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
Netty unwrapped her parcel and gave a squeal of delight as she held up the blue ribbons. ‘They will be perfect for the New Year’s Day picnic.’ She glanced at Adelaide. ‘Have you told Caleb about the picnic?’
When Adelaide didn’t respond, Netty continued. ‘The Ladies’ Committee hosts it every New Year’s Day. The whole town goes. Even the mine shuts off the stampers. There’ll be dancing and games.’
‘Well, that sounds like an occasion not to be missed,’ Caleb said.
‘You’re not considering going? You won’t be able to dance,’ Adelaide said.
‘Maybe not, and I mean no disrespect to your good selves, but I can’t stay here in your tender care for ever, ladies.’
‘Suit yourself, Mr Hunt. I am not your keeper and I am certain the Ladies’ Committee will be delighted to have your company.’
‘What would you do on Christmas Day back home?’ Netty asked.
‘We would play parlour games,’ Caleb replied.
‘I don’t know any parlour games,’ Adelaide said.
Caleb stared at her. ‘None?’
She returned his gaze with a fierce anger directed not at him, but at a distant memory. ‘It was only my father and I and Christmas was just another day to him. In fact, it was worse than any other day—it was a day no one worked, and that annoyed him.’
‘I know a game.’ Netty hauled herself out her chair. ‘We’d play it in the servant’s hall. Charades. Do you know that one, Caleb?’
Caleb nodded and Netty explained the rules to Adelaide. ‘And if you lose,’ she concluded. ‘You have to pay a forfeit.’
‘What’s the forfeit?’ Danny asked.
‘The men would have to kiss the nearest lady …’ Netty said.
Adelaide and Caleb looked at each other and Netty blushed. ‘We’ll think of another forfeit,’ she said hurriedly.
‘The things that went on in the servant’s hall,’ Adelaide remarked but her smile belied her apparent disapproval.
As Danny clowned through a charade of the word ‘pirate’, Caleb watched Adelaide. The sherry had put a pleasing colour in her cheeks and a bright, dancing light in her eyes. Her hair had come loose and as she pushed a lock behind one ear, their eyes met and in her shy smile Caleb caught a fleeting glimpse of the young girl she must have been before widowhood and maternal responsibility had hardened her to the joys of life. It struck him with a palpable force that they shared more in common than had first appeared. Life had put them both on a difficult path not of their own choosing. Had he now come to a fork in that road?
