He was upright, but only just.
“Let me help you.” She reached for him.
“Are you mad? Leave here at once.” His voice was tight with pain.
“‘Thank you’ would have done,” Dorrie muttered, then eased him off the wall. “Now move your feet to my hackney.”
“Don’t be foolish,” he gritted out. “I can look after myself.”
“He may come back. Come now, hurry.” She slid an arm around his waist and lifted his good arm over her shoulder. “I will take you home.”
He was big and solid and wore a thick coat buttoned to the neck.
“Where are you hurt?”
“Leg,” he grunted. “Not bad; now let me go.”
A shot rang out, and they both dropped to a crouch. The man groaned as, Dorrie was sure, pain shot through his thigh.
“You cannot stay here or you will be found floating in the Thames in the morning!”
“I care little about that. Now leave.”
“You care little about death?” The thought horrified her.
He grunted something and tried to rise. She helped him, his full weight forcing her sideways for a few steps.
“No one wants to die, sir. Now move your feet.”
Dorrie was used to large men. Her family were full of them, so she ignored his attempts to stop her and stepped out from under his arm. She braced her hands on his back and pushed.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Moving you,” she gritted out. The going was slow, and she kept searching for the gunman; so far she had not found him. Once they’d reached the hackney, which was thankfully still there, Dorrie urged the man inside, which wasn’t easy, as he was clearly in pain and not being helpful. He slumped on a seat.
“That was foolish,” he gritted out.
“My siblings often call me that; it is not an insult that bothers me. Now, I will take you to my sister.”
“No. Take me to theFreedom.”
“What is theFreedom?”
“My ship. I have men there who will help me.”
“Very well.” She leaned out the window. “Do you know where the ship theFreedomis, driver?”
“I do, miss.”
“I would be most grateful if you could take us there. I will ensure you are paid handsomely for the inconvenience.”
“He’s a driver. He won’t be inconvenienced if he gets paid,” the large man seated across from her said as she sat.
“And yet manners cost nothing. Let me see your leg.”
“No.”
She was also used to men who did not like fuss or anyone to help them when they were hurting. She moved to sit next to him as the hackney jerked, then rolled forward. She pulled his fingers from his thigh. They were bloodied.
