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

doubt she’d battle anyone or anything that threatened her. She certainly looked like a warrior, as well as having that defensive attitude that emanated from her in waves. Her slight frame was toned with defined muscles that would put most people to shame. Eyes blazed with green fire in her heart-shaped face, her defiant chin tilted upward. The flowing brunette locks he’d seen in newspaper features had been shorn into an edgy cut. One side of her head was shaved close to the scalp, while the other was choppy and non-conformist. He wouldn’t be surprised if she’d done it herself in a fit of pique. It made her look like the rebel she was reputed to be. The addition of a prosthetic right leg only added to that intimidating impression of someone who was not to be messed with.

Georgiana Ashley was unlike anyone he’d ever met, though he’d come across many other wounded veterans unwilling to appear helpless or weak by accepting help.

‘Even if I did agree to scoping the place out, there’s the small matter of leaving here unnoticed. It’s impossible. I’m sure you’ve witnessed the crowds of tourists and press assembled outside waiting for a glimpse of life beyond the palace gates.’ She clutched her hands to her heart in mock dramatic fashion. Ed was sure the deprecating humour was an attempt to undermine the high esteem the family name drew rather than making fun of those who looked up to them.

‘You are the country’s main tourist attraction.’ He couldn’t help adding fuel to the fire and wasn’t surprised to receive her narrow-eyed glare in response.

‘My point exactly,’ she said, letting him get away with the insolent comment that could have seen him lose his head a few centuries ago.

‘If you were serious about attending the clinic, I’m sure we could find some way to get you there.’

‘I don’t see how, unless you’ve got an invisibility cloak on you.’ She turned her back on him to retrieve a garish set of pink headphones from the treadmill, losing interest in the conversation. Clearly underestimating the heights of his own determination.

‘If you’re serious, I could sneak you out in my car. No one seems interested in my comings and goings. It shouldn’t be too hard to smuggle you out under cover of darkness. That way you could be sure to have the facilities to yourself too, if you attended in the evening.’ It might sound like the plot of a farcical movie but Ed was a problem-solver and this seemed the easiest way out of her predicament. If she wasn’t simply making excuses.

‘Are you joking?’ It did manage to grab her attention again and when she faced him, he could see the trace of a smile on her lips.

‘I never joke about my work,’ he replied in complete seriousness. This wasn’t about having a little excitement in his life. Goodness knew he had his hands full already, taking care of his parents and his little brother.

‘You would actually try and sneak me out?’ She was openly laughing at him now but he didn’t care. He would do whatever it took to get her to agree to some sort of aftercare. Not only had he made a promise to her mother but, having spoken to Georgiana, he knew she needed this. A space away from the pressures of her life here and somewhere she could be comfortable in her own skin. To reach the limits he knew she could be capable of now he’d seen her in action. It was their job at the clinic to encourage patients back to full health physically and mentally. Shutting herself off completely from the rest of the world wasn’t conducive to that recovery.

‘Sure. It’s not as if I’d be kidnapping you. If we got stopped, I’d expect you to say as much. I’m not getting locked up for attempted regicide or treason or whatever trumped-up charges they’d come up with.’

‘What are we talking here? A blanket over the head or full trench-coat-and-moustache disguise?’ At least she’d stopped scowling at him as the idea seemed increasingly to amuse her. It shouldn’t be this hard for a person to leave their own home.

‘Wear what you want. I’m not your stylist.’ He shrugged, unwilling to make such a big deal of things that she might become wary.

‘You have no idea, do you? I mean, why should you? You can just swan around the place as though you’ve every right to be here simply because your father got you this job.’

‘That’s not—’ His father had mentioned his name for the consultation but he was sure his reputation and experience would have secured the queen’s trust in him regardless.

‘It must be nice to go where you want, do as you please, with no one expecting anything from you.’ She was unleashing some of her frustration on him. It was good, he supposed, for her. Except she knew nothing about his life or the demands upon him. He had no more freedom than her, the princess imprisoned by her own privilege.

If she had the first clue about his situation, she’d never accuse him of having any sort of liberation from family. Not now and especially not when he was growing up. As the eldest of his six siblings, including a brother with spina bifida, he’d shouldered a lot of responsibility. That family loyalty hadn’t lessened with age. Most of his brothers and sisters had moved on or married and started families of their own. Things most people took for granted when they pictured their future. Not Ed. He’d stayed close to home, remained in that role of carer, so now he was the one looking after their elderly parents and checking in on his kid brother. That didn’t leave room for whatever fun and games Ms Ashley seemed to think he got up to. It had already cost him a relationship of his own.

‘That’s a lot to assume about someone you don’t know.’ He was the one getting defensive now.

‘We’re