“A wild boar?” he asked quietly.
Raj didn’t respond, but remained alert on his log seat.
She could see in the tightness of their faces that something was wrong. Slowly, Colin and Raj stood.
Bea jumped to her feet. “What is it?”
Colin didn’t bother to look at her. “Shhh.”
Silence settled as thick and suffocating as the heat. Besides the soft chirp of insects, no other sound could be heard, and Bea thought for a moment they’d overreacted.
“Hello, my friends,” someone called out.
The sudden voice was like a slap to her overwrought senses. Her frantic gaze searched the brush, her attention jumping from shadowy tree to shadowy tree. Yet nothing moved. No one was there. The persons remained as elusive as water in the dry months of India.
“Did I just imagine that?” she whispered.
Colin glanced at Raj. “Hunters?”
Raj shrugged.
Hunters? Relief sank in her gut. Hunters were acceptable, so why were they still frowning? “Shall we invite them to dine with us?” she asked, searching the area for movement or any indication of their visitors. Why couldn’t she see them? More importantly, why were they hidden?
Colin’s gaze flashed to her. “Darlin’, this isn’t a British drawing room.”
She was just about to respond when the bushes parted. Twigs snapped, leaves rustled. A bird squawked and took flight, its wings beating as frantically as Bea’s heart.
Four human forms stepped into their clearing. The firelight hit their visitors, highlighting their faces with an eerie glow. While they were still too far away to truly see their features, Bea noticed that two had the darker skin of an Indian, while the other two possessed the pale complexions of a European. She’d heard stories before of Englishmen come to hunt in exotic lands. Surely, hunting wasn’t an uncommon occurrence, so why were Raj and Colin still so uneasy? Colin stepped in front of her, confirming her suspicions.
No one said a word. Not Raj, not Colin. Nor any of their new visitors. Bea stood on tiptoe and gazed around the clearing, from man to man, attempting to deduce some sort of explanation from their stoic features. Outside of a drawing room, she wasn’t sure how to properly proceed. She didn’t understand why they were standing there in silence, but her mind and body warned her to be on alert.
“My friends.” One of the men finally stepped forward and pulled the hat from his head, revealing dark locks and an easy smile that lit his narrow face. He pushed aside the rifle hanging around his shoulder and glanced briefly at Bea before returning his gaze to Colin. “We were passing through. I’m Stephan.” He nodded toward the other white man, whose face was hidden by the shadow of his wide-brimmed hat. “And this is my friend Demyan.”
Still Colin said nothing. What was wrong with him? His gaze had jumped to the man named Demyan, and there his attention remained riveted. Friends or foes, by being rude they’d only be courting trouble.
Bea hesitated only a moment before deciding to take things into her own more than capable hands. “Welcome, sirs.”
In a swoosh of air, everyone faced her, making Bea instantly regret her decision. Still, hearing her voice, Colin seemed to snap from his shock. Without even looking her way, Colin smiled, an obviously forced smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, then took her hand, pulling her close.
“Always the first to welcome guests.” His grip was tight, too tight. “Please, come and sit. We were just settling down to dine. I’m Charlie and this is my wife, Catherine.”
Unnerved, Bea slid Colin a glance. Why would he lie? She didn’t understand. Biting her lip to keep from demanding answers, she warily watched the two European men stroll through the campsite and settle on logs across the fire from them. The remaining two Indian men fanned out, standing in the shadows. Keeping watch, or watching them?
Stephan set his rifle on the ground. It should have put her mind at ease. It didn’t. “Allow our men to keep watch.”
Colin helped her to their vacated seat. Perhaps this Stephan was being kind, but instead of protecting, Bea had the sudden feeling the men were actually surrounding them. Maybe Colin’s paranoia was rubbing off on her.
Demyan nodded a greeting, keeping his face tilted down and his gaze focused on the ground. Was he timid, or hiding something? Blast it, but fear and unease were taking control.
