Sunny wasn’t the only one stunned by his remark.
Cullen looked astonished.
“Enough of these pleasantries,” Fox continued dismissively. He gestured at Cullen from the entrance of the cave. “Your ship awaits, Cullen. You’ve been well and truly distracted by this young maiden, but it’s time to leave now.”
Sunny resented his condescending attitude. Why did this guy creep her out so much? Aside from his weird appearance and Celeste’s warning, his presence got her back up. It was an innate response, a gut feeling.
Cullen looked at his old friend suspiciously. “Was it not your intention for me to be distracted by the lass?”
His statement seemed to be delivered as a joke, but he said it with an air of caution, as if he’d latched onto the fact all was not well here.
Sunny marched over to the entrance of the cave and stared out across the stormy bay. Sure enough there was a ship, an old-fashioned wooden vessel with tall masts and massive white sails. It had put down anchor and sailors were battling the elements to pull in the sails, as if holding steady. She could see movement all over the deck. Members of the crew were standing by the side, as if awaiting delivery of a passenger. Two of them were unfurling a rope ladder.
Her heart raced. She turned back to her companions and found the men deep in conversation.
Cullen marched over to the rowing boat inside the cave and started to drag it across the sand.
“Make haste,” Fox instructed, pushing the boat along from the rear. “The seas are rough. You must get out there quickly before the weather turns worse. If it does, the ship will be forced to depart without you.”
Cullen eased the rowboat out. “I had already thought as much, and resigned myself to waiting for a change in the weather in the days ahead.”
Fox shook his head emphatically. “You cannot miss this sailing. It is imperative you get aboard.”
Every sense in Sunny’s body was on high alert. She crossed her arms. “Why?”
Fox straightened up and looked over at her as if amused. “The turn of the tide. If he doesn’t catch this vessel, the opportunity is gone.”
Sunny shrugged. “From what I understand, he has to leave the area. He can do that easily enough. Why are you insisting he get aboard that ship?”
Cullen crossed to her side and rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It was my choice to take the opportunity. The adventure appealed to me.”
Sunny could understand that. Who didn’t want to travel and have adventures? But there was something weird going on here and she wanted to get to the bottom of it.
“You were ready to stay by my side,” she whispered, locking Cullen’s gaze with her own.
Cullen nodded and glanced back over his shoulder at his friend, his eyebrows drawn down, his forehead furrowed.
Fox twitched, as if annoyed. “Come now, this touching union was never meant to be. There is a debt of honor to be paid. This situation can be redeemed, if you let Cullen depart on the tide.”
“What if I don’t want him to leave? He’s promised to stand by my side and protect me.” Fox looked at her as if she had no right to give him such cheek, which made her glad she had.
“That little display you put on in the market place has well and truly put a price on Cullen’s head,”
Fox said with a sadistic smile. “You should be glad he’s going, to get him out of the bailiff’s jurisdiction.”
“I can think of another way to get him out of the bailiff’s jurisdiction,” Sunny shot back. “You’ve traveled in time, as have I. Why shouldn’t Cullen?” The words were out before she’d thought about it. She had no clue if it was even possible.
Fox turned his attention to Cullen, his expression growing increasingly annoyed. “You should get aboard ship and do it as quickly as possible. Get away from here.”
“What’s in it for you?” Sunny asked, determined to get to the bottom of it.
His eyes rounded. “My, my, Celeste was right about you. You are a perceptive one.”
Celeste? He said her name as if they were good friends. A connection had been obvious the afternoon before, in The Witch’s Brew Cafe. There was definitely history between her friend Celeste and this weirdo. But where did Cullen fit into it? She had the feeling he was some sort of crucial linchpin, but she didn’t have enough pieces of the jigsaw to figure out the full picture. Her heart raced. Time was against them. It wasn’t just she wanted him to stay—and that was a big part of it, she admitted it—it was more to do with the distress she felt in this Viscount Fox’s presence. Nevertheless, she stepped aside and let the two men pull the boat outside the cave.
Fox continued to speak to Cullen in a low voice.
Sunny followed them, her body instantly buffeted by the harsh winds.