She wanted to touch him, to even just put a hand on his shoulder, but it felt too intimate for someone she didn’t really know. Instead she turned to go and fetch the water, not sure what else she could do for either man other than clean their wounds with warm water and apply bandages where needed.

When she returned, she cleared her throat and looked between them. The one who’d been babbling away like a madman was silent now, just rocking gently back and forth in his chair, and she wondered if perhaps he was no longer right in the head. He was sizeable, broad-shouldered and heavier than his friend, and she didn’t know how they’d restrain him if he wouldn’t let her tend to his wounds.

“Your friend, is he . . .”

“In shock, I think.”

She nodded. “All right, well then, shall I help you first?”

“No, help him. His leg seems pretty bad.”

Elise’s stomach churned as she considered what she might be about to deal with, but she tried not to let it show on her face. She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, wondering whether her measly bowl of hot water was going to do her any good.

“Do you have any medical training?” she asked the soldier.

“No. Do you?”

She sighed. “None. But I’ll do my best.”

“I’m Harry,” he said. “We are part of the”—he paused, grunting as he adjusted his weight—“we were the Royal Norfolk Regiment.”

Elise was grateful that he was talking, because it was taking her mind off what she was about to do, although she could hear the rasp of his voice and knew that he must be in terrible pain. “I’m Elise, and that’s my youngest sister Adelaide out there.”

Speaking of Addy, what was taking her so long? There must have been more blood ingrained into that doorstep than she realized.

“Were you really thinking about leaving us out there?” He hissed out a breath as he adjusted himself, and she winced for him, hating that he was hurting so badly. “After what you saw them do to us?”

Elise bristled. “And here I was thinking you were about to thank me.”

He dipped his head then, and she hoped he had the good sense to keep his mouth shut.

“I just didn’t expect a woman to turn away injured men. Especially Allies.”

This time she did more than bristle. “I’ll have you know that the life of my sister, and protecting her, is more important to me than anything else in this world. So instead of judging me, how about you thank me and then sit quietly.”