When Theo returned to his room to get ready for the evening, he found two things waiting for him on his bed. One was a sleeping Bouncer, her legs sticking up in the air as she snored softly. The other was a shoebox with the word ‘Converse’ written on the top.

Theo knew James said he was going to get him a new pair, but Theo still approached the box with caution. His hand trembled a little as he flipped the lid up and flicked the tissue paper up. He gave a small gasp. They were gorgeous. Just like his last ones, but fresh and new.

He grinned as he picked up one of the pair and cradled it in two hands to admire it. “Wow,” he said softly.

It struck him that no matter what happened this week, whether he ever saw James again, he would be able to take these home. An everyday reminder that for a week, he was able to play the part of someone special. His very own fairy tale in a castle.

A sudden thump made him jump out of his skin, but it was only Bouncer. She’d apparently woken herself off by rolling off the bed. She shook her head as if dazed, then trotted off out the door Theo had remembered to leave ajar. It was amazing how quickly he’d got used to not locking it.

He closed it now, though, so he could get in the shower. He scrubbed every inch of his body, then spent an age fussing with his hair.

There was no point trying to convince himself this wasn’t a date anymore. His heart knew what it wanted. He just hoped he hadn’t misread the signals and it wasn’t what James wanted.

“It’s just for tonight,” he whispered to himself. “Don’t think about anything else. Just have fun, like you did last night.”

He sighed. Last night had been stupid and totally normal and absolutely wonderful. He and James had just eaten their omelettes and played with Blenheim and talked about music. James had snuck them some ice cream from the freezer and they’d shared the same tub of chocolate chip with two spoons. Several times they’d paused, that energy crackling between them again.

Each time Theo had picked up the conversation with the first thing that popped into his head, breaking the tension. But tonight…tonight he wasn’t sure he could. If the moment came, he thought he might just kiss James.

“Hi, James,” he said to the full-length mirror as he pulled at his jacket cuffs. He shook his head. “Your Royal Highness – no – definitely not. Hi, James. Wow, you look great. Nice. Lovely?” He sighed. “Hello, James,” he said, trying to make his voice lower. “Idiot,” he grumbled.

He wore his new Converse, his best jeans, a T-shirt that said ‘Rebel, Rebel’ on a scroll surrounded by pink roses and bluebirds, and an unbuttoned black jacket. Was it too casual? Too gay? Too hipster? He pulled at a few strands of his blond hair and made sure there was nothing in his teeth. Well, he didn’t have much else to wear, so it would have to do.

The knock at the door made him jump again. A shiver of cool nerves washed through him. A glance at his phone on the desk told him it was seven o’clock on the dot. “Okay,” he muttered as he smoothed down his jacket once more. “Showtime.”

He crossed the room and opened the door.

“Wow,” he said before he could even think.

James had black trousers on, polished black dress shoes and a crisp white shirt, unbuttoned at the top with no tie. Silver cufflinks glinted by his wrists.

“Hi,” James said with a smile. “You look lovely.”

Theo swallowed as James reached out for Theo’s hand. Theo gave it. James held the fingertips and kissed the knuckles. Theo was amazed his legs kept functioning. He tried to remind himself he gave his own friends far more enthusiastic kisses when they met, often three smackers on the cheeks. But there was something far more intimate about James’s way.

“Hi,” Theo squeaked as James released him. “I, uh, really? It’s not too casual? Because I could change.” He only had the suit he was planning on wearing to the ball, the jacket of which he was already wearing. But he’d rather wear the same thing twice than be underdressed tonight and embarrass James.

However, James shook his head. “You look perfect. Are you ready?”

Theo looked back into his room. He wasn’t going to lock it because James insisted he didn’t have to. He didn’t need his wallet, or so he assumed. James hadn’t said they were leaving the castle. That just left his phone.

In a moment of madness, he decided to leave it. He had already spoken to his nan that afternoon and texted several times with Sal, too.

“Yes,” he said, stepping forwards and closing the door. He felt deliciously reckless, like he was jumping out of a plane. “I’m ready.”

James offered him his arm. His heart pounding, Theo slipped his hand around the crook of his elbow and allowed himself to be escorted to the stairs.

To his surprise, they walked upwards.

“I didn’t even notice the stairs went on upwards,” Theo said in awe as they emerged on the roof of the turret.

Then he gasped.

The sun was still bright in the sky, showing them a beautiful vista of fields and lakes that stretched out for several miles into the distance. But Theo was marvelling at the scene in front of him.

A table was laid exquisitely for two. A tablecloth as white as James’s shirt billowed gently as a light breeze teased it. A three-pronged candelabra stood in front of a vase of red roses and red petals had been scattered all over the table and the floor. White pillar candles in hurricane glasses stood along the square dips in the wall that ran around the circular space. An honest-to-goodness gramophone was playing a vinyl record, there was Champagne chilling in a silver bucket by the table and someone had made swans out of the napkins sitting on the top plate at each setting.

