Somehow Peter had dragged himself almost to the front door, his broken leg outstretched and with the makeshift wooden splint miraculously still attached. There was a small trail of blood, which she supposed must have come from another wound under his shirt that they hadn’t yet found, because his leg hadn’t been a source of blood despite it having a horrendous injury.

“What does he think he’s doing?” Addy asked, horrified as she moved closer to Harry.

“Apparently he’s going to surrender,” Harry said, shaking his head as he stared at his friend in what she imagined was disbelief. “I’ve tried to talk sense into him, but he won’t listen.”

“Is there anything I could say?” Adelaide asked.

“Honestly, he’s just so fixated on trying to surrender again. Other than tying him to a chair—”

“Maybe he just needs someone to be patient with him,” she said. “To talk to him instead of telling him why he’s wrong.”

“You’re suddenly an expert on talking soldiers down from the ledge?” Harry asked. “There’s nothing you can say that I haven’t already said.”

“Or perhaps you could show a little respect to the women of the house,” Elise said, the final stair-tread creaking as she walked toward them. “If she wants to talk to him, let her talk. There are worse things a man could be subjected to than my sister’s kindness.”

Addy shielded her mouth with her hand to hide her smirk. She doubted Harry could have missed the condescending tone in her sister’s voice. She chanced a quick glance at him and saw that he was less than impressed, but he clearly knew what was good for him because he didn’t say anything else.

“Harry, I’m going to lay some ground rules,” Elise said, coming closer. “We all show one another kindness and respect, and you remember that we’re not your troops. This is our home, and I’d say you’re very fortunate to have been given refuge here.”

Peter cried out, silencing them all, and Harry looked like he’d just received a blow to the stomach, his face drained of color as he watched Peter writhe across the floor. Addy felt herself flood with pity for both men.

“If we can’t keep him here, then we’ll be forced to let him go at some point, but for now, I think we should let Addy talk to him,” Elise continued.

“Wait, you actually want to let him go?” Harry spluttered.

Addy watched as Elise shook her head. “That’s not what I said. But you’ve said it yourself—there’s only so long we can physically contain a man who doesn’t want to be here. If he’s still wanting to surrender another week or month from now, I don’t see that we have any other choice.”