As much as he wanted to tease her, he really didn’t have the energy. Not tonight. Too much had happened today to sap his momentum. “On the contrary, I shall allow you that comfort seeing how you won’t get it again until you reach your father’s plantation.”
Her shoulders sagged as a relieved sigh blew from her mouth. “Thank you, Mr. Knightly.”
Felix walked into the small hut-style building and paid for two rooms. He strode beside her while escorting her to her room. She said a quick thank-you before hurrying inside and closing the door.
He looked forward to relaxing in his own tub as well, but first he needed to ask questions to the people he knew in Manaus. Fire ants in that location of the jungle was unheard of. Hopefully, someone would know something.
As he went into the street, he scanned the diminutive town. It held two taverns—one at each end of the street—a general store, one inn, and a doctor’s office. He knew nearly every person who lived in this area. With a pang in his heart, he realized this would be the last time he’d get to see them for quite a while. These people were like his family. From time-to-time other travelers wandered through, and the people who lived in these parts welcomed all newcomers as well.
He walked into the tavern and immediately noticed a couple of new faces mixed with a handful of familiar faces. The men who knew him lifted their mugs in salute as they called out his name. Felix grinned, wondering if he would ever feel just as welcomed when he returned to England and entered one of the gentlemen’s clubs.Definitely not!
He approached the table where his men sat, and Felix took a chair next to them. Within minutes, a drink was placed in front of him. He glanced into the big brown eyes of the buxom serving wench and offered her a polite smile. Her black hair was in disarray, hanging over her shoulders, and her brown skin glistened with sweat. A mixture of body odor and whiskey surrounded her like a perfumed cloud, making his stomach roil in disgust. She batted her eyes at him and sashayed away with a familiarcome-hitherlook.
It surprised him to think that before meeting Miss Landon, women like the serving wench had never bothered him before. Now he was more aware of the sweet smell that permeated a high-class woman, and the silky texture of her hair and skin. Big brown eyes were not to his liking any longer, but instead, he wanted to gaze into the lovely jade color of Katrina’s eyes. He’d also rather gaze upon shapely her figure as opposed to the overly round curves of the serving wench.
Strange that he couldn’t stop thinking of her, but earlier this evening, Katrina had surprised him once again. The concern she felt for Suzette was evident in her caring eyes and tender voice. Most wealthy women he knew didn’t concern themselves with others. They only worried abouttheirwelfare. But Katrina showed genuine worry for Suzette.
“Knightly, are you listening?”
Felix was pulled out of his thoughts by Carlo’s question. “Pardon me. You were saying?”
The shorter man shaped like a brick pointed to another man sitting at the table—a man Felix didn’t know. “Knightly, this is Mr. Faro. He lives around these parts.”
Felix nodded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Faro. How long have you lived here? I thought I knew everyone.”
The other man gave a pleasant smile. “I have been here a couple of years, but I rarely make it into town.”
“I was telling Faro about Suzette and the fire ants,” Carlos continued. “Faro has also experienced odd happenings in the jungle as of late.”
Felix took a long drink of his whiskey. Either the alcohol was too watered down or his body had become immune to the sting as it slid down his throat. “Indeed?” he asked, focusing on Faro. “You have noticed as well?”
The other man nodded. “I wish I could explain why these things are occurring, but it’s almost as if everything is out of its element.”
Felix frowned and leaned his elbows on the table. “Do you mean to tell me there is more?”
“There is. The howler monkeys are everywhere now, and it’s hard to tell where the fire ants are making their hills. I’ve seen poisonous snakes in fields where they have not been before, and even crocodiles are too far inland.” Faro turned his attention toward the nearest window and continued. “The further into the jungle you go, the worse it gets.”
Dread formed a lump in Felix’s throat, making it harder to swallow. “What do you suppose is causing all of this mayhem?”
Shaking his head, Faro peered back at the group of men around the table, moving his gaze slowly from one person to another. “There is no explanation. It’s almost as if something—magical,” he whispered the last word, “has taken over the jungle.”
Felix wanted to roll his eyes and mutterbalderdash,yet he saw for himself how Suzette had stepped into the fire ant hole when there shouldn’t have been any ants at that location to begin with. Magical or not, something wasn’t right, and he was going to do all he could to find out what was going on. The jungle was like his home, and if someone were trying to ruin his experience, Felix would put a stop to it.
He studied Faro in silence. The other man’s lighter skin color suggested he was a half-breed. Most assuredly the man had Portuguese blood, but there was white in him as well. His black hair wasn’t as curly as a lot of the men in the tavern, but his shoulders were broader than most. Felix wouldn’t be surprised if the man was also very tall, but he wouldn’t know that until Faro stood.
Felix took another gulp from his mug, pondering the information Faro had shared. With dire news such as this, did Felix dare take his group deeper into the jungle? Although he was confident his men would be able to handle anything, Felix knew Katrina would not. He feared he’d be spending more time protecting her than anything.
“I thank you for informing me about the mysterious happenings in the jungle,” he told the other man. “I will certainly think on this tonight.”
Another person from Felix’s group, Emilio, nudged his elbow to get his attention. “Will we turn back then?”
“I cannot say.” Felix sighed. “Too much money has been invested in our journey. Miss Landon’s father has paid us well to deliver his daughter, and he’ll give us more once we bring her safely to him.” He scrubbed his chin.
“Miss Landon?” Faro questioned. “You are escorting awomanon this treacherous journey?”
“Yes.”
Faro shook his head. “Very dangerous, I say. If I were you, I’d take her back to where she belongs. The Amazon jungle is not for women.”
