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 snatched her hand away and pulled the paper with the copy of the solicitor’s incriminating note from the book on the table where she had concealed it. She handed it to him and watched as he read it, the colour draining from his face.
‘What’s this nonsense?’ The colour in his face rose again, turning his cheeks scarlet with anger.
‘It appears to be a copy of a letter from my father’s lawyer, addressed to me, explaining very clearly that, under the terms of my father’s estate, he has left everything to Danny and me. However, our inheritance is subject to trusts, which puts you, as my future husband, in a position of considerable financial advantage over me.’
Richard gave a humourless laugh and dropped the paper on the table. He waved a hand over it, as if he could magic it away. ‘Where did you get this—this piece of fantasy?’
‘I am not the fool you take me for, Richard.’ Adelaide’s voice rose with the red mist of anger in her chest. ‘I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the contents of that note. You came to Maiden’s Creek in the full knowledge that if I were to marry you, you would gain effective control of my father’s fortune.’
He ran both hands through his hair. ‘What credibility can you give to a note that looks like it was written by a child?’
‘I am assured it is a true copy of the original, which I believe you have in your possession. Please give it to me now.’
Richard hefted a heavy breath and leaned his hands on the table. When he raised his face, he looked so wretched that for a fleeting moment Adelaide almost felt sorry for him.
‘Adelaide, I was not lying when I said I love you, have loved you all these years. I grieved without comfort when I thought you were dead.’
‘I would like to believe you, Richard.’
‘That much is true but as for the rest, your father repented his hard heart on his deathbed. He told me to seek out the lawyer who had a letter for you and to come and look for you.’
‘And you thought that gave you the right to open a letter clearly addressed to me? Not only open it but conceal its contents from me?’
‘I just didn’t want to trouble you with what is no business for a woman.’