Stephan pulled the water jar from his hip, where it rested on a leather strap. “You don’t mind if we set up camp here? Safety in numbers and all that.”
Colin returned the man’s smile and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. She didn’t protest. “Of course not.”
Bea rested one hand on his flat stomach. She was thankful for his touch, while at the same time she noticed the stiffness of his body and wondered over it. How desperately she wished for a moment alone with the man. Raj picked up plates of food and scurried across the clearing to hand each man a meal. Bea didn’t miss the look he slid Colin, but she didn’t understand their unspoken thoughts. Still, she didn’t have to be a mind reader to know without a doubt that Colin and Raj were leery of the men. She was leery, too. But why? What could they possibly want from them?
“Hunting?” Colin asked, his gaze flashing to the man named Demyan.
Stephan scooped up the bread. “Yes, and you?”
Colin eased his legs out in front of him, feigning an ease Bea knew he didn’t feel. “Just getting started. How’s the game downriver?”
“Thick. You’ll be sure not to leave empty-handed.” The man took a bite, watching them through his lashes. Demyan still hadn’t said a word, and with his face averted, Bea couldn’t make out his features.
“And how long will you be here?” Colin crossed his arms over his chest. That pulse was beating furiously in the side of his neck, while his breath hitched with each intake.
Even if their guests didn’t seem to notice Colin’s odd state, Bea did.
Stephan scratched his neck, his gaze narrowing as if thinking over the answer. “Not quite sure. Until we bag a large one. I see you’re traveling by elephant?”
Bea’s gaze slid to King Henry. The animal was munching on leaves, looking so bloody adorable, she wondered if she could possibly get him on a boat back to England with her. The thought of seeing Grandmother’s face when she appeared with the beast in tow almost made her forget their current situation.
“Yes, we are,” Colin answered.
Balancing his plate on his knees, Stephan stretched his arms out, warming his hands by the fire. “Hunted elephants just a fortnight ago. You wouldn’t be interested in selling him? Ivory goes for a bloody fortune.”
Bea sucked in a breath, her gaze jumping to Colin. They couldn’t possibly be serious!
Colin chuckled, but there was no mirth in his cold blue eyes. “Afraid not.”
The man shrugged. “Well, couldn’t hurt to ask.” His gaze slid to Bea and she had to resist the urge to shrink back. “Your accent. Are you from the Lowlands?”
She glanced at Colin, seeking his permission to answer, but he was staring at Demyan again. Of course she couldn’t very well ignore Stephan’s question. “English, but lived in the Highlands for some time.”
“Ah. From London myself.”
She nodded, clasping her hands tightly in her lap, unsure what to say or do, but wishing the man would focus on someone else.
Finally, Colin turned to her. He was smiling, but she didn’t miss the tightness of his expression. “Darlin’, shall we go to the river and prepare for rest?”
Bea wasn’t sure what he meant, but knew she’d rather follow Colin than stay here. He took her hand, his warm, calloused fingers slipping through hers. With a yank, she was on her feet. She had just enough time to give the men a nod of farewell before Colin had pulled her into the trees. Bea glanced over her shoulder. Raj continued to sit silently by, tending the fire, while the two visitors ate their meals.
Colin pulled her farther into the forest, until the firelight fa
ded and they were surrounded by darkness. This time the lack of light was a welcome cloak of safety. Leaves, wet with dew, slapped against her legs, soaking through the material of her trousers. Her hair, which she’d pulled back into a bun, came loose, falling in waves down around her shoulders.
Colin curved through the brush, going this way and that until Bea grew dizzy. Finally, they paused. She rested her hands on his hard back, her breathing harsh, as she waited to see what he’d do next. But Colin didn’t move, merely stared through the leaves toward the direction of the campsite, watching only God knew what.
She couldn’t see a bloody thing. “Colin, what is it?”
“We have visitors.” He didn’t bother to look at her as he whispered this.
“Obviously, but why do I get a bad feeling from them?”
