The Surgeon and the Princess by Karin Baine (ebook reader with android os .TXT) 📕

but regret won’t change history. Your mother has been worried sick over you too, aware that you’re pushing us away. Tell us what we can do so we don’t lose you too.’ The plea from her father was more than she’d expected when she’d opened this dialogue, but she hoped it was the beginning of the healing process for all of them.

‘This. Being honest with me. This is the first time you’ve acknowledged what happened to Freddie.’ A huge weight lifted from her so she no longer felt that chest-crushing pain every time she thought of her brother and the betrayal they’d unknowingly taken part in.

‘I think about it every day. I don’t want to lose you, Georgiana. This will have to work two ways. You need to tell us how you feel. How we can help. It’s going to be a learning curve for us.’ The words coming from her mother’s lips were everything she’d wanted to hear for so long and her father was nodding his head in agreement with every word. It was going to take time to build the sort of relationship most people had with their families but time she had. They owed it to Freddie to make this work.

‘For me too. I’m making a lot of changes. I’m going to take advantage of the second chance I’ve been given at life. Freddie never got one.’

‘We let you both down. Instead of trying to mould you into the people we thought you needed to be, we should have let you be the amazing people you are. I’m sorry we realised that too late for Freddie.’ Her mother was sobbing now.

‘I’m sure he knew you loved him in your own way.’ They’d all made mistakes, none of which could be rectified now. All they could do was hold their hands up and move on. Something her parents were apparently willing to do.

‘Our thinking and parenting came with the vision of what we should be as role models. Not what our children needed from us.’

Georgiana understood what her father was saying and realised they’d tried to be supportive even if they hadn’t always known how to demonstrate that.

‘I appreciate everything you’ve tried to do for my recovery here. It’s really what set me on this path, helping out with the gala and thinking about my future again.’ Along with the introduction her mother had engineered between her and Ed. Not that Georgiana was going to give her credit for opening up her heart again when there was every chance it would get battered the next time she met him.

‘It’s an amazing thing you’re doing, helping those children.’

‘Thank you, Father. It’s not all my doing. Ed... I mean, Mr Lawrence is the one who put it all into motion.’

Despite promises to herself, her feelings for him hadn’t diminished since she’d taken some time out from him. She’d justified the break in face-to-face conversation by telling herself she’d confused friendship and compassion for something more. Except she couldn’t get him out of her head.

When it came to helping people, he was always first in the queue. A man who could be relied upon to do the right thing. That was exactly why he’d put an end to the fabulous kissing, regardless of how hot and bothered they’d been. They had to put the charity and the clinic before their own wanton needs. Unfortunately.

Now the gala dinner was only a matter of days away she would have to see him again, along with the rest of the world. The publicity was a necessary evil to get the charity off the ground, but she was willing to sacrifice her vanity for the future of their patients.

‘You and the doctor seem to be close these days,’ her mother said nonchalantly, not fooling Georgiana for a second that she wasn’t interested in anything that might be going on.

‘You know he’s been opening the clinic for me at night and we’ve had stuff to sort out for the charity.’ Georgiana brushed off any insinuation there was something more than professional interest there, but she was finding it impossible to maintain eye contact with the lie.

‘He’s a good man, I’m told. Very honourable.’ That had to have come from her mother for her father to talk about someone he’d never met in such glowing terms.

‘Yes, I’m sure it wouldn’t have been his idea to sneak you out of here like a thief in the middle of the night.’ Her mother’s accusation was directed at her.

‘Actually, it was a joint enterprise.’ Ed had been the first to suggest sneaking her out, but she’d followed up on the idea. They’d both been complicit. It made her laugh to think of the absurd picture their exploits would have made to a spectator. At the time her freedom was everything and Ed had gone along with it all. Who knew what it would’ve cost him if anything had gone wrong? Yet he’d done everything she’d asked of him. Whatever it took to make her comfortable in a world she thought she no longer knew. He’d been her rock and she was missing him dearly when she’d been so enjoying their time together.

‘My rebellious daughter.’ Her father chuckled.

The build-up to the gala was exciting but also terrifying. It was going to be her big reveal to the country and she wanted Ed by her side for that. She could get through it on her own—she was strong enough to do anything after all she’d survived. The difference was she wanted him there with her. Everything was better when he was around.

‘Is Edward escorting you to the gala, dear?’ Again, her mother’s astuteness astounded her. She wondered if this was a recent thing now her parents had decided to try harder to be involved in her life or something they’d both chosen to ignore until now.

‘He’ll be there. We haven’t discussed the logistics of it yet.’ Since it was being held in her family home, she wouldn’t have to make a