The Surgeon and the Princess Karin Baine (websites to read books for free .TXT) 📖

loosen the child’s grip around her throat. ‘Hannah, you’re hurting Mummy now. Let go, please.’

The little girl was one of their new patients. He’d met her when she came in for her initial assessment after losing part of her leg in a car accident. Paediatric amputees were always difficult. It was an adjustment for the child as well as their parents and he could see the frustration on the mother’s face when she wanted her daughter to make as much progress as she could.

‘Is there anything I can do to help? Hi, Hannah, remember me? Ed?’ He slid into the water where the trio were, Hannah still refusing to let the water touch any part of her. She shyly put her head on her mother’s shoulder and began to suck her thumb.

‘We’re introducing her to hydrotherapy today.’ Ellie pinked as he interrupted the temper tantrum going on in the shallow end.

‘She’s not having any of it.’ The exasperated mother tried again to prise her off. ‘Look, Hannah, the doctor’s here. Don’t you want to show him what a big girl you are?’

‘No!’ She wriggled, struggling to get away from the attention on her.

‘It’s okay,’ he mouthed to the mother. ‘If she’s not ready we’re not going to force her.’

Hannah was finding life as an amputee challenging. As were her parents. She was resisting any attempts to get her fitted for a prosthetic leg so they could start helping her try to walk again. So far, she was content to get around under her own steam, shuffling about on her bottom and asserting her independence. Her behaviour wasn’t unlike some other remarkable young woman he knew. It was the sign of a strong individual and he knew they simply had to find a new way to get through to her. He’d figure it out. It was too important to the child’s future to simply let her slip from their grasp.

Ever since confirming tonight’s session with Ed, Georgiana had had that fluttery, fidgety feeling spreading through her body. Other than sitting in with her mother taking lunch, keeping her company while her father was doing her share of royal duties, she hadn’t been able to settle.

There had certainly been big changes in her life when an evening training session had her blood pumping. Once upon a time it had been the thought of going out on patrol into enemy territory that had had the same effect.

After the previous evening’s events she no longer considered Ed and his clinic enemy territory. Now she could see the benefits, knew what was on offer, she was looking forward to revisiting. She could do without a replay of her damsel-in-distress routine and jump-starting Ed’s instinct to protect her. It wasn’t in keeping with their usual dynamic where he let her make her own decisions and mistakes without judgement.

Of all the people around her and despite his profession, he was the one she hated to think of her as helpless. Until last night he’d treated her as an equal, as able-bodied, regardless of appearances to the contrary. The worst thing about it all for Georgiana was that she’d found it cathartic weeping into his chest as though she were some delicate flower. For a short while he’d allowed her to let the strong façade slip and be honest with her emotions.

She’d wanted to cry for a long time, to cling to someone who would stroke her hair and let her fall apart in their arms without embarrassment on either side. Now she’d done it and got it all out of her system, she felt cleansed and almost back to her old self. It had been a moment of weakness. Clearly, she’d gone soft since leaving the army.

Tonight, they’d employed the same tactics as last night to smuggle her out. Goodness knew what the staff thought he was doing here, visiting for only a few minutes at a time, but she wasn’t about to stop simply to put an end to any potential murmurings.

Ed had left her alone tonight to complete her workout but she was under strict instructions to find him if she fancied a swim.

Her muscles were crying out for relief and she’d thought ahead to pack a swimsuit this time. It didn’t prevent her from hovering outside his door, uncertain if she should go ahead and knock.

In the end, the lure of the chlorine was too tempting to resist. She rapped on the office door. Instead of giving a reply, Ed yanked the door open. He’d been waiting for her.

‘Georgiana? Are you ready to leave already?’

It was the shock that left her at a loss for words, not the sight of him with his shirt undone and sleeves rolled up his thick, tanned forearms. She should be used to his casual dress outside professional working hours but it seemed to surprise her every time.

‘No. I...uh...not yet. I thought I might go for a swim first, but if you’re busy with your charity project I can leave it for tonight.’

‘I could probably do with shutting off for a while. I’ve been trying to find a guest speaker for the gala. Someone to give us some prestige and help drum up some interest in sponsors.’

‘Um...hello. Princess here.’ It was infuriating, not to mention insulting, that he didn’t ask her for help, which he clearly needed. He was the first person she seemed to turn to these days.

‘Really? You’d be okay with speaking at the event? I wasn’t sure you’d be comfortable enough yet with appearing in public.’

‘I’m going to have to do it at some point. It’s part of the job description. Besides, it’s for a good cause and I can relate better to the kids you want to help than some reality-TV star.’

‘Absolutely. As long as it’s not going to be too much for you, that would be absolutely amazing.’ Ed looked visibly lighter, not to mention astounded that she was willing to bail him out. She wondered why it was such a surprise