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

dramatic entrance. Therefore, she was under no pressure to have a plus one as she arrived at the event. Something she knew would’ve been under scrutiny and a strain on whatever fragile relationship they had left, if at all.

‘Don’t you think you should? It’s only a matter of days away. You can’t simply leave these things to chance. Have you even spoken to a stylist about dressing you for the occasion? You want to make a good impression.’

Georgiana read that as, ‘You’ll want something to detract from the ugly fake leg.’

‘I’ve chosen my own outfit. I promise I won’t embarrass you. This is too important to me.’

‘We know. Be true to yourself, that’s all we want for you.’ Her father retrieved his tumbler of whisky from the mantelpiece and raised it in her honour.

Georgiana frowned. ‘Okay, who are you and what have you done with my real parents?’

Instead of taking offence, her mother actually laughed. ‘I know it’s hard for you to believe, Georgiana, but you’re not the only one who’s had a life-changing experience. Losing your brother and not knowing if you were going to pull through really made us appreciate the time we have together. We’ll do whatever it takes to make you believe that.’

‘I believe you,’ she said, her voice barely audible. If she’d given them a chance to prove themselves when she’d first returned, they could have had this conversation then. Instead of appreciating the changes they’d made, adapting the house, she’d shut herself off from them. Ignored the changing world around her to focus on the negatives she’d have to live with.

In the same way her injuries had made her reassess her life, they’d also caused her parents to rethink what was important. She was thankful she apparently topped that list. Not many had the support she’d taken for granted until now.

The emotionally charged family love-in was in danger of becoming awkward. She feared there was a group hug coming, or, worse, a mass sobbing. The attempt her parents were making to understand her state of mind and implement changes to their attitude showed they were doing their best to relate to her. Trying to break out of the old regime, which didn’t fit with the modern world. That was all she could ask of them.

Ed was tearing his hair out trying to manage everything at once. With the gala only two days away he was attempting to organise his time better between work and family. He wasn’t succeeding. His dad had been on the phone about the hospital appointment he’d promised to drive him to. He had patients queuing up for consultations, which was a good thing businesswise, but he was time poor at present.

It didn’t mean he wouldn’t give anything to be with Georgiana again. By kissing her he’d been playing with fire and he was the one left burning. He should’ve stopped it but he’d fed the fire. Now he was suffering the after effects. He was missing her and had even resorted to texting her an inane message asking what colour she’d be wearing on the night so he could co-ordinate with her. Just so he could have some sort of communication with her. Not that she’d replied.

He’d left himself the lion’s share of the organising to do, with Georgiana doing her bit at a distance from him. Goodness knew he was out of his depth organising an event at the palace to kick-start a brand-new charity. Talk about pressure. Pressure he’d put himself under by not sharing the load with anyone. She was right, he had to learn to reach out to people where he could and stop doing everything by himself. It wasn’t a weakness to ask for help and certainly didn’t make him any less of a good son or brother if his every waking moment wasn’t devoted to them. Jamie was a grown man now, living his own life. Perhaps it was about time he did too.

He thought about Georgiana and what she was prepared to put herself through to help him and the charity and was humbled by her courage once more.

It was one of the many, many qualities he admired in her. If nerves were getting the better of him, he could only imagine how she was feeling. Yet he knew she’d come through for everyone concerned. He hoped, in being open about what had happened to her, she’d benefit as much as those they were raising funding and awareness for.

He heard some commotion out in Reception and attempted to ignore the increasing level of noise, hoping Giles or Security would take care of it. There was too much for him to do without getting into a row out there. When the sound of feet thundered down the corridor, he knew he’d have to go and investigate.

‘What on earth is going on out here?’ he demanded as he made his way through the growing crowd of staff and patients. Even though he’d been preoccupied he was sure he’d have heard a fire alarm going off. Although the gasps and excited whispers whooshing around the crowd led him to believe that nothing life-threatening had happened.

‘Excuse me. Pardon me.’ He eased his way through to the eye of the storm, where he was confronted by a mass of mobile phones vying for a photo op. Bewildered, he looked to Giles, who was grinning like a loon beside him. ‘Have I missed something?’

‘I think Christmas has come early for us.’ He gestured towards the door, where everyone’s attention was focused.

In that second Ed was as spellbound as all those around him. A smiling Georgiana was holding court, resplendent in a chic white trouser suit and surrounded by men in black with earpieces and walkie talkies.

She hadn’t spotted him yet, busy chatting with a young man in a wheelchair who was clearly as infatuated with Georgiana as Ed. She always looked beautiful to him, but she was glowing as children lined up to say hello to her. He