Finally, he looked at her. “Because you should.”
Well, that didn’t make her feel any better. “Do you think they’re truly hunters?”
He latched on to her hand and pulled her farther into the trees. Just barely, over the snap of leaves and twigs, she could hear the sound of gurgling water.
“No,” Colin murmured.
Shocked, Bea attempted to pull her hand away, but he refused to release his hold. “How do you know?”
He sighed. “When they called out, they called out in English.”
“And?”
He paused long enough to look at her. “Why would they automatically call out in English?”
Her brows drew together. She didn’t understand his line of questioning. “Well, they must have seen us and noticed we were Western.”
“Exactly. They knew ahead of time because they were watching us. Why?”
She shrugged, unease whispering over her skin like a chill breeze. They were watching them? For how long? “Being careful?”
“Maybe.” They paused near a small creek, the water glistening like a silver snake under the moonlight. “Wet your face and dampen your hair as if you’ve been washing and preparing for sleep.”
Bea knelt by the stream and slipped her hands into the cool water.
“I don’t trust them.” Colin knelt beside her, only a breath away. “That man named Dem …” He swallowed hard and looked over his shoulder. He was trembling, she realized, his breath catching slightly. Bea’s fear grew. She’d never seen him this way.
“There’s something …”
Bea scooped up water and splashed it on her face. “What?”
But he didn’t answer. Colin’s gaze flickered around the woods as if looking for something or someone. Bea inched closer to him, her heart thundering in her chest. Before she could realize his intentions, he jerked her to her feet and smashed his lips to hers.
“Colin,” she mumbled against his mouth.
He pulled back only slightly, his grip still tight on her upper arms. “Shhh, kiss me and look like you mean it.”
“But Colin …”
He took advantage of her parted lips and slipped his tongue into her mouth.
Shock gave way to welcome warmth. He tasted like honey, like sunlight. Shimmers of delight tickled her spine. She sank into his hard body, taking comfort in his touch, in his strong arms wrapped around her waist, holding her close. Hesitantly, Bea moved her tongue against his, stroking, rubbing. A deep ache settled low in her gut. Giving in to temptation, Bea slipped her fingers into the cool, soft curls at the base of his neck.
Frantic for more, she met his tongue thrust for thrust. Colin’s hands slid up her rib cage, hovering just below her breasts. Her nipples hardened, her breasts growing heavy for his touch. Colin groaned and tore his mouth from hers. He didn’t pull back, but held her close, the harsh sound of their breathing drowning out the chirp of insects.
“Colin,” Bea said softly, her lips brushing against his neck, not quite ready to stop touching him. Her knees had grown weak and she found it difficult to stand. She felt as if she were in a beautiful, wonderful dream. “Why’d you do that?”
“Because they’re watching us.”
Bea stiffened. “Who?”
Colin cupped the sides of her face, his lips only inches from hers. “One, two of their men, I’m not sure. I heard them follow.”
Fear replaced lust. Without moving her head, she scanned the woods, but she could see nothing in the dark shadows. “Wh—what do we do?”
“Nothing.” He released his hold, stepping back.
“Nothing?”
He took her hand, his expression firm. Had their kiss affected him at all? “We go back to the camp, we settle in for bed.”
“But—”
“Trust me.”
Exhaustion and fear got the better of her. “Trust you?” she hissed. “The same man who’s been lying to me since I arrived? The same man who believes a bloody statue has powers?”
He started back to camp, dragging her with him. “What choice do you have?”
Chapter 12
She wasn’t sleeping. Colin could tell by the stiffness of her body as she lay next to him on the small cot. What she was thinking, he couldn’t imagine. Most likely she was worried about her hide, and he was, too. Damn, but he should have gone straight to Bombay. What the hell had he been thinking to drag her out here in the middle of nowhere?
The statue. He’d been thinking about that statue. And because of his obsession with uncovering answers, he’d never rest. He’d endanger everyone around him. Just as his father had. And look where the statue had gotten the man? Nowhere but dead.
