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

my own,’ she insisted to her team when they pulled up outside the unremarkable detached cottage far enough outside the city she was sure she wouldn’t be spotted.

There was no sign of Ed’s car outside the house but she made her way up the path regardless. If someone was at home, perhaps they could tell her where to find him.

It took so long for someone to come to the door after she rang the bell she’d convinced herself the house was empty. Then a dark shape behind the frosted glass moved slowly towards her.

Thankfully she recognised the senior Mr Lawrence who opened the door even if he’d aged considerably since she’d last seen him. His body was thinner, his complexion paler and his bent posture gave away the deterioration in his health in the intervening years.

‘Mr Lawrence, I’m so sorry for intruding into your afternoon but I was looking for your son. Is Edward here?’

‘Miss Georgiana. How lovely to see you. Come in, come in.’ He shuffled back to make room for her so Georgiana didn’t see a choice but to follow him inside.

He pointed her towards the door down the hallway, presumably because she’d get there faster than he would. She saw the stairlift as she passed inside and wondered why on earth they wouldn’t move somewhere all on one level when he clearly had mobility issues.

‘Marg. Miss Georgiana has come to visit,’ he called ahead to warn of her appearance.

When Georgiana walked into the unbearably warm lounge she found Mrs Lawrence struggling out of her armchair. ‘There’s no need to get up. I just came to see if Edward was here.’

‘Sit down and I’ll go and put the kettle on. You just missed him. He was over earlier doing a few errands for us. We can’t get about as much as we used to. Edward’s a good boy. He’s gone to pick up our prescriptions from the chemist.’

‘Will he be back?’ Georgiana followed her into the kitchen, where Mr Lawrence was pulling laundry out of the washing machine into a basket. The effort making him wheeze breathlessly.

‘Let me do that for you,’ she said, unable to stand by and watch without offering a helping hand.

‘It’s fine. I’ll leave it there for our Edward. He’ll peg it out for us when he comes back.’ He straightened up as much as he could.

‘Edward clearly takes very good care of you both.’ She knew Ed wouldn’t consider helping out a chore at all. It was apparent how much he loved his parents and he would do anything for them. But care for two elderly parents was a lot for one person to take on—could she really add to that?

‘Oh, yes. He’s always here for us. I wish we didn’t have to rely on him so much, but age is getting the better of us these days. He’s such a good son.’ Mrs Lawrence fussed around getting her best china out and piling a selection of biscuits onto a plate.

Georgiana nodded as sadness wrapped her in its embrace. Ed had a full life. There for anyone who needed him but it didn’t seem fair asking him to make room for her too. Especially when she was facing another surgery and an uncertain future. What if he was with her, caring for her, and something happened to his parents? Would he ever forgive her for diverting his focus? She wouldn’t be able to live with herself knowing she’d caused him any unnecessary pain.

Mrs Lawrence let her husband carry the tea tray into the lounge. Georgiana followed with an even heavier heart than the one she’d arrived with.

She made small talk with his parents while they drank their tea and even forced down a biscuit to keep them happy. Though it was hard to swallow down along with the realisation of the situation. Ed was a man devoted to his parents and his patients. He had precious little time as it was and, when she faced potentially numerous health problems for the rest of her life, as much as it pained her, she couldn’t expect him to dedicate any of that time to her.

‘It was lovely to meet you both. Sorry I missed Edward but I really should be going.’ She got to her feet, ready to escape the suburban life Ed enjoyed and she knew she could never have.

When Ed’s father made an attempt to get up from his chair she held up a hand to stop him. ‘Don’t trouble yourself. I can let myself out. Thank you for your hospitality.’

They said their goodbyes and she promised to pass on their best wishes to her parents before she was able to finally make her way out. Only to find Ed pulling up outside the front of the house.

He got out of his car clutching a paper bag and wearing a smile on his face that unfortunately Georgiana couldn’t replicate.

There was no way of knowing how long recovery would take after her surgery this time around. She might have to adjust all over again. Now she’d met Ed’s parents, had confirmation he was stretched to breaking point already, it made sense for her to bow out of the picture. Especially when she was going to be incapacitated again for goodness knew how long. He already took care of everyone, his parents, his siblings, his patients; he didn’t need someone else to look after. She couldn’t add to that and she wouldn’t ask him to. He’d already given her so much. She was stronger and more confident in herself because of him. But she couldn’t keep relying on Ed to get her through. Some things she would have to do alone.

Ed was over the moon to see Georgiana. Leaving her bed this morning was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. Last night had been amazing, more than he could ever have dreamed of. Passionate, loving, experimental were all ways he could’ve described their first time and he certainly didn’t