The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 111

One thing Maddie had learned very early on in her marriage to Harry was that his vows to her in no way hindered his appeal to other women. Though she had every faith in Harry's loyalty to her, she knew enough—especially after their honeymoon discussion on the matter—to know that to some women, the more committed he was to her, the more attractive he was.

And, now that they were married, nothing had changed. In fact, she was certain his appeal had only increased. One afternoon after lunch with Ella, she had walked past a magazine stand where one glossy cover posed the ever important question

"Is it possible that the Duke of Sussex is sexier WITH a wife?!"

The magazine's answer? Yes. The article that she embarrassingly read after she asked Ella to purchase it for her, offered up several photos of him with her—pointing out the way he looked at her, the way his hands always seemed to drift to her, the pride in his eyes, the smile on his face, the close proximity between them. It discussed how open he was about his attraction to her, how he seemed happier with her.

Was Harry sexier with a wife?

Maddie's answer? Yes. He was absolutely sexier to her now that he was married. Because he was married to her. It was the strangest sort of thing, having full conscious realization that women around you coveted your husband; lusted after him in many cases. But she had also learned very early on that to let it get to her was a complete waste of her time. Women were going to want him. That didn't mean they could have him.

He was very clearly all hers—even the "survey" in the magazine indicated that the women of England very clearly thought that Harry was hooked, that he would remain faithful to his wife.

But it didn't stop some from making assumptions, based on his family history, the "ways of aristocracy". There were people who had every expectation that Harry would stray—didn't all men (and quite a few women for that matter)? And it certainly didn't stop them from talking about it. Something Maddie was very abruptly introduced to at Harry's first match of the Polo season. She had planned on spending the match with Kate who wasn't feeling well and wanted to stay in the city; leaving Maddie on her own. And somehow, somehow she had been drawn into a crowd of society women who were drinking glass after glass of wine until they were laughing and raunchy and began to talk about a subject Maddie just assumed she would never be approached with; the acceptance and expectation of adultery among them and their peers. Maddie was amazed that the conversation was taking place, even more so that it was taking place in front of her...and when they turned to her for input, she about fell over.

By the time the match was over, she was stunned into silence; amused and shocked and not even sure what to do with all she had heard, all she had been told; all the wine she had inhaled second hand.

Harry was on fire after the match. He had won; had played hard and well and he had won. And that put him in a mood that was impossible to reign in, not that she would ever try. She loved him like this. They were heading up to Highgrove for the weekend with Charles and Camilla and the RPO's had decided to let him drive the Landrover while they followed behind in another. Maddie assumed that Jim wasn't in the mood to challenge His Royal Highness who was clearly flying after such a win. She was happy and content in the passenger side, watching him enjoy this slice of life that he rarely inhabited. The windows were down and his foot was heavy as they bent through the twisted roads. Maddie watched him from her seat, amused and inexplicably turned on. He was flushed and sweaty and sexy as hell.

"Hey," he was smug, having caught her watching him.

"Hey," she didn't care one bit that he had caught her. "You rode well today."

"I really did," he agreed, unabashedly proud of his match.

"Ha!" Her head tipped back in laughter, the wind whipping her curls around her head. "You're so cocky."

"You know it," he winked and forced his eyes back to the road; one hand drifting from the wheel to her knee. "How were things on the sidelines?"

"You don't want to know." She shook her head, her eyes lighting up as she remembered.

"I do." He squeezed her knee.

"I promise. You don't."

"Tell me...." His mood was light, joking, his hand moving to her seat, just behind her shoulder as he steered the vehicle easily with one hand.

"Fine," she sighed. "You're never going to believe what somebody said to me today."

"Your Royal Highness..." He went for a guess with playful eyes, a voice change, and a cheeky grin. "You are far too stunning to be standing out here in the open. You'll distract all of the players..."

"No," Maddie laughed.

"There will be an accident; horses running into the other..." He continued, loving the way her laughter surrounded him in the car.

"Not even close," she shook her head.

"You're giving an unfair advantage to your husband who is oh so motivated by your presence..."

"Easy killer," she rolled her eyes at how thick he was laying it on.

"I am out of guesses then."

"A woman, a very intoxicated woman—mind you..." She took a breath, her eyes sliding to watch his reaction. "...asked me if I was going to be allowed wife approval of your mistresses." Even now, at least an hour later, Maddie still found it funny.

