As soon as Princess Molly reached the safety of her bedchamber, she pulled the bell rope for Kaitlyn.
As she waited, she thought about the prince's violin playing and how he made her feel. She knew that if he came to her bedchamber that night, she would not deny him. She was awash with the desire he evoked in her, these strange sensations she had never felt before, that clenching feeling low in her belly, that ache which would not go away. Her body vibrated to his every touch, as if she herself were a violin and he was playing her.
Kaitlyn entered the room with within a few minutes. "You look a little flushed,Your Highness, are you ill?"
The princess shook her head. "No, Kaitlyn. I...I was with the prince. He was playing for me in the music room."
"Looks more like you were playing together," said the lady's maid, rather impertinently.
Molly couldn't help but laugh. She knew her lady's maid was her best friend first, and as her best friend, Kaitlyn tended to be outspoken. "He is a most wonderful kisser," she confided. "His kisses make me tingle all over, and they make me...want him, to be close with him."
"You'd best not let your step-father see that expression on your face. I heard below stairs that he is planning on taking luncheon with you."
"Thank you for warning me. I shall attempt to keep my distance from Sherlock. He has a friend coming this afternoon. This friend, John, apparently overheard my step-father talking about my impending betrothal to the king, boasting about it."
Kaitlyn put her hands to her mouth. "Oh my God, Molly, that man is such a beast, but I am not surprised. He wishes to make certain you do not find any way to escape."
Princess Molly sighed. "I know. I told Sherlock's mother that I will do my duty, if I must. I know I cannot run away. My mother would be punished in my stead. If I must marry King Mycroft, I shall do so, but I shall hate every minute of it. My heart belongs to Sherlock." Tears sprang to her eyes as she spoke.
"The queen mother is aware of the situation?" asked Kaitlyn in surprise.
"She guessed it. In fact, I believe her intention was always to bring me and Sherlock together, once she saw the connection between us. She has told us she will talk with Mycroft upon his return as well, to see if there is a way for Sherlock and myself to be together. She is a very intelligent woman, so perhaps she will have success."
"We must just pray that either she or your prince can get through to the king."
"I am going to the chapel on the grounds after luncheon to spend some time in prayer."
"That's good, then," approved her friend. "Now, come, let me help you change for luncheon or you will be late, Your Highness."
A short time later, the princess made her way down to the dining hall. She was not looking forward to seeing Prince Culverton.
Unfortunately, her step-father was already in attendance in the dining hall, and he was the only one. "'So, my dear," he said with a false note of joviality in his voice, "what have you been up to this morning?"
"I...I was playing the pianoforte in the music room."
"Was the prince with you?" he asked suspiciously. Molly did not know why the man, who was usually quite ignorant of anything but his own importance, should be astute enough to suspect anything between Sherlock and herself.
"N...no, I was alone," she responded, cursing herself for that nervousness which always betrayed itself in a stammer.
He cast her another suspicious glance, but was unable to speak further on the subject as the queen mother entered the room with her son.
"Ah, good afternoon Prince Culverton," said the elderly woman. "I hope you are quite well?"
"Except for this confounded headache, pardon my language," responded the man.
The queen mother merely nodded her head graciously and they all settled down to a quiet meal. Molly carefully avoided looking at Sherlock, not wishing to betray in any way her feelings, or provide any ammunition for her step-father's suspicions.
The queen mother, as usual, tried to carry the conversation, chatting amiably. "Do you have anything planned for this afternoon, Prince Culverton?" She Asked. "If not, I should be delighted to show you our stables. We have some of the finest horseflesh at the castle that you will ever see."
Molly wondered if the woman was deliberately trying to find ways of keeping the older man occupied. That certainly seemed to be the case.
"That would be delightful," said the older prince. "Perhaps Prince Sherlock can accompany us."
"I will be unable to accompany you, unfortunately," responded Prince Sherlock. "My friend John is coming to the castle for a visit. We have not seen each other in some time, so I am looking forward to it."
"In that case, would you like to come to the stables as well, Amelia?" questioned her step-father.
"No, thank you, Step-papa, I may take a walk in the garden with my lady's maid. It is such a beautiful day."
The prince accepted her refusal without comment. Obviously he was not worried, because he knew the young prince would be occupied with his friend.
At the end of the meal, Molly excused herself first. She left the room and immediately went to the garden entrance. She followed the path in the garden,
As she walked among the beautiful flowers, she thought about the rose Sherlock had presented her with, and the way he had told her it was not as beautiful as she was. Her eyes searched for the discarded rose, which she finally found next to the path. Surprisingly, the blossoms had opened further and it still looked freshly picked. She lifted it to her nose, smelling its delicate fragrance, remembering her first kiss with Sherlock.
The princess had never been kissed before. She had dismissed the men who tried to court her, before they even got as far as kissing her hand. The prince's kiss, though unexpected, had been everything she had ever dreamed about, and more. It had awoken in her feelings she had never thought to experience for herself. It was wonderful, it was perfect, and every kiss since then was even more so.
She continued to walk along the path, rose in hand until the path forked. Instead of making the left to the gazebo, she headed along the path that curved to the right. If her calculations were correct, the path would lead her straight to the chapel. She was correct. The princess searched for the key to the chapel and found it exactly where Sherlock had said it would be.
After unlocking the door, Princess Molly stepped inside to the dim coolness of a small sanctuary. The chapel had several stained glass windows which provided enough illumination for her, as Sherlock had said, to make out several rows of pews on either side of a narrow aisle.
She walked slowly down the aisle and felt distinctly that this was a holy place, a place where God was present. There was a small altar at the front of the sanctuary, upon which a large Bible lay, with candles on either side. Behind the altar on the wall was a simple wooden cross. There were two small vestibules on either side, behind the altar, one from where the vicar would come out before a church service, and the other room which presumably contained sacred items which would be brought out on special occasions, like the chalice and plate used for communion. That room would also contain the register for all the marriages which would have been performed in the chapel over the years. Molly would have like to look at it, but the door was locked.
In front of the altar was a rail, with velvet cushions on which people could kneel to partake of communion. Instead of sitting in a pew, the princess decided to kneel at the railing. First however,she approached the altar and gently laid the rose onto it.
She returned to the railing, knelt, closed her eyes and began to pray fervently. Before anything else, she thanked God for bringing her here safely. She prayed for her mother, back in Bartonia, that she would be safe, and that somehow she could be spared Prince Culverton's wrath in the future.
Then she began to pray for Sherlock and herself. She prayed that somehow an answer could be found, that God would make a way for them to be together. She prayed the king would be understanding of their predicament, and that he would be willing to take the steps necessary to call off the betrothal.
Princess Molly remained in silent prayer and contemplation for some time, unnoticing of the time that passed, her hands clasped together with her elbows resting on the altar rail. She had no idea how much time had passed when finally, she heard the sound of the door to the chapel opening.
She stood somewhat stiffly, having been on her knees for so long, and turned around. Her lips curved in a welcoming smile as the man she loved walked towards her. There was a man at his heels, a blonde man who was considerably shorter than the prince and perhaps a year or two older. He had a kindly face, and Molly liked the look of him immediately.
Even as the prince reached her, his friend bowed formally to her and she curtsied.
Then Sherlock said, in his rich baritone voice that thrilled her senses, "John, I would like to introduce you to the one woman in the world who has captured my heart, Princess Amelia von Hooperstein."
Author's note: Aren't Molly and Sherlock lucky to have the queen mother as an ally? I hope you liked the description of the chapel. What do you think John's reaction will be to his friend being in love?
Thanks for reading, and hopefully reviewing too :)