"Father!"
Phoebe's shout blared in Kiernan's ears. He shoved her back through the door, then threw a backhanded punch at Harrington as a second shot blasted. Harrington slammed into the building and Kiernan lunged for Mason in the instant he hit the walkway. Kiernan jammed his arms beneath his shoulders and hauled him back through the door and out of view of the open door.
Phoebe fell to her knees beside him. "He's been shot," she cried.
Feet raced across the overhead floorboards. Kiernan glanced at the open door. Harrington was gone. He didn't like that any better than if Harrington stood there with a gun to finish off the job.
Kiernan stripped off his coat and shoved it in front of Phoebe. "Staunch the blood."
She looked at him, eyes dazed.
"You've done it before," he shouted. "For me. Snap to, Phoebe."
She grabbed the coat and he yanked the revolver from his waistband and flattened himself against the wall near the door. Cautiously, he peered around the doorjamb. Harrington was nowhere in sight.
"God damn bastard," he cursed.
"MacGregor," Mason said in a harsh whisper.
"Father," Phoebe cried in unison with the snap of Kiernan's head in their direction.
"Shh," Mason said. His eyes shifted to Kiernan. "Get her to safety."
"I'm not leaving you," she said through tears.
Letty appeared on the stair landing with Regan two steps behind, a revolver in his hand. "Mon dieu," she breathed in unison with Regan's "Good God."
Regan pushed past her and she followed. She stopped beside Mason, as Regan sidled up to the door opposite Kiernan.
"What happened?"
Before Kiernan could answer, the pounding of boots on the wooden walkway pulled his attention back to the street. Douglas and Androu were racing along the walkway on the opposite side of the street.
"Stay back," Kiernan shouted. "The shooter is still out there."
"No, he's not," a man called from between one of the buildings across the street.
Kiernan aimed his pistol in the direction of the man's voice.
"Don’t shoot, for Christ's sake," Regan said. "He's one of us."
Alistair Redgrave emerged from the alley, hands raised, but Kiernan didn't miss the revolver protruding from his waistband.
"What the hell are you doing here, Redgrave?" Kiernan demanded.
"Alistair?" Phoebe called.
"Stopping you from getting your head shot off," Redgrave called back. "Your shooter is back there." He motioned toward the alley behind him. "Dead."
"Androu, Douglas, go have a look," Kiernan ordered. "And start a search for Harrington."
The men took off at a run.
"Redgrave," Kiernan said, "if I don’t like your explanation, I'll kill you." He glanced at Regan. "I'll deal with you as well. You didn't tell me the entire story behind why you're here."
"Blame Her Majesty," Regan said. "I was sworn to secrecy."
"The devil with your secrets. Redgrave," he called, "get in here and help with your friend." Kiernan shoved the pistol into his pocket. "Come along, Regan, we'll need you as well." He hurried to Mason. "Letty, a room with fresh linens and a doctor, if you please."
She nodded and called "Margaret," as she hurried through the drawing room door.
Redgrave appeared in the doorway and reached them an instant later. He knelt beside Mason.
"You're sure you got the man?" Kiernan demanded.
"A bullet through the heart."
"Any sign of Harrington?" Kiernan asked.
Phoebe gasped. He followed the direction of her stare and saw Harrington in the doorway with a gun. Kiernan grabbed for his pistol as the deafening roar of a shot rang out in the room. Harrington's eyes widened in shock, then he toppled backwards. Kiernan shifted his gaze to Letty, who stood in the drawing room doorway, a revolver pointed at Harrington. A small curl of smoke lifted from the barrel of her gun.
"I saw him pass by the window," she said. "He was skulking. That is never a good sign."
"No," Kiernan agreed, it isn't." He looked at Regan. "She beat you to the shot."
"I put the damn revolver in my belt."
"Never underestimate a woman. Let's get Mason to a bed. Where are we taking him, Letty?"
She lowered the weapon. "Third floor, second door on the right."
"Third floor?" Kiernan grunted as they lifted Mason. He didn't like the looks of the man. His eyes were closed and his chest didn't rise and fall with its usual vigor. "You plan to make us work, madam."
"The third floor is safer than the second floor," Letty replied, unruffled. "And that bed is unused."
"Yes, well," he cast a glance at Phoebe, who stood beside him, eyes fixed on her father, face wet with tears, "unused is exactly what we need."