Miss Faraday nodded. “Is that where you work?” She looked around, decided something, and took off her bonnet, pulling off the ribbon decorating the brim then wrapping it tightly around the woman’s hand and wrist.
“No. Tha’s where Johnny works. Me son, ye see.”
The need to get a lawman tugged at Lucas sharply enough that he interrupted the women. “I need to get a Bow Street Runner.”
The man behind him groaned again, but a quick look showed him still lying without movement. Lucas likely had a few minutes yet. Hopefully it was enough.
“That should do it.” Miss Faraday patted the woman’s arm then helped her to her feet. “Mrs....”
“Brander,” the woman supplied.
“Mrs. Brander, are you far from home?” Miss Faraday asked.
“Na, only a street a’ two.”
“You are well returning on your own?” Lucas asked. “I could assist you.”
Mrs. Brander shook her head, shoulders back. “I’ll be well ’nough. Thank ye.”
Lucas nodded, watching her walk off before returning his gaze to Miss Faraday. She was already watching him, something inquisitive in her eye.
“I must find a Runner. You will come with me, and then I will return you home.”
“Oh? Is that the plan now?”
He nodded decisively. It was not safe, and he wouldn’t leave her to find her own way home. Not at this time, not after the altercation they’d just witnessed. A protective surge had him wanting to put an arm around her to physically shield her from the world and its terrors.
“Very well. I admit traveling in the hackney was not particularly enjoyable. And I would like to look at your shoulder.”
“My shoulder is perfectly well,” Lucas protested as they came out of the alleyway. The Bow Street watchhouse near Covent Garden was close enough that they could have a Runner dispatched within a quarter of an hour. He grasped Miss Faraday’s arm and pulled her to him, putting his arm around hershoulders. Dash propriety; he was not allowing this woman from his sight.
She stumbled a bit over her feet, and he realized how quickly he was walking. He shortened his stride. A bit.
“Your shoulder is not perfectly well.”
He wrenched open his carriage door. “It—very well, it twinges a bit. Nothing worth worrying over.” Without thinking, he placed his hand on the small of her back, looking around to ensure no other threats were about. Awareness spread from that one spot up his arm and through his body. Shaking his hand out, he directed the coachman to make for the watchhouse before he followed Miss Faraday inside the darkened interior of the carriage.
“Does it hurt when you raise it forward?”
“What?” Oh, his shoulder. “No. It only twinges.” He lifted the curtain to look out the window, his knee bouncing with repressed energy.
“Does ittwingemore or less when you lift it to the side than to the front?”
He demonstrated the action, only paying attention halfway. Until she switched to the seat beside him and grasped his shoulder between her hands. Her fingers prodded the front of his shoulder, where it connected with his chest. He winced.
“Yes, I thought that might be the spot. You ought to refrain from using it for a day or two. Have your valet warm a brick for you at night. Wrap it in a towel, and keep it on your shoulder for a quarter of an hour. It should feel better within the week.”
He dropped the curtain to the window back into place and looked over at her. Miss Faraday’s hands froze on his arm and slowly pulled back. She met his eyes with a hesitant look. “I apologize. I should not have overstepped.”
“Charlie mentioned you had an interest in medicine. I can see you are quite adept.”
“As much as an unofficially trained woman can be, I suppose.” She shifted back a bit but kept her eyes on him.
“Where did you learn?” His voice was quiet, but he did not exactly know why. It just seemed the thing to do.
“One of the tenants was a midwife, and occasionally I spoke with the town’s apothecary. I picked things up here and there. Books and the like.” She shrugged.
He watched her until her eyes met his. “That is very impressive. I will give my valet your instructions.”