"Aw come on..." Harry's smile faded ever so slightly, his head shaking. "You're kidding."

"Not in the least." She couldn't help but laugh about it now, finding it so far past ridiculous. She watched Harry for a moment, latching on to his lighthearted spirit and teasing just a bit. "So...?"

"So?" His eyebrows lifted as he leaned forward, his forearms resting on the steering wheel.

"Do I?" She cracked a smirk. "Get wife approval of your mistress?"

"Please..." He rolled his eyes, shook his head; shifting in his seat.

"The ladies of London would like to know where to file their applications," her tone mimicked his, her fingers reaching out to tickle his side.

"Stop," he rolled his eyes; unsure about how this was sitting with him. He was happy to see that she was clearly not bothered by this, though not entirely sure he wanted her to be so comfortable that she could joke about it.

"Should they send them through me or directly to you?" She continued, sliding her feet from her sandals and pulling them up underneath her.

"You can stop it now." He shifted his eyes to hers, his jaw straining as though he couldn't decide if he wanted to grin or if he wanted to scowl. And Maddie noticed this bit of a struggle. But, finding it a bit humorous, she continued on.

"I do have some questions though. For instance...do you want to give me a list of prerequisites? Blonde? Or do you want a brunette instead? Should she be..."

"Madeline." His voice cut in on her teasing; his eyes narrowed, mood stern.

"Ah..." Maddie breathed her toe stretching out to poke his thigh. "So you're saying I don't have mistress approval?"

"This is ridiculous. We're moving on," he caught her eyes, his hand reaching out to slip up under the hem of her skirt, teasing at her knee. She held her breath, her skin tingling as his fingers inched higher and higher.

"You asked."

"And I regret that decision immensely." She giggled lightly; her eyes drifting out her open window, looking at the countryside as they flew by.

"I was also told that I would be wise to have my affairs with men who fit naturally into my life; a tennis coach...security detail..." She shook her head, still unable to believe that virtual strangers would find it appropriate to pass of advice and guidance in cheating on your husband.

"Okay." Harry's hand snapped out from underneath her skirt and moved back to the steering wheel with a smack. "You want to tell me who these women were?"

"I really don't," Maddie shook her head, turning to look at him.

"Well, maybe you're done at the polo field."

"Oh yeah?" She laughed.

"And I'm having Sampson reassigned."

"Oh honey..." Her fingers wrapped around his forearm, the muscles underneath taught. "You don't have to worry about Sampson."

"No?"

"No way..." She leaned closer to him then, her hand finding home on his thigh. "I'm much more attracted to the dashing, renegade, princely types."

Harry met her eyes for just a beat longer than he should have while driving—but he couldn't help it. Her hand on his thigh, the tone of her voice...

"So you're saying I should have Arthur reassigned." He didn't miss a beat; his humor, his wit, were top form.

"Exactly." Maddie's eyes danced as she moved to kiss his cheek, sighing back into her seat. "The sidelines were exhausting and full of the strangest sort of conversations; women in loveless marriages, accepting infidelity, asking questions of me that I would be hard pressed to hear from Ella..." She rolled her eyes and shrugged before she turned sexy eyes on him. "But my man won so..."

"Yes he did," Harry grinned; their brief detour coming to a close as his hand returned to her knee. "Yes. He. Did."

"Care to celebrate?" She arched an eyebrow; feeling frisky.

"What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know," she shrugged, her bottom lip between her teeth as her fingers tugged the hem of her skirt higher; flashing her bare thighs.

"Oh-ho..." Harry bit his lip with a shake of his head; his mind shifting gears.

"We could...I don't know..." She inched her dress higher. "We could pull over onto a side road and..."

"Oh you think so?" His eyebrows flew up; his grin clearly indicating that he was considering it.

"I do," she adjusted just slightly in her seat, forcing his hand higher on her thigh.

"What if we're caught?"

"Well you would have to be fast," she pulled her lower lip between her teeth as her legs slipped apart.

"Jesus Madeline..." He sucked in his breath as his fingers began to stroke the soft skin underneath them.

"I'm your wife, Harry. If we were caught, how bad can sex with your wife be?"

"Sex with my wife in a car, in public?" He reminded her of their roles and positions with a shift in tone.

"Fine..." She sighed, her hand slipping into his lap. "How fast can you drive?"

