Miranda Lee - Marriage And Miracles

www.millsandboon.co.uk

After the death of the man she believed was her father, Gemma Smith had left the opal fields of the outback for Sydney to find out the truth about her mother, and to sell her priceless discovery, a flawless black opal. Fate had introduced her to Nathan Whitmore, a famous playwright, who offered her a reward for the gem, which had been stolen from his adoptive father twenty years before. Nathan seduced and married Gemma, and her life changed forever; she witnessed startling changes in the Whitmore household, too: Nathan’s wild-child adoptive sister, Jade, discovered happiness with Kyle Gainsford, while Melanie, the family housekeeper, had been swept off in the arms of Royce Grantham. And just look what had happened between Ava, Bryon’s much younger sister, and Vince Morelli! But, best of all, Gemma had found her real mother and father right on her own doorstep: it was hard to believe that she was the result of a never-dying love between Celeste Campbell and Byron Whitmore!

However, Gemma’s marriage to Nathan was falling apart. It seemed that the gossips were right, and that her husband didn’t have a heart. But miracles had already happened for Gemma and those around her; was it too much to ask for just one more?

GEMMA WHITMORE-SMITH: when the man who she believed was her father died, Gemma discovered a priceless black opal, the Heart of Fire, and a photograph that cast doubt on her real identity. In search of her mother and a new life, she went to Sydney, where she was seduced by, and then married to, Nathan Whitmore. Happily, Gemma eventually unearthed the secret of the Heart of Fire, and who her real parents were: Celeste Campbell and Byron Whitmore, Nathan’s adoptive father! But now her marriage to Nathan is in tatters, because it seems he is unable to return her love….

NATHAN WHITMORE: adopted son of Byron Whitmore, Nathan is a talented, successful playwright. But, after a desperately troubled childhood and a divorce, Nathan is utterly ruthless and emotionally controlled. Can he rediscover his heart and save his marriage?

CELESTE CAMPBELL: head of the Campbell Jewels empire, Celeste was seen as a bright, beautiful predator who was not to be toyed with, in business or in love. But her brittle exterior hid a turbulent past and a broken heart—until she found love again with Byron Whitmore, who had always been the only man for her, and Gemma, her long-lost daughter.

BYRON WHITMORE: patriarch and head of the Whitmore family. His first unhappy marriage to Irene came to a thankful, though tragic end. Then fate reintroduced him to Celeste, the only woman he ever came close to loving, and he discovered that he had another daughter—Gemma.

DAMIAN CAMPBELL: younger brother of Celeste, Damian is interested only in self-gratification and sexual pleasure…. He doesn’t care whom he hurts in their pursuit….

LENORE LANGTRY: talented stage actress, ex-wife of Nathan Whitmore and mother of Kirsty, Lenore has finally found love with top lawyer, Zachary Marsden.

This novel is one of six set in the glamorous, cutthroat world of Australian opal dealing. Each novel is independent and can be read on its own. It is the author’s suggestion, however, that they be read in the order written.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THE première of a new play by Nathan Whitmore had become quite an event in Sydney over the past few years. It was nothing to see the Prime Minister of Australia as well as other heads of state roll up with their wives, not to mention a good supply of the sort of socialites and celebrities who graced the pages of the tabloids and women’s magazines every other week.

Gemma surveyed the famous faces in the crowd gathered in the foyer with a sincere lack of interest or awe. Fame as such did not impress her. Why should it? There was a time—not very long ago—when she would not have recognised a single famous face here tonight, and her life had not been any the less for it.

‘Smile, Mrs Whitmore,’ one of the plethora of photographers directed her way. ‘And you too, Ms Campbell.’

‘Smile, Gemma,’ Celeste hissed under her breath. ‘This was your idea, remember? I did warn you not to come, but now that you’re here, you must grin and bear it.’

Both women smiled and Gemma wondered what the photographer would say if he knew he was not just taking a photograph of Ms Celeste Campbell and Mrs Nathan Whitmore, but mother and daughter.

There was no doubt that the news would set Sydney’s social set on its ear, especially if it were also publicly revealed that Gemma’s father-in-law, Byron Whitmore, was Gemma’s biological father as well.

The long-standing feud between the glamorous lady boss of Campbell Jewels and the handsome head of Whitmore Opals had fuelled many a discussion over the years. An affair gone sour had been whispered at occasionally, but no one could have guessed at the extraordinary set of circumstances which had brought about Gemma’s birth, her subsequent stealing as a baby by a man who thought he was her father, but who wasn’t, and her final return into the lives of her real parents twenty years later.

It had only been three days since Gemma had found out the truth, yet already she had forged a bond with her father and mother that was astonishingly close and full of love. They were both tremendous people, in her opinion. Not saints, of course, either of them, but basically good souls with deeply caring natures who only wanted the best for their long-lost daughter. The added news that they were finally going to get married had made Gemma very happy.

Her own marriage was another matter...

Gemma’s stomach began churning. Her plan to get Nathan back had seemed a good one in theory. In practice, it was dangerous and risky and nerve-racking. But what alternative did she have? She loved Nathan more than life itself and felt sure that he loved her back, despite everything. She couldn’t let cruel twists of fate and unfortunate misunderstandings destroy their marriage. Certainly not now, when she might possibly be pregnant.

‘What’s taking Byron so long?’ she said worriedly after the photographer had scuttled away. ‘I hope he’s not trying to play peace-maker between Nathan and me. I asked him not to meddle.’

‘Please give Byron more credit for intelligence than that, Gemma. He realises any influence he has over Nathan is at a low ebb at the moment. Nathan was far from impressed to find out Byron had slept with me while he was still a married man. Then when he added that we were going to get married...’ Celeste’s eyes rolled expressively. ‘He said Nathan stared at him as though he were mad.’

Gemma sighed. ‘Poor Byron. He deserves better than that from Nathan.’

‘Yes, he does. Frankly, Gemma, everyone deserves better than they’re getting from Nathan. Why you still love him after what he’s done amazes me. Keeping my identity from you was despicable enough, but when I think how he...he—’

‘You promised not to speak of that again,’ Gemma broke in sharply. ‘You know that Nathan was out of his head when he did that. If I can forgive and forget, why can’t you?’

Celeste pursed disapproving lips. ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t abide a man perpetrating any violence against a woman, no matter what the provocation. Still, I won’t mention it again. It’s your life and I can see you’re determined to try to save your marriage.’