Whispered Kisses

by Taylor, Janelle

  No, she decided, because Jace was keeping secrets from her. If she disclosed that fact, there was no telling how he would react. In view of his suspicions, he might think worse of her.

  What if Jace knows about the will and the motive behind it? she fretted. Or knows of the codicil and wants to learn the reason for it? If he loves and wants you to stay with him, why not propose or lose the wager to you? Yet he’s trying his best to win only a night or two. Why? Are you ready to take that risk? What if you don’t know him at all? He told you he was after Grandfather and Chad. Could love or desire change him so completely, so quickly?

  The safari had weeks to go, and civilization was far away. She wished she were somewhere alone with Jace, getting to know him better. That had to wait. Just because he claimed she was in peril, that did not mean she should flee to safety with him as he had coaxed several times.

  Leigh left her cot and washed perspiration from her face. She saw Jace standing near the edge of the clearing with firelight flickering on his body. She realized he couldn’t sleep, either, and that touched her. She was tempted to join him and talk, but anyone awake could see them and suspect the truth. She couldn’t forget what Jace had told her about how much power her guardian had over her estate. No, she refuted—over her and her entire life.

  To be fair to Jace, she didn’t know Chad very well, either. Did her guardian crave a profitable marriage? He hadn’t done more than a little flirting so far, and he was still dallying with Louisa. Would her stepuncle get rid of her and settle for half of everything, rather than get nothing, as half was still worth a fortune? Would Fiona Webster allow her son to control her share until he inherited it? But what if something happened to her and to Jace during the safari?

  It’s just hot and miserable tonight, Leigh scolded herself, and you’re thinking crazy. Both our deaths would look too suspicious to the authorities. Chad isn’t stupid or reckless. But what about that deceitful redhead? Does she know about the will? Chad certainly tells her plenty for someone he intends to discard soon! Would she plot one or two deaths so her lover could inherit and then marry her? Stop it, Leigh!

  Leigh watched her lover as he took a walk. He was so tall, handsome, and virile. He knew so much about this land, possessed alluring prowess in all areas. His brown hair was mussed and his khaki shirt was hanging open and revealing a hard chest. His stubble looked dark against his tanned face. She loved him and wanted him deeply. She had to stay near him as long as possible. She had to win his love and trust. Would cruel fate let her? It was always stealing her loved ones, and maybe that was why she feared doing or saying anything to lose him.

  Oh, Mother, how I wish you were here to counsel me, she thought with sadness. I can do such terrible damage if I make the wrong moves. Does he love me as much as I love him? Does he love me at all, or only desire me? Is there a dark side to my golden hero? How can I tell? What should I do?

  Jace felt Leigh’s gaze on him, as he had hoped and intended. He knew it was an underhanded thing to do, but he had to win back her trust, respect, and affection. She had proven she desired him as much as he desired her, so he had to use all of his skills to tempt her. He was unsettled by the distance that he had placed between Leigh and him. There were so many matters troubling him: his hunger for Leigh, the threat to her, the charges against him in England, his beloved father’s murder and losses, Chad’s motive for this safari, and his old friend’s odd behavior.

  Only if Chad stood to gain from harming her would a deadly threat from him be possible. Leigh had revealed there wasn’t one. As for the lustful redhead, surely everything that had happened to Leigh was too complicated for her wits. Jace admitted that some women were as smart, brave, cunning, and daring as men. But women too often allowed emotions to rule their senses, to cloud their judgments. It wasn’t logical for Louisa Jennings to risk losing the object she desired most to spite—or to slay—a rival, as Leigh had said. Joanna Harris had proven his biased—he admitted—theory about women to him; Leigh had proven to him there were exceptions.

  Chad had wanted, and had taken, Joanna. He had ruined her. Jace could not let him do the same with Leigh, even if he lost her through his foolishness this afternoon. He and Chad had been so close long ago. Chad’s treachery had destroyed their tight bond. At one time, Jace had wanted to slay him with his bare hands. Now, he didn’t know what to think and feel. Chad was within reach for revenge, yet he couldn’t bring himself to do anything about it. He could have allowed that rhino to end the matter; yet something had stopped him. Perhaps Leigh’s importance to him stayed his vengeful hand and lessened his hatred and bitterness. Good memories of the past and the old relationship with Chad had returned to haunt him. If only Chad wasn’t right about him looking guilty years ago. If only he himself wasn’t afraid to trust the man who claimed he wanted a truce. If only so much wasn’t at stake.

  It rained for two days, keeping everyone inside. They listened to the gramophone, played games, talked, and waited. The two men drank almost continuously, against Jace’s advice. At times Leigh tried to read, but it was nearly impossible with the annoying Cynthia Campbell underfoot. Quarreling with Reid again, the brunette—at Louisa’s secret request—had moved into Leigh’s tent.

