Page 90 of In the Heat of the Jungle

Leigh played the piano and noted that it needed tuning. She was reminded of the hours her mother had compelled her to practice. She hadn’t played in a long time, and her skill at the keyboard was impaired by neglect. Yet it soothed her tension and distracted her.

Suddenly Leigh wondered if the piano and music sheets had been purchased and brought here for Joanna Harris. That halted the blonde’s enjoyment and fingers. She closed the key cover. After dousing the lamps she had washed and filled today, Leigh left the room.

She was alone tonight, as always after Abena went home. The gate was locked, and the brown-skinned woman had the key. Leigh dared not seek a way to climb over the high wall. It would be reckless and stupid to escape into the hazardous jungle, and Leigh Webster was neither. Nor did she close windows and doors, as the wall kept out wild animals. With the closeness of the metal rods and height of the iron fencing from the ground, no snakes or small creatures could get inside the yard to find their way into the beautiful house. For now, she felt safe. It remained to be seen if that was true when Jace arrived.

Several nights she had tried to pick the locks on Jace’s office and bedroom doors, but without a proper tool, it was impossible to get inside. Since he had ordered them sealed against her nosing around, he must have something vital hidden there.

Leigh fetched the book she had been reading when Jace sneaked into her tent to drug her for this crime. She got into bed, needing the book to distract her from her loneliness and anguish. After finding a comfortable position, she opened it and saw two papers. One was his copy of their wager, and the other was a note from Jace. A very clever man, he had known she would reach for this book to finish it.

Leigh,

We’re breaking camp and heading for Mombasa today. It should take about two weeks to reach town and two weeks more for me to get home. It’s May 25, so expect me about June 25. Chad and the others fell for my trick. They’re sailing for London as soon as I get them back. He’s eager to get his greedy hands on the inheritance you said he couldn’t claim. Naughty of you to lie to me. Do I get another point for you endangering yourself with that deceit?

Study our contract and add up my points. I’m eager to start collecting them when I reach home. I miss you, woman. This next year will be a pleasant one for me. You do realize I get a year because you couldn’t finish the safari. Afterwards, you’ll be released. You can go to London, shock old Chad, and recover your inheritance. You can explain to him howwetricked him until you reached twenty-one and were free of him. You can tell the lawwewere forced to fake your death to stay alive. Maybe in a year, Chad will earn you more money than he’ll spend or waste. Besides, you were willing to bet me a third, so he probably won’t cost you more than that.

Relax and get ready to enjoy me as much as I plan to enjoy you. We have a lot to clear up between us.

Jace

“You’re damn right we have plenty to get straight between us!” Leigh fumed. “You’re a fool if you think I’ll be held captive for a year. I never agreed to rule three. I don’t owe you anything. Your little tricks caused me to lose. That’s cheating, you green-eyed monster! And you won’t sweet talk me into becoming a willing partner in this foul deed. The repercussions are too serious. You’ll be in worse trouble for this crime, and I won’t take part of the blame and be sitting in jail with you.”

Leigh wondered what day it was. She added up her trek to the plantation and her incarceration. It had to be during the first week of June. That meant the others were nearing Mombasa and departure, and Jace would be heading … Would be home in less than three weeks.

With this trouble between them, how could she enjoy him? How could she yield again? Would he force himself upon her if she refused to comply? He hadn’t mentioned affection, only implied desire. He promised to release her after she served her sentence in this luxurious prison. Release her, Leigh accused, so she could return to London to snatch everything away from his hated rival. Chad would prosecute Jace for this crime and make a future together impossible.

Leigh wanted to cry in torment. It always came back to the men’s hatred and their vengeful war. They would do anything to hurt, punish, destroy each other. Did that mean Chad had committed those London crimes, as Jace had charged and as Louisa had remarked that last day in camp? Her guardian had ruined Jace’s love, but could he destroy Jace’s father? Could she be so wrong about Chad? Could her grandfather’s death have resulted from agonizing discovery of such evil? Why had Chad said Jace lied about the Hamiltons being unable to inherit? What was Chad planning to do about the codicil that included his bitter enemy as an heir? Did Jace know about it? Was Jace planning to collect half of her worth while holding her captive? So much for her money meaning nothing to him! If he played this hand right, Jace could claim half and use her for a year …

Jace covered her mouth and kissed her. He held her in his arms, caressing her with skill. He stimulated her senses and body. His lips and tongue worked magic.

Leigh returned her lover’s kisses and caresses. It felt wonderful to be in his arms again. She stroked his tantalizing flesh and rubbed his hard muscles. She squirmed to get closer to him. It was as if she were starving for him and could not feast upon him fast enough. Her body blazed with desire, and ached to unite as one with his.

Jace trailed his fingers down her arm, up her side, and to her breast. His hand closed over it and gently fondled the firm mound. His fingers teased at the taut bud, and his mouth claimed it.

Leigh writhed in rising passion. She begged him to cease his enticing actions and to join his flesh with hers. As he parted them and rose to leave, she jerked upward to stop his curious withdrawal.

Leigh awakened with a start. She was alone in the dark. The bed was rumpled, her gown twisted about her body. She was drenched in perspiration. Tears rolled down her hot cheeks. “Damn you,” she pleaded, “stop haunting me! What are we going to do, Jace? How can we ever settle our problems? I curse you for making me love you and want you this badly!”

~*~

Jace and the safari party reached the termination of their river journey that same afternoon. The goods from ships at Mombasa were waiting to be picked up and taken to Nairobi. Chad asked if they could travel to Mombasa with the returning men and carts.

“Yes, but it’s much longer,” Jace told him. “We can walk to the rail line in two days, then it’s a half day back to town. With those men, it’ll require a week. Whichever you choose is fine with me and my schedule. If we travel with them, you can do more hunting from camp each night. All of the licenses aren’t filled.”

“No, I want to get out of Africa as soon as possible. How will the train know to come for us?”

“It takes supplies up the line every two days,” Jace explained. “We’ll camp by the tracks, hail it, and catch a ride on its return trip.”

“Fine.”

Jace ordered the bearers to load up and begin their walk. He watched Louisa and Cynthia bid the African man and Daniel farewell. Cynthia and Louisa had enjoyed the captain’s attention and company. Chad had kept to himself downriver and in camp. Since no tents were set up each night, there had been no opportunity for Jace or Johi to eavesdrop. That irritated Jace, but he just wanted this trek over so he could get to Leigh. He was anxious and ready to learn the truth.

~*~

The train picked up the safari party on Tuesday, June eighth. They were in Mombasa by dusk. At the hotel, Jace told Chad he would report Leigh’s death to the Colonial Office in the morning, then headed for his room to bathe and rest. The two women did the same.

As Chad spoke with the hotel clerk about sailing dates and arranging transportation of their stored possessions, the man revealed that Miss Leigh Webster’s things had been shipped to America after their departure inland, as the woman requested.

“What are you saying?”

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