The king's surgeon stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him.

Samuel stopped pacing. "What's wrong with her?"

William Beatty, Physician Extraordinary, smiled as he said, "Sleep."

"Sleep?" Samuel ran his hand through his long hair. "I don't understand. Unconscious. Is that what you're saying? Has she suffered a seizure?" A million thoughts rushed through his mind. One was, that she had died. When that thought struck him, he felt as if he had split in two.

Doctor Beatty raised his hand to stop Samuel from blurting out another question. "Sleep. As in her problem is sleep. She has passed out from exhaustion. Unconscious, yes, but it is nothing more than sleep. She is in a deep state of slumber. I have no idea when she will wake." He coughed into his hand to cover a smile as the young duke threw himself into the nearest chair with a relieved look on his face. "I suggest you take her home, Your Grace, and let her sleep it off, so to speak."

"Thank you." Samuel jumped to his feet and grabbed the Physician's hand. "I will. Thank you so much."

*

Once Christina had changed the sleeping Shay into her nightwear, and settled her under the covers, she crept to the door and closed it quietly behind her. She turned and almost choked on her breath at the sight of His Grace crouched against the opposite wall. "Oh, sir I wasn't expecting you there."

Samuel stood up. "I'm going to sit with her," he said as he stepped towards the door.

"You mustn't, My Lord." Christina sidled over to stand directly in front of the knob. "It wouldn't be proper."

"Christina." Samuel pinned her with his stare. "I'm not in the mood. She is going to be my wife, and as you know she has a mouth like a fishmonger's mate."

Christina suppressed a giggle.

"If I were to do anything improper you would certainly hear about. She'd have me by the throat with a blade." Sam cocked his head. "Now step aside please." He smiled at the girl. It usually worked if he flirted with the help. At least it had when he was at school. "Please." Sam pleaded, "She might need water or something when she wakes. I want her to know I care." He smiled again and repeated, "Please, Christina."

"If Sister Teresa or Mrs. Travers finds out I let you, there'll be trouble." She smiled back at him and stepped aside. "You won't tell, will you?"

Samuel chuckled, "I won't tell if you don't." He held out his little finger. "Promise."

Christina hooked hers around his. "Promise."

*

Shay dreamt of being kissed. She couldn't see the man's face. His lips were warm and soft. She knew it was wrong, but she didn't fight him. In fact, she kissed him in return. Her whole body felt like it was floating. He ran his hand into her hair, and let his fingers gently rest on the soft spot behind her ear. The sensation caused her to gasp. As the man continued to kiss her, she moaned. It was so nice. Sam's angry face came into view just behind the man's ear. Panic gripped Shay. Samuel was going to kill her. Kill them both. She pulled back, and then shoved the man in the chest. He was old, filthy and smelly. A hawker. Shay wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. She wanted to vomit, so spat on the ground. A man's laughter made her look up. Samuel was chained to a post. He looked at her with sorrow in his eyes. Shay felt tears in her own. She had betrayed him. As she stepped forward to free him, the old man moved in front of her. 'You're mine now.' He laughed, lifted his whip and turned to face Samuel.

'No...' Shay screamed and flung herself forward to shove the man away.

Strong hands caught her by the shoulders. Shay fought to breathe and flicked opened her eyes.

Samuel sat on the bed in front of her. "It's just a nightmare." He cupped the side of Shay's face and wondered what had happened. He had kissed her, and she had returned the kiss with so much passion that he thought she was awake, until she had shoved him away. Then he'd watched her thrash about and sling herself forward so hard that he nearly missed catching her shoulders. "You need to breathe, Shay," he said. "Take a big breath."

She stared at him and did as he told her.

"That's it. Now another. Again."

*

He was smiling at her, encouraging her to breathe. Shay wanted to cry. It was a dream. A terrifying dream. She hadn't dreamt of the hawker for years. To dream of him kissing her, made her want to vomit. As she thought it, her body heaved. Liquid expelled from her mouth and soaked Samuel's frilled fronted shirt. "I... I'm... sor..." More vomit shot forward. Shay couldn't understand it. He just sat there with a smile on his face. She sucked in air at short sharp intervals and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Sorry. Oh..." Shay gasped.

