Chapters (53)
- Cover
- About Alison Stuart
- Also by Alison Stuart
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Prologue
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgements
- Preview of The Goldminer's Sister
She grasped Richard’s hand, her fingers tightening around his. ‘There is something you must understand, Richard. He doesn’t know the truth. He thinks his father was lost at sea, that we—I am a widow. I use my mother’s maiden name. The world knows me as Mrs Greaves. He can’t know that you are his father and that I—we were never wed.’ Tears caught at the back of her throat and ran unchecked. ‘I can’t let the world know …’
Richard returned her grasp, forcing her to look at him. ‘Addy, I understand. No one needs to know the truth, least of all Daniel. Once we are wed, no one will be any the wiser.’
She blinked. ‘Wed?’
‘Of course. I have to make it right, Addy. All of it.’
Adelaide extricated herself from his grip and rose to her feet to pace the floor.
‘Addy?’ His chair scraped as he pushed it back.
She turned to face him. ‘It’s too much, Richard. I have to think.’
He stood up and faced her, grasping her forearms. ‘What is there to think about? We have lost too much time already. We can leave tomorrow. Marry by licence in Melbourne and be on the next boat back to England within the month.’ He tightened his grip on her. ‘It’s time to come home, Addy. Time for both of you to resume your place in proper society, not waste your life in a place like this.’
She shook her head. ‘No, not just like that, Richard. I have obligations here that must be taken care of. As you said, we have lost so much time already, another few days will make no difference.’ She unwound her arms from his grasp, reversing the grip so she held him. ‘Please understand, I have changed and there is no doubt you have too, Richard.’
‘What is there to understand? It’s simple. You loved me once. Love can come again.’
She let go of his arms and took a step back. ‘I thought I loved you, Richard, but I was a child. I have had a lifetime to survive since then. I need time—we all need time to get to know each other again.’
He stared at her. ‘I am his father, Adelaide.’
Dread wrapped itself around her heart. ‘We can tell him the truth in good time, Richard, but please, promise me you will be guided by me? Allow me to introduce you to him as an old family friend, let him get to know you first. The rest can follow.’
Richard turned away, dashing his hand through his hair. ‘If that’s how it must be. Addy—’
She stepped back and held up her hand. ‘No. No more, Richard. I need time. Leave me.’
He nodded and picked up his hat from the day bed. He circled the brim in his hand. ‘When will I see you again?’