Red & White

twenty one.

Late March

"Breakfast is here, love." A sweet, groggy morning voice awoke Leah from her slumber on a chilly morning in March.

Due to the dropping temperatures outside the palace, the Prince had ordered fleece blankets to his room the prior night. The girl was supposed to only spend the day with him, but being wrapped up in cotton with Harry was hard to part from.

She stayed the night, sleeping soundly with her head rested on the Prince's solid chest.

When his voice woke her up, Leah discovered his body was replaced by a pillow. She rubbed her eyes and glanced up to see Harry allowing two servants into the bedroom, each one carrying a massive tray decked out in silver dishes with orange juice and water served in tall glasses. The platters holding plates of every breakfast food possible were set down on a makeshift table next to the bed.

Leah's eyes widened at the abrupt intrusion of the servants and immediately tugged at the duvet to conceal more of her body. There truthfully was nothing to hide, she was fully clothed. But her body was something she somehow only trusted Harry to witness. And he had never even seen her naked body. That was how trustworthy she thought of him.

Leah was in deep with this man.

"Thank you," Harry nodded at the servants and they trotted back out of the room, shutting the door with a click.

"Sorry for waking you up," he began, easing his way back into the warm confines of the bed, "but I figured you'd want to eat before it got cold."

Leah thanked him, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. He smiled at her as she slithered out of bed, dragging a blanket around her shoulders like a cloak and selecting what she wanted for breakfast on to a plate. He made one as well and they got back into bed with candles glistening around them. The two quietly conversed, nuzzling into the sheets while snow drizzled from the clouds outside the window.

Eating delectable food in excessive amounts caused a wave of guilt to wash over Leah. There were people like her neighbors and family who could never afford to consume food like this, like scrambled eggs topped with a dash of pepper, toast, jam, hot chocolate. It terribly saddened her.

"What are you doing today?" Leah curiously asked, hoping to lighten her disheartened mood.

He seemed to ponder for a moment. "I have a fitting for a suit with my tailor in a few hours."

She felt silly for thinking that he would be free to mindlessly roam the halls of the castle with her. Of course he would be busy.

"Oh, okay," Leah said, trying to mask her disappointment.

"You didn't let me finish, babe," he chuckled and her heart grew three sizes. Babe. They really were lovers, weren't they? All the nicknames, the kisses, the hugs, the bedsharing. This was a relationship.

"I was going to add that there's a dinner party tomorrow night which is why I'm getting a suit made. And I wanted you to join me."

"Oh, I.." she trailed off, mind buzzing with anxiety. "I don't think that would be a good idea. I can't even wear the same dress from your birthday ball. Someone would pick up on it, I'm sure, and-"

"Leah, honestly you don't need to be stressing over a little dinner party. I'll be with you, so you'll be okay, I promise. I can have my tailor take your measurements and send them to the finest dressmaker. They can create multiple gowns for now and the future..I just really want you to come with me." He took her hand and traced circles on her palm, looking deep in her eyes.

"I don't want to be a bother. It's your fitting, not mine."

Harry laughed hard, "Leah." He dragged out her name. "Stop making up silly excuses. You aren't a bother, okay? Please come tomorrow with me? And while you're at it, maybe stay the night again?" The Prince grinned at her and her insides turned into goo.