As Princess Molly followed the prince to the library, she shifted her shoulders slightly and winced. It had not been the best experience, waking up after her exhausted sleep. Her back still ached when she moved it too much. To make things worse, her step-father had disccovered where her room was and awoken her by knocking sharply upon the door.

Prince Culverton had railed at her for having a more impressive bedchamber than his own, and he had made several sneering comments about the "poor" hospitality they were receiving, especially with the king leaving so abruptly. He was also unhappy that king Mycroft had not immediately presented her with an engagement ring, to seal the betrothal. Molly had been expecting another beating, but on this occasion, her step-father refrained, obviously aware that luncheon was not far off. Molly feared that he would elicit his retribution on her later, despite the fact she was innocent of wrongdoing.

The unpleasant man had told the princess to get dressed, and that he would wait for her at the top of the stairs so they could go to luncheon together. She had the feeling he wanted to take no chances on her fleeing the castle.

Luncheon had been a stilted affair. Princess Molly was pleased when Prince Sherlock offered to show her the castle. It was a relief that the queen mother had convinced Prince Culverton to attend to her, rather than accompany the younger couple.

Discovering the the prince played the violin had been delightful. Princess Molly loved music, and had enjoyed his original performance. However, the place she wanted to see most was the library. Although her family's castle had a large library, she was longing to see what treasures this castle's library held. Yet the prince had shown her room after room, and no library.

Finally she had asked if there was one, and he agreed to show her. It was strange though, he seemed rather reluctant about it.

They reached the door of what was presumably the library and the prince halted. "I must apologize in advance, Molly. I tend to do a lot of reading, and the table has many unshelved books upon it." He opened the door.

"Why do you think that would concern me?" she inquired. "It is as well that you put the room to good use. I always have volumes of chemistry books or scientific journals open on the table in our library, unless I need to take them to my laboratory." She walked inside the library, then gasped in amazement. "Is that the most recent Dublin Journal of Medical and Chemical Science?"

She glanced at the prince, who was staring at her with a bemused expression on his face. He didn't seem to have heard her question, but instead asked one of his own. "You are knowledgeable in the sciences? You have a laboratory?"

"Oh, yes," she assured him. "My parents gave me the best tutors in the country, and I gravitated towards the sciences. I love to know how things work. In my laboratory I have done experiments with various chemicals just to see what kind of. reactions they make."

"Where is your laboratory?" asked the prince.

"My parents converted an unused bedchamber for me to use." Her face fell a little as she added. "Unfortunately, my step-father has closed off the room now, and won't allow me to use it anymore. He said it is too dangerous."

"I am thinking you will be well rid of him when you marry my brother." He was looking intently at her.

Princess Molly felt a sharp pain at his words. Unbidden, the thought came to her mind how different things might be if it were the prince she was marrying. He was so handsome, and apparently learned in the same things she herself was interested in. The prince continued to hold her gaze until she dropped hers. Her heart started to pound and her mouth felt dry.

Returning her gaze to the table, she saw once again the journal and picked it up. "This IS the latest journal. How exciting!"

She leafed through a few pages, until the prince said abruptly, " I think it is time you went upstairs. I expect you should like another rest before dinner."

"Must I? It is so lovely in here, and I would love to explore more. I enjoy reading novels as well, and I..."

"No!" Prince Sherlock said in a harsh tone, and she flinched involuntarily.

He ran a hand through his hair then, and said in frustration, "i'm sorry, princess, I think I should take you back to your room now. I just remembered, I have some urgent matters to attend to before dinner."

He had called her princess, not Molly. What had she done to offend him? Perhaps he did not like her company and just wished to be rid of her. "Very well," she said in a low voice, trying to blink quickly and rid herself of the tears that had formed in her eyes at his harsh tone.

She dropped the journal back on the table, and kept her head down as he showed her back to her bedchamber.

Once she entered the room, Molly thought miserably that she would rather stay in her bedchamber for the rest of the day. If the prince found it so hard to be in her company, then it would be best if she did not force herself on him. It was probably best anyway. He evoked feelings in her that she did not want to have, must not have.

Princess Molly pulled the bell rope. To her delight, it was answered by her very own lady's maid Kaitlyn, who had apparently arrived a short while earlier.

"Oh, Kaitlyn!" she exclaimed, "I'm so glad you are here." She hugged her lady's maid who was really more a friend than servant. And then she burst into tears.

"What is it, Molly? What's wrong? Did your step-father hurt you again?" Kaitlyn always used her name rather than title when she was acting in her capacity as friend.

"No, it's not that," wept the distraught princess. "My step-father has not touched me since we have been here."

"Then what could have happened to make you so upset? Was the king beastly to you?"

"No, it's not that. He seems nice enough. It is his younger brother. The king had to leave for a few days on some important matter to the north, and Prince Sherlock showed me the castle this afternoon."

"That sounds like it would have been lovely. I do not understand what has upset you so."

"It is the prince. One moment he seems so friendly, and the next he is cold and distant. It seems he is quite the scholar. In the library I found that he has a love also for all things scientific. I was hoping we could have a conversation about it, but all of a sudden, he insisted I should return to my bedchamber. I don't want to see him again tonight, nor my step-father. Please, Kaitlyn, can you ask for a meal to be sent up to me? Tell them I have a headache and am still weary from travelling."

"Of course I can do that. You are probably feeling overly emotional after your long journey. I will go downstairs now and bring you some food, then get you ready for bed."

"Thank you, Kaitlyn," said Molly, wiping away her tears. Perhaps she was just overwrought from the long journey.

The lady's maid left the bedchamber, and the princess tried to think of the events of that afternoon. At first she thought perhaps the prince might have been a kindred spirit. Undoubtedly she had been mistaken, judging by the way he had suddenly changed and insisted she leave the library.

By the time Kaitlyn returned with her meal on a tray, Princess Molly really did feel as if she was getting a headache. She ate without tasting her food, then allowed Kaitlyn to undress her and unpin her hair from the chignon so it flowed down her back.

'Is there anything else I can do for you, Your Highness?" asked Kaitlyn, returning to her role as lady's maid, rather than friend.

"No, Kaitlyn," sighed the princess. "It has been rather an emotional day. Perhaps I will feel better tomorrow."

"I will see you in the morning then. Sleep well."

Molly gave her friend a wan smile. "I'll try."

Once she was alone, the princess got into the bed. Despite herself, her thoughts kept turning towards the handsome prince. There was something about him that made her want to know him better, to find out his views on the latest scientific advances. Then there was the way he played the violin, as if he was born to do so. Her last thought before she fell into a troubled sleep, was that she longed to run her hands through his curly hair, and to feel his lips on hers.

Author's Note: Oh dear, the princess is falling for the wrong man. How could this happen? LOL

How do you think Sherlock will react to her absence at dinner? Will he be relieved or disappointed?