"To my father's house?" He groaned as her fingers began to move, allowing only a moment of indulgence before his hand left her thigh and reached for her wrist; pulling it away from him.

"Ugh..." Maddie sighed heavily; wishing for a split second he was normal...normal enough to pull off the side of the road and shag his wife in broad daylight. "Fine..." Her head tipped away from him, her hands adjusting her skirt. "I'll back down."

"Fuck," Harry breathed through tight lips; regret flowing through him. "Maybe we need our own house in the country."

"For fresh from the polo field, spur of the moment sex?" Maddie laughed as she turned back to him.

"Yes." He nodded; adjusting in his seat. Maddie thought about it for a moment and then, with a shrug and a grin,

"I think you're on to something." She agreed.

"I'll start looking tomorrow." Harry took another glance at the way her dress draped over the curves of her body and with a heavy sigh, he focused on the road.

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As ironic as it was, going to Highgrove was like going home. Maddie always felt the strangest mix of feelings when they pulled up. The differences between this home and the home she grew up in were vast and steep, but the feeling was the same.

Maybe it was the fresh air or the way both her home and this home produced so much life. She really didn't know. But she felt it again that day; as the gravel crunched underneath their tires and they pulled to a stop. It was like she could breathe a bit easier. Not waiting for anyone to open her door, Maddie stepped out of the car and stretched her arms up over her head with a wide lazy smile.

As Harry rounded the car towards her, as the RPOs pulled to a stop behind them, the front door opened and their host for the weekend stepped out.

"Harry," Charles' voice was rich with excitement. "Madeline." He flashed that famous smile. Truth be told, he was overjoyed to see them—thankful for the way Maddie's presence in his son's life meant more of his son in his own life.

"Father," Harry hugged his dad, pressing a kiss to his cheeks.

"Charles," Maddie was warm as she dipped into a slight curtsey before being pulled into his fatherly embrace. She sighed as he held her to him. "Thank you for inviting us out."

"Of course, darling," he stepped out of the hug but held tight to her hand as he turned to his son. "Did you ride off the field and straight here?"

"For the most part, yes," Harry grinned as the staff began unloading their bags for their stay. "I was hoping to shower here before dinner."

"Well why don't you go do that," Charles nodded to the house before turning to Maddie. "If you don't mind, I would like to talk to you about a project I'm working on."

"Oh?" Maddie's interest was piqued.

"Mmm," he nodded. "Care to join me for a walk?"

"I would love that."

"Fantastic." Charles could not have been more in his element in that moment.

"Fantastic," Harry grinned, leaning to kiss Maddie's cheek. "I'll see you two in a bit."

As Harry bound up the stairs, disappearing into the house, Maddie turned to her father-in-law and smiled.

"Shall we?"

"Yes," he offered his arm which Maddie readily took and they began walking through the grounds.

"I saw that you added some new shrubbery up the main drive." Maddie loved walking the grounds with him. And Charles loved that he had somebody to share this with, somebody who loved it the way he felt she was going to love it after some time; after it settled in her bones.

"You noticed?" The way his voice lifted at the end was sweet; he was touched.

"Of course I noticed." She squeezed his arm.

"You do have a sharp eye."

"I do," she agreed. "When it comes to this sort of thing...I suppose that I do."

"Mmm," Charles nodded; his eyes shifting out over the land as his mind went to work. "That is what I wanted to speak with you about."

"My sharp eye?" She was a bit confused.

"Your love for the land, your appreciation for what it offers us and not just in what we can produce out of it, but in what is produced in us when we care for it and grow from it."

"Oh?" Her curiosity deepened. "I'm sorry. I'm not following you completely. Did you want me to plow a field?"

"No, no," he chuckled warmly. "I've been thinking of a new project for The Prince's Trust." He came to a stop and turned to her, business on his face. "I would like to begin an Urban Garden program in London. You are familiar with the work the Trust does with youth?"

"Absolutely," Maddie nodded; she had always had an admiration for the projects the Trust had taken on, for the way it had altered lives.

"I have read up on the work you did with the Community Center while you were in Bendal; the greenhouse you helped build, the garden..."

"You've read up on me?" Maddie's eyes twinkled as they met his. He smiled and nodded.

"You understand how important community is, the sense of empowerment and ownership that comes with such projects, the confidence it builds, the accomplishment that comes with it. The pride."