“Oh my days,” Theo whispered. “This is actually a date, isn’t it?”

He was amazed he didn’t jump as James came and stood at his shoulder, close behind him. His hand lightly touched Theo’s hip, his arm reaching across his back. “Is that okay?” he murmured.

Theo’s heart was threatening to burst right out of his chest. “Y-yes,” he managed to stammer. “Are you sure? I…”

What did he want to say? Was Prince James really coming out to him? Obviously. Did he really want to take Theo on a date? Duh, it was already happening.

What Theo wanted to ask was ‘Am I really worthy?’ But he’d done enough self-doubting this week. He’d promised he would pack it in and trust himself. He knew that had been in relation to work, but the same had to apply here and now. James wasn’t stupid. He knew Theo well enough by now.

James was telling him very clearly that he liked him.

“It’s beautiful,” Theo said before James could answer his half-formed question. “You went to a lot of fuss.” It was easy to throw money at people. It seemed James knew the value of being thoughtful. Theo looked down at his new Converse and absolutely forbid himself to get misty-eyed.

“You’ve been working extremely hard,” James said, nudging him gently forward. “You’ve impressed everyone, not just me. I thought you could do with a bit of spoiling.”

Theo didn’t know what to say as James pulled his chair out. Theo sat down and marvelled as James flicked his swan napkin open and laid it over his lap. The Champagne must have been recently opened, as James simply lifted it out of the ice and poured them both a saucer. No screw caps here.

Theo almost felt bad for enjoying the luxury of it all. But his nan would scold him six ways from Sunday if he did that. He was allowed to revel in being treated a little. He knew he’d still appreciate a cider and a Chinese takeaway in front of the telly. It didn’t mean he couldn’t like a bit of fine dining as well.

“Cheers,” James said once he sat down himself. He held out his glass for Theo to tap his own to. The soft ding rang out in the open air, blending in with the quiet tones of Ed Sheeran.

“I’d have thought you’d have some opera going,” Theo teased, glancing at the gramophone. He’d seen record players before, but not an actual gramophone in operation. It must have been an antique. Theo thought it was bloody brilliant.

James chuckled. “I’ve got several different albums,” he said, offering Theo the breadbasket. “The Beatles, Debussy, Michael Bublé, Will Young-”

“Oh Nan and I love Will Young!” Theo cried in delight.

“Really? Me too,” James said fondly.

They buttered their bread in easy silence. There were bowls of olives and sun-dried tomatoes, as well as a small platter of sliced cured meat that Theo couldn’t identify without tasting it. “This is so nice,” he couldn’t help but blurt out around a mouthful of bread.

James grinned. “This is just appetizers,” he said. “I hope you’ll still be hungry for the main course?”

Theo chuckled. “Mate, you try and stop me,” he said. “I was so nervous I didn’t eat all day.”

James laughed, that loud one he only let loose when he was relaxed. It allowed Theo to release some of the tension he knew he’d been holding onto.

“I was nervous, too,” he admitted. “I’ve never asked another man out to dinner before.”

“Oh?” Theo said. “But you’ve…well, this being with a guy thing isn’t new?”

James shook his head. He ran his thumb and index finger up and down the stem of his Champagne saucer. “No,” he said simply.

Theo was absolutely dying to know the details. But he wouldn’t pry. For now, it was nice to know that at least James wasn’t totally inexperienced.

But Theo was the first man he’d had a dinner date with? That was pretty fantastic. Theo tried to hide his grin behind his drink.

The door opened suddenly, making Theo flinch, but James didn’t seem surprised. Quintin, the butler, held it open as two footmen came out to the roof carrying silver trays with domed covers. Had James summoned them somehow? Or had they just been given a specific time to arrive?

Theo tried his very hardest not to feel vulnerable. No one would be surprised if they were coming up here to serve them. They had to know who they would be seeing. But still, Theo struggled to shake a lifetime’s worth of being judged as the three men approached the table.

“Mr Glass,” said Quintin in his usual clipped, quiet voice. The footman next to Theo removed the silver dome with relish. As the steam cleared, Theo blinked as the aromas from the food accosted him.

The laugh burst out of him before he could clap his hands over his mouth in time. But James smiled at him, so he hoped he wasn’t in trouble. “It’s fish and chips,” Theo said in delight.

“Beer-battered hake,” Quintin said as the footman placed Theo’s plate down in front of him. “Minted mushy peas, tartar sauce and triple-cooked chips. Enjoy.”

Theo looked in disbelief between his dinner and James as their servers melted away again, closing the door behind them.

James had a rubbish poker face. “I may have spoken with your grandmother,” he admitted.

“No, you did not,” Theo cried gleefully, trying not to be too eager as he reached for his knife and fork. “She never said a thing! She told you it’s my favourite?” He’d been worried all day James would present him with some sort of lobster or nouvelle cuisine. Theo would have tried anything, but right now, the comfort of good old fish and chips was enormous.

