagued him. Jace hated to imagine that Leigh knew that her grandfather was behind his troubles and had held silent to protect William Webster. But, he asked himself, what else could she have meant?

Jace despised the fact she had a powerful secret with his rival and was close to Chad. He realized he had thought of Chad as hisrival,not enemy. He knew why. His war with Chad no longer mattered if it cost him Leigh, or the woman he had thought she was. Johi was on her side, and the African’s instincts had never been wrong. Too, rarely had his own led him astray, and his whole being shouted she was innocent or being coerced. If so, why didn’t she seek his help? Perhaps for the same reason Joanna hadn’t when Chad had entrapped her. Jace knew he must uncover both Leigh and Joanna’s reasons. The truth, he scoffed. Why was it always so hard to find? This tormenting matter had to be settled soon, or he’d go crazy.

~*~

Leigh won her chess game with Chad, as her father had taught her well, and her uncle Colin had practiced for hours with her. She glanced at him, shrugged, and smiled. Chad then fetched a drink. She was suddenly aware of Jace’s close proximity and potent gaze, and the untypical Scotch in his grasp. She dared not look his way, as that green gaze could be her undoing. She had to conceal her warring emotions from everyone. In a few days, she would find a way to get him alone, then force the truth from him.

Dinner was served using items brought from London: china, crystal, silverware, and a tablecloth from one of the Webster mills. While they dined, the gramophone sent forth strains of Gilbert and Sullivan’sRuddigoreand Strauss’sThe Gypsy Baron.The conversation was light, mostly about past and future hunts. They were served a combination of British and African dishes. Roasted meat was topped withpiri piri,a sauce of chopped chilis, grated coconut, and dried coriander. With it, they devoured yams andchapatis,a thick and large skillet bread. To drink, the servant poured cups ofchai masala,a tea flavored with sweet spices, cardamom, and pepper to give a palate-tingling finish to the Swahili meal. For dessert, they enjoyed a mixture of tropical fruits sprinkled with a variety of spices and nuts.

Leigh fingered the fine linen tablecloth as she reflected on her grandfather and the business he had left to her. She was convinced Chad was honest about his affections, but she feared that her inheritance had inspired them. No matter if he swore she was the most important thing to him, she did not believe him. Perhaps he was so caught up in his desperate deception that he believed his own lie.

Where Jace Elliott was concerned, she was at a total loss. She was positive her love did not know about the curious codicil. She suspected that Jace had made the bet with Chad to give him justification for taking Chad’s offer, as he had implied in her Mombasa suite. But why hadn’t he explained the shocking matter after they became so close? Several times Jace had said he would tell her everything later. Was the secret wager part of what he planned to divulge? He had said that, if he revealed everything, she would turn against him. Surely he had believed Chad would never expose such information for the same reason. Perhaps Chad had done so to obtain an advantage.

Everything was so mixed up. And, she felt, there was a missing clue to this riddle. There must be more between the two men than either had related. That clue held their real motives.

Jace hadn’t needed Chad’s wager to win her. She was entrapped by her own emotions and desires, by her surrender and her wager. Even after making that offensive bargain with Chad, Jace had given her several opportunities to refuse the safari. Yes, she reasoned, Jace had practically pushed her away by making outrageous demands. She had persisted with the trek, his employment, and their bet. Jace had held silent to Chad about his two victories, despite her behavior of late. That realization warned her to be careful how she treated him, and how she treated her guardian.

“You’re awfully quiet tonight, Leigh.”

Leigh glanced at him. “I’m pleasantly fatigued, Jace. That swim, the heat, and this wonderful dinner have me relaxed. While I’m feeling so mellow, I think I’ll turn in. Good night, all.”

“Good-night, Leigh,” said her guardian.

“I think I’ll follow Leigh’s example,” Reid told them, and headed for the tent he now shared with Chad.

Louisa and Cynthia left to talk inside their tent.

“It’s you and me, Jace, just like old times. Care for a hand of cards and a drink? I don’t cheat anymore.”

“Is that a fact?” Jace taunted as he observed Chad’s genial smile and mood. It troubled Jace that his rival was actually trying to make peace and to win Leigh. Perhaps Leigh was accurate in her speculation that Chad had changed since their last conflict. If so, it was that tawny lioness’s influence on the wicked beast. Time would tell. “Maybe tomorrow night. We should get some rest. We need our wits alert. Dulled senses get a man into trouble.”

“You’re right, old friend.” Chad stood and left.

Jace fetched an item from his tent and walked to Leigh’s. “You awake, Miss Webster?” When she came to the entrance and lifted the mosquito-net covering, he said, “I have something belonging to you. It was mixed in with my clean clothes. Mkwawa should know it isn’t mine.” He held up the cotton, lace, and ribbon camisole and sniffed it. He grinned. “I recognized the size and scent as yours. It’s been washed, but you have a nice fragrance that still clings to it.”

Leigh frowned, then pulled the undergarment from his fingers. “Thank you for returning my possession, Mr. Elliott. Too bad you can’t return all of them.”

“Do you really want back what I took? Rather, what you gave?”

She eyed the grinning rogue. “Part of it, yes.”

His playful grin faded. “Which part?”

“I’ll let you decide my meaning. By the way, would you back off a mite with the taunts and flirts? You told me Chad is a threat, so I’m working on him to discover the truth. Your recent behavior isn’t helping matters, and it isn’t a good way to entice or to hold a woman’s affections. Good night.”

“What does that mean? What are you up to?”

“I’ll explain after I get answers. Good night, Jace.”

“Get plenty of rest. We go hunting at dawn.”

~*~

Jace decided to give Leigh one last chance to be honest with him. He sneaked into her tent and awakened her. “I wanted to apologize for being so asinine. Blame it on jealousy and tension. I also want to warn you to be careful with Chad. He isn’t a fool.”

Leigh made the same decision Jace had, one last chance to tell the truth. She loved him, and couldn’t give up on him until she was certain her love was in vain. “That also applies to me, Jace, jealousy and nerves. If there was any peril, it seems to be over now. Soon we’ll be alone and we can forget this mess; you are winning.”

Jace recalled her words to Chad about fleeing their bargain, and it pained him. “I promise you won’t regret losing to me. I can hardly wait until it’s the two of us alone.”Please, open up to me, love,his heart and mind—his very soul—urged.

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