“Responsible, pooh!” she scoffed and stomped her foot. “I’m not blind. I’ve seen the way you watch her, and I’ve seen how she melts over you. Don’t play with her, my love, or you’ll be in trouble. People won’t take kindly to you seducing your ward, even with her permission.”
“The problem is all yours, Louisa. Leigh’s been trying to be friendly with you. In fact, she’s been twice the lady you were reared to be. Learn to get along with her or we’ll all be miserable. I’ve worked too hard at the firm to let your petty jealousy and envy spoil things for me. Leigh and I can get along fine if you stop interfering and misbehaving. If you refuse, I can’t allow you to be around her anymore.”
“If you weren’t so bewitched by her, you’d realize she probably tricked you to seize your attention and affection. If she was attacked, why didn’t she want you to report it so those villains could be caught and punished? If she read the note twice, how could she make an error? Why hasn’t her champion contacted her or you for a reward or assistance? I bet she lied to you, dearuncle.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s too honest.”
Louisa laughed. “No woman is totally honest with a man, my naive lover. We have to retain our mystique.” Her tone and expression waxed serious. “I know how important she is to your future at the company. I love you and need you. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, Chad; you must believe that.”
“Settle down, woman, I believe you. I didn’t tell her you wrote the message, and she doesn’t know my handwriting. I figured that news would cause more trouble between you two.” He took a deep breath. “I guess it was Leigh’s mistake. If not, I just hope she doesn’t thinkItried to pull a dangerous trick on her.”
“Don’t be gullible where she’s concerned; it could destroy you.”
“Stop it, Louisa. Give Leigh a chance to become your friend. And stop making Cynthia treat her so badly. I want this safari to be fun for all of us.” He grasped Louisa by the shoulders and asked, “What have you got to worry about? You’re going with me, and you’re sharing my tent, not Leigh. If I wanted another woman, Louisa, nothing would stop me from leaving you.”
“You can’t, Chad. No other woman can please you like I do.”
He chuckled and cuffed her chin. “Come on, Louisa, stop making things so hard for everyone. Prove you have brains inside this lovely head. Be nice to Leigh, show some pride and restraint.”
“I can’t help it, Chad. Sometimes you make me so mad. You used to change women like most men change shirts. You let that little chit do as she pleases. Without you, she’s nothing, because Webster International is nothing. The will says she can’t fire you until she’s twenty-one. By November, she’ll realize how stupid that would be. She needs you, Chad. I just don’t want her to need youtoo much.You’re mine, right?”
“As long as you behave, I see no reason to cease our relationship. It suits us both. Promise to be a good girl?”
“Good in public, but bad in private,” she replied, licking on his thumb in an erotically suggestive manner.
“Cool your flames, Louisa. You’re a greedy woman.”
“And you love it that way. I’ll go freshen myself upstairs. You find your little ward and dance with her before I return and have to endure such a painful sight.”
“Come along my fiery wench before we’re missed.”
When they were out of sight, Leigh left her hiding place. Now she knew Chad was not responsible for the dangerous mistake last night. She was relieved about that but worried over his possibly amorous feelings toward her. She wanted to keep their relationship businesslike, but friendly. But would he allow it, she fretted, if he decided he was attracted to her?
Leigh wasn’t convinced of Louisa’s innocence, which created a new worry. She was annoyed that her guardian had broken his promise and told the offensive woman about what happened, that is, if Louisa hadn’t already learned the truth from her thwarted hirelings.
Are you being unfair and ridiculous?Leigh asked herself.Louisa can be mean, but is she evil and dangerous? If not, why did Chad suspect her, and question her and threaten her?That worried Leigh, as did telling him about what happened in the garden tonight.
If she told Chad the stranger had returned her locket, it could arouse his suspicions against her, especially after Louisa had planted seeds of doubt in his mind. The redhead was right about Leigh needing Chad for the business. Too, she had to admit that both episodes sounded strange, even doubtful. If Chad did believe her account, the stranger’s curious behavior might alarm him. No, she mustn’t tell her guardian the locket had been returned or that she had seen her rescuer again.
Leigh hurried to a side door and slipped into an empty hallway. She went upstairs to the ladies’ chamber to check her appearance. She found Louisa still there, arranging her hair and makeup. She smiled politely and took a seat near another mirror.
To Leigh’s surprise, the redhead asked, “Would you like to use any of these?” Louisa motioned to the colorings and fragrance before her.
Leigh responded to the woman’s overture, however false and coerced. She lifted a blue powder and asked, “How do I put it on?”
“Like this,” Louisa instructed as she brushed onto her lids a green powder that matched her emerald eyes. “Egyptians and Chinese have used such colorful tricks for ages. These were ordered from the Orient. They’re quite expensive, but worth the money and trouble. Try this for your lips,” she suggested.
Leigh took the small container and rubbed a pink cream on her mouth, then lightly brushed a blue powder onto her eyelids. She was amazed at how it brought out the color of her eyes and lips. She smiled at the redhead and said, “I like it, Louisa. Thank you.”
“You don’t need help like I do,” Louisa remarked, “but you’re welcome to use whatever you like from my collection. You’re lucky you don’t have dreadful freckles to cover. They make a woman look so much like a child. I had hoped to outgrow them, but no such luck.”
“On most redheads they’re dark and large, but yours are pale and small. They add color to your skin, and I think they’re attractive.” It was the truth, but Leigh doubted if Louisa would believe her. Oddly, then the redhead grinned and turned to Leigh.
“Then I won’t fuss about them anymore. Would you like to try this perfume from Paris? It drives men wild.”
Leigh’s fragrance had faded, so she tried the one Louisa held out to her. The scent was seductive and pleasant. As Louisa groomed herself, Leigh wondered if Louisa possessed the cunning to plot against her. The ruse last night had required clever planning, expert timing, and accomplices. If this vixen was to blame, Louisa was dangerous, and had to be watched.
Louisa halted her task. “We haven’t had much time alone for woman-talk, Leigh. I hope we can get better acquainted on the ship and during the safari. What do you think of your guardian?”