His words and voice broke the spell over Leigh. Not wanting Jace to think her afraid of him, she went to sit beside the enchanting beast. She looked at him and commented, “At least I’m not in the dark about you anymore. I assume you were in London to gather evidence to prove your innocence. That does explain your odd behavior during our meetings. I could tell you were tense and wary. I found it odd, and disquieting. Did you make any progress?”
Jace shifted his position to face her. He rested his left arm along the top of the sofa, his fingers near her head. In a pleasant tone, he remarked, “You’re very perceptive, Miss Webster, but I’d rather not discuss my personal troubles today, if you don’t mind.”
“It really isn’t any of my business, is it? I always feel at ease going into a secluded jungle with a wanted man.”
“To put your mind at ease, I’m not guilty.” He grinned, then laughed before saying, “Of course that’s what all criminals-on-the-way-to-the-gallows vow, isn’t it?” He laughed again, a rich and mellow sound in the romantic quietness that surrounded them. He waxed serious. “You have no reason to believe me or to trust me, Miss Webster. I’m sure you don’t have a high opinion of me, and that’s understandable, given what you think you know about me and how I’ve behaved to you. First, I want to apologize for my offensive and rude conduct, and my unjust accusations. I’m sure Lord Chadwick Hamilton has painted me midnight black to you, but, honestly, I’m not that bad.”
His apology and manner were unanticipated, and pleasing to her. “To the contrary, Mr. Elliott. He says you’re old friends who parted ways years ago, and he doesn’t believe you’re guilty of those charges. True, he doesn’t like you, and I don’t know why, but he doesn’t hate you, either. As for me, I’m grateful that you risked so much to come to my rescue that night in London. Not every man in your perilous situation would have been so brave and unselfish. I honestly hope you work out your problems. But I am curious. Why were you tracking me in London? It was terribly risky to come to Lord Salisbury’s to return my locket. And why did you change your mind about becoming our guide?”
Jace liked her calling him “brave and unselfish.” He didn’t believe what Chad had told her, but apparentlyshedid. He wondered if Chad—whom Jace was positive still hated him—had told her such lies so she would agree to hire him as their guide. His old friend was resolved to tricking her into marriage before November, when he would lose his control over her. Leigh Webster had also lied to him, at least when she changed her story in the alley and hadn’t given him all of her name. Yet he surmised it was because she had been afraid of him. “Youchanged it for me, woman,” he answered belatedly. “After witnessing your courage that night in the alley and upon hearing good things about you last night, I am most intrigued by you. I suppose you’re qualified to survive anything I—or the trail—hand out to you. If not, I’ll be the one to profit from it. But,” he hinted, “I’m curious about a few points myself.”
Leigh was relieved they were talking cordially rather than quarreling or playing with words. This wasn’t the grim meeting she had anticipated and dreaded. “Such as?”
“Why did you tell a stranger about this safari, and why didn’t you tell Chad about our second meeting?”
Leigh glanced away for a moment, then returned her gaze to meet his. “Actually, you made me nervous, and a little frightened. I didn’t know who or what you were, and you were popping into and out of my life at random with vows to pursue me. For all I knew, you could have been a kidnapper, or crazy. Since you were behaving so mysteriously, I was trying to discover how news of my lengthy departure would affect whatever plans you had for me. It makes me nervous not knowing people’s motives. I assumed you were simply playing devilish games to spark my interest.”
She grinned. “Then again, you could have been dangerous. I must admit, I was shocked to see you here. When you started making all those wild accusations, I didn’t know what to think. Believe it or not, Mr. Elliott, but there was and is no plot to ensnare you. Of course, all alleged plotters vow innocence, so it’s up to you to decide if I can be trusted.”
Jace laughed, impressed by her bluntness. “I promise you I’m not dangerous or crazy. Frankly, Miss Webster, I do believe you. But I am having trouble trusting your guardian, with good cause. You didn’t say why didn’t you tell him about that night in the garden?”
