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Back The Postmistress Save as PDF
Chapters (53)
  1. Cover
  2. About Alison Stuart
  3. Also by Alison Stuart
  4. Title Page
  5. Dedication
  6. Prologue
  7. One
  8. Two
  9. Three
  10. Four
  11. Five
  12. Six
  13. Seven
  14. Eight
  15. Nine
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Twelve
  19. Thirteen
  20. Fourteen
  21. Fifteen
  22. Sixteen
  23. Seventeen
  24. Eighteen
  25. Nineteen
  26. Twenty
  27. Twenty-One
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. Twenty-Four
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Twenty-Six
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. Thirty-Nine
  46. Forty
  47. Forty-One
  48. Forty-Two
  49. Forty-Three
  50. Forty-Four
  51. Author’s Note
  52. Acknowledgements
  53. Preview of The Goldminer's Sister

First and most importantly I have to acknowledge the contribution of my husband, David, without whom this book would never have been imagined, let alone written. His love of the Australian bush and his own deep ties to the land, as well as his insatiable (and misguided) belief that he can find gold in every creek around Walhalla, was the inspiration for this story. He has also been my technical advisor on the intricacies of deep lead gold mining … although there is still no way I am writing ‘extruded swarming dyke’ into the story—even if it is the correct term for a ‘reef’ as we lay people might call it. Secondly I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of my writers’ group, The Saturday Ladies Bridge Club, who have been there with brainstorming advice, tea (and something stronger) and sympathy. I couldn’t have done it without them! I would also like to thank my editor Jo Mackay and the team at Harlequin Australia and HarperCollins for their faith in me! This has been such an exciting journey. Finally my thanks go to the residents of Walhalla who keep the town alive for the visitors who make their way through the mountains to this special part of the world. While Maiden’s Creek is NOT Walhalla, it is still my inspiration and the place I escape to on regular occasions. In looking to its history and geography for inspiration, I hope I have done it justice.

Read on for a preview of The Goldminer's Sister

Preview of The Goldminer's Sister

THE GOLDMINER'S SISTER

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20 June 1873
Maiden’s Creek, Victoria

‘Out of the way, woman!’

Eliza Penrose jumped back, tripping on the wooden boardwalk as a chestnut horse careered down the road, avoiding bullock carts and pack horses and sending pedestrians jumping for safety. She fell backwards into an undignified heap, gasping for breath as a small crowd began to gather around her. A child laughed.

‘Are you ’urt?’ Amos Burrell, the coachman who had brought her to Maiden’s Creek, crouched next to her, concern written on his broad, friendly face, a beefy hand outstretched to help.

Only her dignity.

‘Don’t you have eyes in your head?’ The rider’s angry voice was tinged with the soft consonants of a Scottish burr.

Her face burning, Eliza allowed Burrell to help her to her feet and managed a shaky thanks to the coachman before turning to the inconsiderate rider, who had brought his horse to a halt and now glared down at her.

‘Look what you’ve done!’ She held out the mud-streaked skirts of her green travelling coat, her anger masking a sudden, irrational urge to burst into tears. She had not come all the way from England to greet her brother in this dishevelled state.