Red

The Day I Lost My Uncle

I let out a small squeal as I turned sharply, resulting in tea spilling on my sleeve, burning me.

Concern etched into the handsome gentleman's face, "Dammit, and here I was hoping to make the dramatic entrance. I apologize, my lady. I did not mean for you to get hurt." He whipped out a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and began dabbing at the stain. "Please send this to me tomorrow so I may have it cleaned."

"N-no, that is fine my lord. I'm sure auntie will be able to clean it." I stammered out.

"I insist. If nothing else, it will give me a chance to see you again."

Deep red colored my cheeks and I looked down. "My lord, I do not even know your name. How could I be expected to accept such a proposal?"

"I am Levi. Does that make things better?"

"Levi? Prince Levi?" I squeaked out in shock.

He cringed slightly, "Yes, Prince Levi. You caught me out."

"Oh, My Prince. My apologies, I did not mean to waste so much of your time!" I said giving a deep, albeit crooked, curtsy, and ended up spilling more of my tea. "Shit." A gasp left my mouth as I realized that I had just cussed in front of the future king.

A chuckle rose from his lips. His perfect, bow shaped, red lips. He must have caught on to what I was looking, because he ran his tongue along his lips. My blush deepened and I looked away.

"You have beautiful eyes, do you know that?" He spoke, tilting my head towards his own.

Out of reflex, I shook my head.

"Did you just disagree with me?" He asked with a frown.

"N-n-no, My P-prince. I just have always hated having such green eyes. People always stare."

"As they should, especially when those eyes are set in such a beautiful face."

With that last sentence, he spun on his heel and re-joined the party.

I sat down on a nearby bench and sipped on my tea, trying to wrap my head around what just happened.

Soon, my tea had finished, especially seeing as I had spilled half of it, so I wandered back into the party and it wasn't long before the men started approaching me asking for a turn on the dance floor.

I kept looking around, trying to catch a glimpse of his face again.

The end of the evening came just when I felt as if my feet were becoming too pained to dance anymore. I walked to where the steps were and started up them. I looked to the top of the staircase and stopped short.

"Leaving so soon, my lady?" Said the prince.

"Yes, my prince, I fear I must give my feet a rest now."

"May I walk you to your carriage?"

"I would enjoy your company, my prince." I curtsied.

He tucked my arm into the crook of his arm and led the way toward the door. I told the doorman my last name and he looked through his book of guests and where they put each cart.

"I'm sorry my lady, but your aunt and uncle have already left. They went to Doc Jenkin's home."

"Fetch my carriage, now." Commanded Prince Levi.

"Yes, my prince." he replied, bowed and then ran to go see to it.

Proprietary failed me as my thoughts ran through my head of what could be wrong. Maybe the exhaustion got to auntie. Or maybe something happened to uncle.

Prince Levi waited patiently beside me until the carriage rode up. Even though it had gold design on the outside, I barely even noticed. Prince Levi helped me inside and then surprisingly climbed in himself. I rocked back and forth as I nervously stared out of the window. I willed herself to be strong, but one tear rolled down my cheek.

A hand shot out with another handkerchief.

"Thank you, my prince. I am terribly sorry about my behavior. I should not..." I was interrupted.

"Do not be ridiculous. There is no need to be sorry. Is there anything you need before we get there?" He asked.

"No, I'll be fine, thank you, my prince."

"For the love of all that is holy, please stop calling me that. Please, call me Levi."

"Thank you, my- Levi."

He grinned half-heartedly and we pulled up to a stop outside of Doc Jenkin's house. I could see our little carriage sitting outside. Levi opened the door and stepped out. He turned and held out his hand for me, but found me cemented to her seat, my face pale with fright.

"My lady, please. It will be alright." He encouraged. I shook her head. No it won't be alright.

"I was always telling her not to exert herself, but she would never listen. And now look! She probably got carried away with dancing and talking!"

"Just because you don't get out of the carriage, does not mean that nothing will happen. Wouldn't you rather see her, speak to her, hold her?" He asked patiently, still with holding out his hand. I looked down at it and then slipped my own into it and allowed him to help me out.

We walked to the door and knocked. After a pause, Doc Jenkins' wife answered.

"Oh Katherine, come in my dear. Come in sir." She clearly didn't recognize Levi, but that was not the issue. I ran through the house, running towards the sound of sobbing.

I poked my head through one of the doors and a scream ripped through my body. "Uncle!" On the bed lay uncle, unmoving, and covered in his own blood, seeping from the gauze on his stomach, his face pale. I sank to my knees right in the doorway. My body became queasy and I jumped up and ran for the chamber pot, then I proceeded to empty the contents of my stomach.

A hand pulled my hair away from my face and stroked my back until I was finished. I sat back and rested my hot, tear stained face again the cool wall and looked up at who had helped me.