  During their hunt the following day, Jace instructed the group about the buffalo. “We’ll be able to locate them by egrets flying overhead. They perch on the animals to eat lice and pests. Buffalo usually feed at night and wallow in marshy spots during the day. They favor tall grass; that’s why we look for the birds to give away their presence. You’ll be amazed by his size. A full grown male weighs two thousand pounds. His horns are as thick as my arms, and the tips are sword sharp. They’re mistrustful, violent tempered, and clever. They charge at the first sign of a threat, so we have to be quiet and careful. They gore their victims, trample them, kick dirt on the body, then trot away with head high in victory.”

  When the quarry was sighted, Leigh was indeed amazed by the creature’s menacing size and apparent strength. Their hides were dark and their formidable horns were black.

  Jace went on. “Even the largest and most skilled predators fear the buffalo. Lions respect them and keep their distance, unless they sight one that’s sick or wounded from a battle. Those horns can rip open a lion’s underside with one sweep. Animals are quick to learn their own strengths and weaknesses, unlike humans.”

  Leigh was glad they moved upwind toward the truculent creatures, allowing any breeze to carry their scent away from their quarry. She sighted numerous buffaloes resting in the tall grass, and a few grazing nearby. Egrets flew overhead or dined on huge carcasses. She saw yellow-billed ox-peckers seeking their own prey upon the enormous beasts. She walked close behind Jace and followed his silent signals. The others trailed gingerly behind her.

  Jace halted the hunting party and turned for final instructions. “We’ll take that big bull over there by himself. He’s far enough from the others to prevent trouble. Everyone make certain you’re ready. If the herd charges after we fire, do exactly as I say.”

  Jace and Johi started to move out first. Everyone checked their weapons. A gun discharged, the blast sending Louisa to the grass. Leigh screamed and hit the ground. The herd scrambled to their legs, bellowed in rage, and began an earth-rumbling stampede.

  Chapter Fifteen

  With speed and keen wits, Jace took in the situation. Leigh was fine, just shaken. His reflexes were quick at work. Over the din he shouted, “Everybody fire into the air and keep firing until I say halt. We need to scare off that herd.”

  Louisa had been knocked to the ground when her gun misfired. In surprise and fear, she had tossed the uncontrollable weapon aside. Her gaze had gone to Chad’s, the startled look vowing her innocence.

  Leigh gaped at the redhead for a moment. She jumped from the grass unharmed, just unsettled by the near miss. She began discharging rounds to help the others frighten off the menacing buffaloes.

  The herd halted at the roaring of guns, bellowed a
nd pawed, then trotted in the other direction to disappear into thickets.

  Jace seized the Ross automatic to examine it. He had little time to decide how to handle the near fatal episode. If Leigh hadn’t leaned over to scratch an insect bite, she would be dead. If he revealed the gun had been tampered with, Chad would end the perilous safari and take Leigh into danger in London. Johi checked Leigh’s gun each morning, but not the others’. He also cleaned and checked all weapons after each hunt, so this deed had been done after gun reassignment and practice last night. Whoever did it knew Louisa Jennings would carry the rifle today…

  “When Louisa threw it down so hard, it broke the mechanism,” Jace explained. “I can’t tell what caused it to misfire. Louisa is lucky it didn’t explode in her face, or she didn’t shoot off her foot, or shoot one of us in the back. I’ll have this rifle checked out when we get back to Mombasa. This has never happened before, and I don’t like it.”

  Chad glared at his fallen mistress, who had not gotten up or been helped to rise.

  “It isn’t my fault, Chad,” Louisa declared. “When I slid the bolt forward, it fired. I didn’t have my finger on the trigger.”

  “This is a new model, Chad, just came out this year,” Jace explained. “Perhaps it has a defect. The gunmaker is Charles Lancaster in London. I’ll ship it to him and let him figure out the problem. I can’t use weapons I don’t trust,” Jace remarked, knowing the well-made gun was not to blame. If Louisa was responsible, his words should scare her into being more careful with her own life. With this foiled attempt, she wouldn’t dare make another move any time soon. And if it wasn’t Louisa, the guilty bastard would have to lay back for a while until everyone relaxed. That was all Jace needed, time to put his own play into motion. “You want to head for camp or track those buffalo?”

  “I think they’re too dangerous for us to challenge. I’m more interested in lions and elephants. Let’s get on with our safari. Why don’t we head for the next camp in the morning? This area is dangerous.”

  Jace was delighted with Chad’s suggestion. He had intended to make the same suggestion’ tonight. Their next location would place them within a few days of Nairobi, and closer to his plantation. “That’s fine.”