“It’s hake, rather than cod,” James explained as Theo cut into the crispy batter. “I hope that’s all right?”

“Hake is more sustainable than cod,” Theo said without hesitation as he tried to get a bit of everything on his fork at once. Fish, batter and peas balanced on a chip as he dunked it into the tartar sauce. “We’ve over-fished cod. Hake and pollock are better.”

“Exactly,” James said warmly.

Theo looked up at him as he chewed. “Nan tell you that, too?” he asked after he swallowed.

James smiled and tapped the end of his nose. “Perhaps.”

For a few minutes, they simply ate while Ed serenaded them with a song about a photograph. Once Theo had taken the edge off his hunger, he slowed down and tried to savour the moment a little more. He looked up and caught James’s eye.

“Tell me something about you,” Theo said.

“Such as?” James replied.

Theo chuckled after another bite. “Well, you can just ring up my nan and ask her anything, apparently,” he teased. “I don’t think I can do that. Your nan’s a little bit busy being the Queen. So, tell me something I couldn’t read in the papers about you.”

James set his knife and fork down on either side of his plate and folded his hands in his lap, looking at Theo with serious consideration. He breathed in and out a few times.

“I can’t read,” he said.

Theo frowned. That was an odd thing for James to correct him on. What difference did the tense of the word mean in this instance?

“No, I mean something I’m not able to read about you. Like, something your nan would know.”

James licked his lips and cast his eyes down to his lap. “I can’t read,” he said again.

Theo opened his mouth to reply. Then understanding dawned on him.

He closed his mouth and placed his cutlery down too.

James didn’t do emails. He didn’t do texts.

He couldn’t read.

“Oh no,” he said in mild horror. “I thought you never emailed or texted because, uh, well, because it was beneath you. I’m so sorry, I had no idea. Shit.”

James looked up with a hint of a smile. “It’s okay,” he said. “I try not to advertise it. You see, being bi isn’t the only thing I have to disappoint my family with. I’m also illiterate.”

“No, no,” Theo said fiercely. “That’s nothing to be disappointed by. Neither of those things are. That’s just the way you were born.”

James sighed. “Letters and numbers swim in front of my eyes so badly I might as well be blind,” he said bitterly. He looked off into the distance, beyond the crenellations. “School was a riot, I’m sure you can imagine.”

“Fuck school,” Theo said vehemently. “Nobody likes school. Hey, I don’t care if you can’t read. That’s just, like, one thing about you. It makes you interesting, unique. James?”

Finally, James looked back at him. “It is embarrassing, though,” he said.

“Only if you let it,” Theo told him stubbornly.

James laughed, but it was rueful. “It’s made finding gainful employment difficult.”

Theo shrugged. “You can do whatever you want,” he instead. “You’ll have money either way. Like this fundraiser. You’ve done all this without having to read.”

“No, you’ve done, it,” James said. There wasn’t any malice or resentment to his tone. He just sounded proud.

Theo rose and carefully placed his napkin on the table. Then he walked around and stood beside James. “We’re a team,” he said. “We did it together.”

James looked up at him. “What are you doing?” he asked in amusement as Theo held his hand out.

Theo’s heart was thumping in his chest again. But he didn’t care. “I was wondering if you might dance with me?”

It hadn’t escaped Theo that James was a physical person. He’d said more than once that he’d felt most at home in the Army. He found his worth by using his body, and he used his charm to communicate.

Theo wanted to dance with him to try and explain that he didn’t care James couldn’t read. James was so much more than that.

James blinked. This close, Theo could see how long his lashes were. They practically swept over his cheekbones.

Just as Theo began to doubt himself, James placed his napkin on the table as well and stood, slipping his hand into Theo’s. It was slightly callused, warm and much bigger than Theo’s. Feeling a strange mix of shyness and confidence, Theo led James slightly away from the table. The loose rose petals swirled around their feet as Theo stopped and turned to face his partner.

Naturally, both of them slipped their arms around the other’s waist and began to sway along to the music. Theo looked up into James’s blue eyes.

Even if he wasn’t a prince, Theo would have a hard time believing this was really happening. He didn’t slow-dance. He was never romanced. Nobody swept him off his feet or told him he was special. No man ever trusted him with his secrets.

No one but James.

Unable to maintain his composure while still looking into his eyes, Theo hugged him closer, resting his head on James’s chest. James bent his head down so his cheek was against Theo’s hair.

For a while, they simply held each other and swayed. Theo knew his grip was probably a little too tight on James’s back through his shirt, but he was afraid to let him go. James was his anchor.

By some unspoken communication, James raised his head the same moment Theo did. Theo knew right away the moment was there, hanging between them again.

This time he didn’t hesitate as their lips drew together, joining for a kiss.