Still, could he give up the idea of the statue? Give up the one thing he’d been searching for his entire life? Knowing what would happen if it got into the wrong hands? Guilt warred with need. Until he destroyed the piece, he’d never be free, never be free of the danger, never be able to rest in one place.
Colin’s thoughts changed, the picture of Demyan flashing across his closed lids. The image sent his heart racing. There was something about the man … something familiar, something that taunted the back of his mind … He pressed his fingertips to his lids. What was it that caught his attention?
Bea shifted. Her lean, lovely body lay beside him like an offering from the gods. Hell, if the situation were not so dire, he’d take advantage of the gift. Even now, she tempted him. Those long legs clad only in trousers, the way her waist nipped in, only to flare out at her hips …
“Bea?” he whispered, his voice coming out gruff.
She rolled toward him, too close. A gasp escaped her lips and her hands flattened to his shoulders as her body pressed indecently to his. Her soft breasts were crushed to his chest so that he could feel every beat of her heart. They both froze, suspended in a fog of heady desire. How badly he wanted to run his hand down the curve of her hip, to cup her rounded bottom, to forget harsh reality in her beauty.
“I’m so sorry.” She wiggled, attempting to move away, but only made things worse. Lightning shot through his body, centering in his groin. He fought to ignore his sudden desire.
“Stop,” he finally demanded when he could take no more.
She froze. “Yes?”
Her warm breath sent shivers over his skin. He wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her still. “It’ll be light soon. We need to leave now.”
She tilted her head back, her eyes wide and shimmering pools of trust. “What?”
“Shhhh.” He pressed his finger to her soft lips and they both fell silent.
He strained to hear what lay beyond their tent. The camp seemed still, except for the occasional pop of the dying fire. Everyone slept, or so he hoped. Slowly … reluctantly, he moved away from her. The cot creaked and he paused, cringing. When no sound of waking voices came, he managed to make his way to the tent flap without further incident.
Quickly, he grabbed his hat and scooped up the bag that held their necessities. He didn’t glance back as he waved Bea over. They had to leave now, before dawn broke, or it’d be too late. He didn’t hear Bea approach and resisted the urge to sigh. He turned. She was right beside him
.
Surprise held him silent for one long moment. “How’d you … how’d you make it here without a sound?”
She shrugged her left shoulder. “As a child, I used to sneak out of the house.”
“Really?” He knew they should leave, but for some reason he was frozen in place, wanting to know more about this odd woman. “Why?”
She looked away, as if embarrassed. “I liked to search for butterflies, and Grandmother wouldn’t allow me to go into the woods alone and dirty my gowns.”
“Butterflies?”
She nodded.
He remembered the book that had been poking him as he lay upon the settee that first day he’d met her. Bea was a bluestocking and she didn’t mind getting dirty. He was ridiculously pleased. There was certainly more to this woman than he’d realized and even more he wished to know.
“Colin,” she whispered. “Shouldn’t we go?”
“Right. Of course.” He pulled open the flap and allowed Bea outside. She moved silently past him, her sweet scent lingering in the air. Before he could prevent himself, he breathed in deep the perfume of clover and lavender. Just her scent sent Colin’s heart racing. From across the campsite, Raj nodded toward them, his body glowing eerily in the waning flames of the campfire.
His gaze slid to the other two tents, where Demyan and Stephan slept. His fingers curled at his sides and his heart slammed against his chest. Something was wrong. He knew he was missing some vital piece of information. Instinct told him that much. How he wanted to demand answers, to test his strength. But he and Raj were no match against four grown men with guns. Bea came first. He needed to get her to safety.
“Wait,” Bea whispered. “What about King Henry?”
Reluctantly, he glanced at her. “Who?”
Bea looked over her shoulder toward the large pacaderm. “The elephant.”
The massive, dark shadow shifted, as if he’d been waiting for them. Colin took her arm and started toward Raj. “What about him?”