Leigh flushed slightly. She was hoping he would forget that question. “I didn’t want to worry him. If he learned my rescuer was stalking me, it could alarm him. Too, he might think it odd that we had met twice and I still didn’t know your name. After all, that mix-up with the dinner invitation seemed a little incredible. I didn’t want him to think I had made the mistake intentionally to … skip dinner.”
Jace accepted her explanation, wondering with a smile if she had wanted to miss that dinner. That boded ill for Chad! “One last question before we move to the reason for my being here: Why did you wear that necklace last night?”
“Necklace?” she echoed, then recalled his reaction. “Why do you ask? It belonged to my grandmother and matched my gown. I inherited it when Grandfather died. Chad passed it on to me.”
“When?”
“Yesterday. Why?” she probed again, knowing it had meaning.
Her honesty and openness pleased him. “It belonged to my mother. It was her favorite piece, a very rare and unique one. I suppose Webster took it when he took everything else belonging to my family.”
She didn’t like the sudden chill in his eyes and tone. “That isn’t fair, Jace. They were in business together. When everything went wrong, it must have been part of the financial settlement. It’s beautiful and valuable, but I’ll return it without payment or questions. I know it must be very special to you. I’ll fetch it now.”
Before she could rise, Jace stayed her. “Please keep it. It’ll cause trouble with Chad if you give it to me.”
“It’s mine,” Leigh told him, “so I can do as I please with it. Chad is my legal guardian until November, but not my boss, and he doesn’t try to be one. I insist you take back your mother’s necklace.”
With the hand resting along the sofa top, Jace twirled a tawny lock around his forefinger. “I’m glad he gave it to you rather than to his mother or another woman. Besides, it looks perfect on you. I insist that you keep it as a kindness to me.”
Leigh settled back on the sofa and relented. “Only if you promise to ask for it back anytime you want it.”
“No matter if Webster earned it legally and I have no just claim to it?” he pressed. “It is quite valuable and beautiful. Most women wouldn’t be so brave and unselfish,” he said, using her earlier compliment.
Leigh frowned at his first choice of words. She wondered if there was a reason why Chad had given her the necklace, in this place and at this time. It could have been to provoke Jace into working for them, or perhaps Chad had found it in the safe and didn’t know its history. “I’m not most women, Mr. Elliott. Besides, I have more money than I can spend in five lifetimes. The necklace is an Elliott family heirloom, so rightly it belongs to you. Let’s get one thing straight, Jace. I didn’t know my grandfather well, but I’m sure he wasn’t responsible for your father’s misfortune. It was a failed business deal, nothing more.”
Jace realized she was now using his first name, and he liked the way it rolled off her tongue. He also noticed that she wasn’t convinced by what she had just told him. That, he found intriguing. He cautioned himself to move slowly and cautiously with her in that area. “Let’s get on to our business, Leigh. What shall we wager?”
She had vowed she would never do this, not even if he was “the only guide in all of Africa.” But she was provoked, challenged, trapped. “As Chad explained, I believe the demand is for me to beg you to be our guide and to make a bet with you. Will you please be our guide? Is one thousand pounds enough to wager?”
Jace grinned in relief. “Indeed, youarebrave and unselfish. I like the way you yield without cowering. Yes, my enchanting lioness, I’ll be your guide through the African wilds. Nothing would please me more than getting to know you better. As for your wager, I’m sure a thousand pounds was Chad’s suggestion. He craves money and power, but I don’t. All I need is enough money to live on, and I earn plenty for that. You did say,anythinglast night,” he reminded her.
Leigh looked baffled, worried. She studied this moody and mysterious man who had been thrust into her life and heart. She wanted to get to know him better. In fact, she wanted him, period. “If you don’t want to bet money, what do you have in mind?”
“Winner’s choice, Miss Webster.”
Leigh stared. “That covers a large territory, Jace.”