"I do," she agreed.

"I would like to do that in London, with the young adults the Trust works with. I would like to establish Urban Gardens in the city; teach about agriculture, conservation, production, community building; things of that nature."

"Wow," Maddie breathed; impressed. "That sounds like a wonderful project."

"Well I am very happy you think so," he met her eyes. "Because I want you to spearhead it."

"I..." Maddie blinked; stunned. "I'm sorry. What?"

"Madeline, I want you to come aboard at The Prince's Trust. I want you to direct this new program."

"I don't know what to say. I..." Her eyes were wide as she laughed. "You know I wasn't the lead on those projects in Bendal. I participated and worked with the children and..."

"You just said the magic words," he cut in, patting her hand. "I don't expect you to stay on and run it on a day to day basis with all of your other duties. You would hire a staff, a director, work with the city developers, lend your name to the project and oversee the vision." He took a deep breath and looked out at the land. "This is an important project to me and I cannot think of anyone with whom I would trust the creation and development of such a thing more than I would trust you."

"Charles..." Maddie felt her throat grow tight as he watched her process it all. "I am so unbelievably flattered that you would think that I could..."

"I know that you could," he cut in with a warm smile, a gentle hand to her shoulder. "You did it in Bendal. You have the leadership capabilities, you have the drive it takes, the vision. And you have a love and respect for this kind of work, for the populations The Trust works with...which is of paramount importance." His smile twitched just a bit as he took a breath. "And...And I was thinking we could call it The Delphinium Project."

And Maddie's eyes welled with tears.

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"So..." Harry's voice was low as they stepped out of the house and into the night air.

"So?" Maddie smiled as she pulled on her helmet. They had enjoyed a long, conversation filled dinner with Charles and Camilla and now that the two of them had retired for after-dinner drinks, Harry and she were taking the motorcycle into town for their own.

"So are you going to tell me what you and dad talked about out there that's had him smiling like a hyena all night or..."

"I will," she nodded, blinking at the emotions that came with that discussion. "Can we ride for a bit first? I'm ready for some fresh air."

"Sure," Harry nodded, tugging his own helmet on over his head before he stepped onto the bike. He was curious. But it could wait.

"Thank you," she smiled, taking his hand and slipping onto the back of the bike behind him. His hand smoothed over her leg, making sure she was ready and then they were off; zooming down the main drive and out onto the roads. Though there was a trail car behind them with their security detail, they stayed a good distance away and Maddie loved the way it felt to be as free and alone as either of them could hope to feel in such a situation.

Wrapping her arms around his waist, she held tight and let the wind whip around her. Though they were headed into Tetbury for a drink at the bar he had taken her to on their first "official" date, Harry could sense she needed a bit more processing time and took the long way into town. By the time they arrived, Maddie felt renewed and ready to talk.

As was usual for this location, they went relatively unnoticed, slipping into the bar searching and finding a booth somewhat off to the side. They ordered drinks and sank into the well-worn leather. It took nearly no time for the drinks to arrive and, after a few long sips, Maddie sat her drink on the table and smiled up at her husband.

"Your father asked me to spearhead an urban garden initiative in London through The Prince's Trust." She smiled wide, her heart warm. Harry's face brightened at the thought, at his father's trust in Maddie, at the way she was warm on the idea. "Building community gardens and developing educational components around agriculture, conservation, esteem. He wants me to be creative director, to get it off the ground and then be the chief patron."

"Really?" His eyes were intent on her, seeing nothing but excitement and happiness as she let him in.

"He wants to call it The Delphinium Project." This time she laughed away the lump in her throat, smiled away the tears in her eyes.

"Maddie..." He went soft.

"Your father is amazing," she took another drink. "He is absolutely amazing."

"And he clearly thinks very highly of you," he took her hand in his. "So? Are you going to do it?"

"Absolutely." Maddie nodded; certain. "We already phoned Thomas to set up a visit with the trust; a walk through with your father and some meetings with the administrators." Maddie took a deep breath, squeezed his hand and relaxed back into the seat.

"Look at you," he nodded a smirk in her direction. "One month in and you have your very own project." Hi lifted his glass to her. "Well done Duchess."

"Ha!" She laughed, but clinked her glass to his. Her voice was soft, whispery as she repeated the name again, excitement in her eyes. "The Delphinium Project."