"Are you done?" Samuel put his finger under her chin and tipped her head up. Tears streamed down her face. He took the corner of the sheet and wiped them away. "Do you think you're going to vomit again?"

"No." Shay gasped. "I'm so sorry."

Samuel chuckled and looked down at his shirt. "I've had worse." He didn't care that she'd vomited on him. He loved her. It wouldn't matter what she covered him in. For some reason seeing her sleep, worrying about her, having her lips respond to his, and now wearing her vomit, only made him more determined to have her in his life.

"Why are you here?" Shay wondered if she had judged him all wrong. What man sits and lets a person cover them with sick, and not move a muscle. He was smiling for goodness sakes. She giggled, and then quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

"Are you going to be sick again?"

"No." Shay shook her head. Another giggle slipped past her fingers.

"Oh. I get it. You think this is funny." Samuel smirked. He gripped the hem of his shirt, pulled it up over his head, and then attempted to wipe her face with it.

"No!" Shay screamed. She ducked and tried to pull the blanket up to cover her head. Laughing she said, "Don't you dare or I'll..."

Sam dropped the shirt, put one hand either side of her head and grinned down at her. "You'll do what?"

Shay bit on her tongue. Here she was lying in bed with a half-naked man staring down at her and she was laughing. She couldn't stop from taking a quick look at his chest. Heat flushed her face as she looked up into Samuel's eyes.

"You'll do what?" he murmured.

"I could scream. Really loudly. Christina and everyone will come rushing in here and see you half-dressed and holding me to the bed." She opened her mouth.

"That would suit me very well, Shay Lytton."

Shay closed her mouth and gave him a puzzled look. "Why?"

"It would mean we could wed sooner. Tomorrow. This afternoon even. It won't take me long to go home and get a clean shirt." Sam cocked his head at her. "Go on. Scream. As loud as you can."

"I will do no such thing." Shay heaved a sigh. All her humour left her. "You need to be a gentleman and put on your jacket." She watched his face fall as she added, "What are you really doing here anyway?"

Her words stung him. What did she think he was doing there? Couldn't she see his worry for her? Samuel stood up and grabbed his coat from the back of the chair he had been sitting on and shoved his arms into the sleeves and did up the buttons. Was she never going to see any good in him? He lifted his shirt and stormed to the door. "I'll tell Christina you've been sick," he growled just before he slammed the door behind him.

Shay felt like crying. Why had she treated him so unkindly? He had obviously been sitting there all-night waiting for her to wake up. But why? And how did she get to bed. She didn't remember even coming home, let along getting ready for bed. Shay thought back to the night before. Amanda had called her a whore. Samuel had defended her. Then... then... Shay gasped. She'd asked him if he had been a slaver and his answer was no. Slave. Shay scrambled from the bed. She had to apologise for being so rude. As she filled the wash basin with water Shay smiled. Looking at his bare chest had been very pleasant indeed. She splashed water on her face, and then froze. There had been weird marks on his upper chest, shoulder and arm. And a scar, she was sure she'd caught sight of a scar. Nausea gripped her again. Surely, they were something to do with his captivity.

Christina walked into the room as Shay vomited into the wash basin. "Oh, miss. His Grace said you were sick." She flustered around and tried to get Shay back into bed.

"No." Shay shrugged off her hold. "I'm not sick, sick. It's anxiety. Help me get dressed, I have to see him. I have to apologise. I was so rude and he was so kind." She lifted her night dress. "Quick Christina. Help me get dressed before he leaves."

"It's too late, miss." Christina shook her head. "He's already gone. He told me he was leaving London today. I'm to tell you he won't have an opportunity to see you again until your wedding day." Christina didn't have the heart to tell her how angry he had seemed, when he spat those words out at her. She worried. The mistress looked so distressed. Something terrible must have happened.

Poor Samuel.  I can't blame him for being angry.  Shay needs to give him a chance.  What do you think?

Come and join me next week for our last five chapters of Stolen.  Fingers crossed for Samuel.  I hope Shay will fall in love with him but... things aren't looking good when we're so close to the end :(

Photo taken from Alamy