“Really?”
“We’re about five to six hours sailing from my old anchorage at the mouth of Bayou Mal Chance.”
“I am eager to get back. I want to know how bad the flood damage is atSweet Dreams.
Luc studied the horizon in all directions. “I’m not sure you’ll be able to do that.”
“Why?” Grace asked.
He handed her the glass and pointed toward the islands. “Tell me, do you see any clouds on the horizon in that direction?”
She looked then lowered the glass slowly. “No, not a one.”
He stared at her for a very long time. She raised her head in question.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Grace,” she confirmed, and her eyes went wide. “Grace Thibodaux, and you aren’t cursed anymore, are you?”
“Right, I no longer have spectral powers.”
“What do you think that means?” Her brow furrowed.
“I believe Grainne is gone.” The memory of what could have been saddened him, but only for a bit. He had a future with Grace to fill all the coming years. “It makes sense. After all she’s been physically dead for decades,” Grace said.
He gave that statement careful consideration. “I’m not so sure of that.”
Grace stared at him. “You can’t mean…” Her face paled, and her gaze swept the horizon. Her breathing shallowed. “We can’t have traveled back in time to…. When? 1814?”
Luc gripped her hands. “It’s alright Grace. Look at me. Don’t panic.”
She focused on his face and heaved in air until her breathing slowed to normal. “How do we know we time-traveled?”
Luc thrust his hands through his hair. “Find out the year, the date?” His head came up. “I know exactly where to find them. Come with me.”
He took her hand, and they went below to his cabin. At the bottom of the ladder, he glanced toward the bow hold.
“Look,” he pointed for Grace. “Those barrels and bales weren’t on theOnly Lovewhen you and I came to my ship after escaping DeLille.”
Grace’s gaze slid in the direction he pointed. “Oh my.” She put her fingers to her lips briefly. “You have cargo aboard.”
“Just as it was before I was cursed.”
“Do you think your log book might be here too?”
“That’s why I came down here. I kept it in my desk, let’s go check.”
In the cabin, Luc opened the desk drawer and withdrew the logbook.
“How? That was in my valise.”
“I’ll bet your valise has vanished.”
“I put it in the bedroom alcove.” She rushed through the curtains.
Luc put the log on the desktop and opened to the last entry. The date was 08 December 1814. Grace returned and clutched his arm. “You’re right. The valise is gone.”
“Look at the date in the logbook?” He pointed to the page.