  After reaching camp, Leigh went into her tent to be alone. Reid fetched a bottle of Scotch and went to work on it. Cynthia paced the clearing, unnerved by Jace’s words. Johi began checking all of the weapons. Jace went to alert the bearers about the change in schedule. Louisa and Chad walked to the pool to relax and talk. Jace skirted the campsite to eavesdrop.

  “Are you trying to get rid of me so you can get at your little ward?” Louisa asked. “You heard Jace; I could have been killed.”

  “Your imagination is running wild again, Louisa.”

  “Is it?” she challenged. “It would be profitable and vengeful for you to frame Jace for my death, then marry Leigh. Is that your plan? Get both of them?”

  “Are you daft? Jace wouldn’t be arrested for an accident, and I’m not trying to lure him back to London to get arrested for those other charges. I’m not after Jace. We’ve had problems, but I wouldn’t try to kill him. As for you, I was planning to ask you to marry me when we returned to London. But, if this is what you think of me, I’d be the daft one.”

  Louisa was stunned. “What do you mean? Are you serious?”

  “Don’t play ignorant with me, Louisa. You know how I feel about you. Would I have stayed with you so long if you weren’t special to me? I’ve tried to get you to be nice to my ward. You haven’t been, despite your little pretense of friendship. As long as you make Leigh want to avoid you, I can’t tell her about us. I have to assure my friendship with Leigh before November. If we married or became betrothed, she could get rid of me to be rid of you. She’s talking about selling the business to me. If I’m careful, she will. Hear me good, woman, if you’re behind any of these accidents, stop them now.”

  Louisa was wary. “What about your wager with Jace?”

  “What about it?”

  “You told me you’ll owe him fifty thousand pounds if he gets Leigh during this safari. You asked me to distract him. I tried, but he wasn’t interested. He’s too busy working on Leigh. If he wins, it’ll cost you a lot of money and a great deal of pride.”

  “Don’t worry about that silly bet. He would have charged me that much anyway. Actually, it saved me an extra twenty-five thousand by not having to double his salary. I don’t have to marry her, Louisa. She just has to leave here with me, and alive, to sell out in London. I told you, it was only a trick to provoke Jace into working for us. He required an irresistible enticement and Leigh was my bait. I was hoping to get truly close to her during this trip, but my jealous lover keeps causing trouble and rifts. Even if she doesn’t sell to me, I still need a way to control the firm and her.”

  “What if Jace does win her?”

  “He can’t. Leigh would never fall for Jace Elliott, never.”

  “She already has,” the redhead disclosed, “and he’s fallen for her. He was in her suite a long time in Mombasa, and left grinning ear-to-ear. I know a satisfied look when I see one.”

  “He was making that thousand-pound wager with her.”

  “Both times? He visited her twice.” Louisa revealed how Jace had gone to Leigh’s room one night and had remained a long time. “It was that day she was attacked at the fort, and I rented another room to ensnare him for you. I bet he planned that trouble just to weaken her toward him. How can a girl resist a man who’s saved her twice? I was glued to my door, Chad, so I know when he left, very late and very happy. I bet they’ve been sneaking around during the safari. You know they were alone on the trail and in camp during our leopard hunt. I bet there was no quicksand accident. I bet they were meeting in the jungle. And I bet Jace is behind those incidents just to make Leigh cling to the Great White Hunter and that he’s convinced her you’re after her money and to blame. I bet they’re having an affair!”

  Chad’s gaze was cold. “That’s a lot of wagers, Louisa.”

  “I bet all I own that I’m right, and telling you the truth.”

  Gunfire sounded in the camp. Jace left his hiding place to rush to the clearing, where Johi was standing over a dead predator. The jackel had sneaked into camp after meat waiting to be cooked.

  Chad’s head jerked toward camp. “What was that?”

  “Gunshots. Johi is probably testing the weapons. I’m not using that Ross again. I’m lucky his little trick didn’t get me killed. One more thing, Chad, do you know about the bet between Leigh and Jace?”

  “Of course I do. I suggested the thousand-pound wager.”

  “I mean the second one,” Louisa divulged.

  Baffled, Chad asked, “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, love? With all that’s happened, you and Leigh have both lost your bets to Jace. That’s why I think he’s behind all these curious events, just to win. If Jace marries Leigh, you’ll lose everything, Chad. I’ve tried to interfere by making Cynthia sleep in her tent, but I can’t do it all the time. They’ve been 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 that 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, if she only saw him once? I bet he sneaked into her London suite and they got real acquainted.”

  Chad narrowed his glacial blue eyes. “That deceitful bit
ch! 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. As for me, you don’t have to worry about me loving that guileful bitch. I’m marrying you, Louisa, just 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?” he questioned.

  “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 close, Leigh,” he remarked.

  “It was an accident, wasn’t it?” she asked, watching him.

  Jace knew his answer would control her emotions. “I plan to find out as soon as possible,” he replied with caution.