By the time Maddison retrieved the oars, Tonell had resurfaced and was attempting to go after Cullen.
"You won't get away this time, Cullen! You've betrayed your country and deserve to hang."
Cullen, naturally, had other plans. He wasn't about to just let himself die that day, nor the lady. He was a gentleman after all, and the fairer sex deserved to be protected from such harsh realities as this. Besides, were they not on a 'date '?
Cullen and Tonell struggled over the spare boat, leaving Maddison to the upturned one and elsewhere splashing in the water, Tonell's lackey.
And Tonell did not wait nor hesitate to fetch out his knife, smashing it into the side of the boat and missing Cullen by mere inches. He growled and yanked the knife free, then pulled himself up into the boat just as Cullen tried, but he struck his blade out again. Cursing, Cullen fell back into the waters and after a long moment, everything went still. Tonell hesitated before peering over the side of the boat, but didn't see a sign of the damn former captain of the guard anywhere.