“Wait!” Frederick could hear the woman’s frantic voice. The stranger stiffened, hearing it too. He seemed puzzled.
“Redcoat coming,” the man murmured. “We’d best get you out of here, boy. I’ve business to attend to, but still…I’m wondering how badly you’ve been hurt. Now first…” He took off his cloak and wrapped it around Frederick.
“I’m not a boy. I’m married and I’ve got a child.”
“Well, you’re one up on me then, lad. Come on, then, take my shoulder, we’ll have to move quick.”
“You’ll turn me in—”
“And leave your wee babe an orphan? No, man, the British will have their revenge for this night—a blind man would know that. But I can’t see why your life should be forfeit.”
Frederick was not a small man, but his strange deliverer swept him up into his arms and quickly slung him over saddle on the flanks of the black stallion. He mounted the horse behind Frederick and then paused briefly again. “I dare not go back by Faneuil Hall. We’ll have to move westward.”
Breathing desperately against the pain in his shoulder, Frederick swallowed hard. “My house, milord, is just down the street.”
There. He had done it. He had told this man where he lived. He might be bringing danger down upon Elizabeth and the baby. He might have sealed their fate.
“Point me onward, and I will see you home.”
But before Frederick could do so, the sentry rounded the corner with the woman in the cloak following close beside him. “Sir! A man is lost, I tell you, and you must give up this ridiculous manhunt to help me!” the feminine voice cried.
The sentry stood dead still staring down the cobbled street to where Frederick sagged atop the horse. Frederick’s rescuer stepped forward. “Amanda!”
Frederick could see that she stared at him blankly, but perhaps the sentry did not fathom the look. The man stepped forward, drawing her toward him. “My betrothed, Officer. Her father would be horribly distressed if he knew that she was roaming the streets. He would charge me with negligence, and…well…My friend, have a heart. Were you to report this, my lovely prize might well be snatched from my very hands.”
“What? Your betrothed—” she began in protest.
“Yes!” he snapped, narrowing his eyes. “She has lapses!” the man said quickly, and he caught hold of her with force, pulling her against him in a fine semblance of desperate affection. Frederick heard his urgent and commanding whisper. “If you wish your Damien well, you will shut your mouth now!”
She went stiff, but still. “Take the lady, milord, and save me some time and strength!” the soldier complained. “I’m looking for a dangerous, armed rebel. I followed his trail—who is that up on your horse?” he said with sudden sharp suspicion.
“My friend has partied too heartily this night. We’ve been at the home of Sir Thomas Mabry, and well…young fellows do imbibe too freely upon occasion. Isn’t that right, Mandy?”
She went very stiff, but agreed. As she smiled to the sentry, Frederick saw that she was very beautiful. “It was quite a party, Officer,” she murmured.
“There’s parties all about tonight, so it seems!” The sentry saluted the man. “Milord, then, if you’ve things in hand, I’ll be on my way.”
“Quite right! Thank you.”
The sentry moved on. His footsteps fell upon the cobblestones, then faded away.
“Who are you, sir, and what do you think you’re doing?” the woman hissed. “Where’s Damien? And what do you know about him?”
“I only know, mam’selle, that you were about to lead the king’s men straight to him.”
“And what difference would that make?” she demanded heatedly.
“I don’t know, nor can I care. This man needs help.”
“Help! He’s been shot! Oh, my God! He’s one of the rabble, one of the dissidents—”
“He’s a bleeding human being, milady, and you’ll help him since you’re here! Then I’ll see you home!”
“I don’t need you to see me anywhere—”
“You do need me, milady. And I need you at the moment. Come, let me put my arm about your shoulder and sing. That should see us as far as this poor man’s place. Frederick! You must lead us, for I don’t know where we’re going.”
There was no choice. Frederick told him the number of his house, and they hurried onward. They could still hear the soldiers running blindly about the streets. The night was coming more and more alive as news of the night’s deed spread quickly from house to house.
