William slid to the edge of the roof overlooking the alley. He crouched there and peered over. Dodger was boxed in near the back of the alley, walls on three sides. A large, broken-nosed man stood between him and freedom, pistol at the ready. Dodger was shaking hard enough William could see it. Knowing the boy’s pluck, William concluded the big man had already shown himself to be brutal.
“I’m telling you, I was watching all night till you came barging round,” Dodger said.
The man shifted. He was about to shoot.
William launched himself over the edge as the pistol fired. He landed in front of Dodger. The bullet tore into William’s side. Pain seared him, nearly mind-numbing.
“Bloody hell,” the man barked. With a roar, he tossed his spent pistol and rushed William.
Reflex brought William’s hands up. He ducked the onrush, pivoting away. The big man’s momentum carried him past. His body behind the blow, William slammed his fist into the side of the man’s head.
The big man stopped. He shook his head like a confused horse. William teetered. Hot blood ran down his side. He struck a second time. His fist slammed into the man’s head, sending him over. He toppled, hitting the wall of the narrow alley. He slid along the brick and landed on his side with a thud.
Like a starved pup, Dodger leapt atop the body. Nimble fingers rummaged through the man’s clothes, pulling out coins. He looked up, eyes bright. “That was something, your lordship. No one’s ever done nothing like that for me before.”
William took a staggering step backward, arm pressed to his side. He leaned against the opposite wall of the narrow alley. “Happy to oblige.”
Dodger’s hands stilled. “You hurt? He never landed a blow.”
“I’m afraid his pistol did.”
“You been shot?”
“It does seem that way.” William forced himself away from the wall. It was a bloody wound. Deep. The bullet was still in there. He required skilled hands to remove it, and stitching. “If you’ve need of a few more coins, I have the feeling I’m going to require assistance.”
At his side in a blink, Dodger looked up with a mixture of worry and devotion. “Anything you need, your lordship. Should I be taking you to the sawbones?”
“That won’t be necessary.” William would need to risk trusting this lad. He had to get back to Cecilia. She was the only person who knew his secret. She could mend him well enough. The trouble was reaching her chamber unseen. The marquess’s spies were out front, servants within, and William was in no shape to climb anything, let alone leap between rooftops. “I have a place to go. I’ll need your help to enter unseen, and your word you’ll never tell a soul about where I’m going to take you.”
“I can do that, your lordship.” Dodger’s expression became resolute. “You saved my life. No one’s done nothing like that for me before. I’ll see you’re put right.”
William nodded. He certainly hoped so.
