"Thanks," he said, bending to help her, wincing as his back protested but doing his best to hide it. He ushered her in and closed the door behind her. He felt safer immediately. Rosier might have said it was all right, but some of the teaches might have thought otherwise if they'd seen them 'fraternising'.
He staggered over to the sofa and sat down, beckoning her to join him. "I'm... really glad you came," he said, looking at her but not quite meeting her eyes.