Stars in the Southern Sky (eBook)
613 Seiten
Verlagsgruppe Lübbe GmbH & Co. KG
978-3-7325-4614-5 (ISBN)
London 1954: When Estella is abandoned by her lawyer husband, James, her life of luxury crumbles. Not only had he left his job and frittered away their savings, James was cheating on Estella--with her cousin Davinia. But the family secrets didn't end there.
Heartbroken, Estella turns her back on England. Her distant uncle Charlie beckons her to Australia, where she accepts a new position--village veterinarian. She had studied veterinary medicine, but she'd never had a real job. As Estella sets off for the outback, she carries secrets of her own: she is pregnant with James' baby.
Day one in the bush brings the young Londoner to tears. Kangaroo Crossing, population thirteen, was not what Estella had expected. Sweltering. Dusty. Fly-infested. From the gruff propeller plane pilot to the perpetually drunken town doctor, the locals eye the newcomer with suspicion.
After a series of harrowing events, Estella strives to prove herself capable of the job. Just as the villagers of Kangaroo Crossing start to accept Estella-and a romance starts to blossom-her past catches up with her. She's been hiding things from them.
Back in England, James has gotten wind of the baby. His new wife, Davinia, can't have children... but her lavish inheritance depends on an heir. James will stop at nothing to get what is his. Can Estella save her baby-and herself-from the wild Australian bush? Will she ever learn to love again?
Stars in the Southern Sky is an historical saga set in the 'most isolated town' of Australia. From its passionate people, to its mystic wildlife, the outback becomes its own character in Elizabeth Haran's novel about learning how to thrive in the face of adversity.
With an eye for detail, Elizabeth Haran has written numerous historical romance novels including Staircase to the Moon, Island of Whispering Winds, Under a Flaming Sky, Dreams beneath a Red Sun, and River of Fortune, available as ebooks.
Haran's novels are perfect for fans of family sagas set in beautiful locations like Sarah Lark's, Island of a Thousand Springs or Kate Morton's, The Forgotten Garden.
CHAPTER 1
London, England — July, 1954
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Estella,” Dr. Blake said, coming back into his office. “The test took a little longer than usual. My new nurse gets flustered at the drop of a hat, and she can hardly stand the sight of blood. I don’t know what I’m going to do with her ….” He rolled his eyes.
“Please. Tell me the results.”
Alfred Blake could see that Estella was anxious, so he gave her the news without further ado. “Your suspicions were correct. You are indeed pregnant. Congratulations!”
Much to his surprise, Estella looked anything but pleased as she dropped her head. She was sitting on the edge of her seat on the far side of his untidy desk, with her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap. When she looked up again, he saw her big green eyes fill with tears that spilled and ran down her pale cheeks. “I don’t know that congratulations are in order, Dr. Blake.”
Estella’s family had been seeing Dr. Blake long before Estella had been born. In fact, he’d delivered her, and it broke his heart to see her so unhappy at a time when she should be overjoyed.
“What is it, dear? Don’t you want a baby?”
She nodded, then shook her head, and then nodded again, baffling him.
“I’m sorry I’m so emotional, Dr. Blake. I don’t know what’s the matter with me. I’m normally calm and rational, but I find myself crying at the slightest thing and contradicting everything poor James says.”
The doctor came around to Estella’s side of the desk and took her hand, patting it as he had done all her life. “That’s quite common under the circumstances. Your body is going through dramatic changes.”
“Am I going to be like this for the entire pregnancy?”
“No. Your emotions will settle, but don’t be alarmed if you’re forgetful. That’s also quite normal. Have you been suffering morning sickness?”
“I feel queasy sometimes, but it happens at odd hours.”
“Morning sickness doesn’t always occur in the morning. It can happen in the afternoon or at night, and your tastes might change. You could suddenly find you can’t stand the smell of foods that you once loved, or you might crave things you never liked.”
“Oh, dear, being pregnant sounds dreadful.” She began to cry again.
“Believe it or not, Estella, it’s going to be wonderful.”
Estella sniffed loudly. “I studied biology, anatomy, and physiology at university. You’d think I’d know all about the changes the body goes through when gestating.”
Dr. Blake laughed. Perching himself on the corner of his desk, he said, “You were studying to become a veterinarian, so I’m sure you were thinking in terms of cats and cows, not people. Your emotions are a little more complicated than those of an animal.” He frowned. “Are you worried about how James will react to the prospect of being a father?”
Estella nodded, and tears filled her eyes again. “He’s not ready for this.”
“Ready or not, it can’t be avoided now. But you mustn’t upset yourself. It’s not good for you or the baby. And stop worrying about James. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled once he gets used to the idea.” He handed her a clean handkerchief.
“I’m not so certain,” she sobbed. “Whenever I’ve brought up the idea, he’s been less than willing to discuss it.”
“You have a happy marriage, don’t you, Estella?”
“Yes, but James is still very much a boy at heart.” She glanced up at Dr. Blake almost apologetically.
He smiled kindly, his blue eyes twinkling at her. “I’m afraid that’s not likely to change until he has some real responsibility. It’s been just the two of you for almost a year. He’s had no real reason to grow up. I’m sure his solicitor’s practise is hard work, but you’ve both enjoyed the freedom to indulge in all that London provides in the way of social occasions.”
“We certainly have, and James loves to socialise. I don’t think he wants to give it up, and I’m equally sure that I couldn’t cope with being a mother and still attend as many parties and balls as we do, even with help at home.”
“My dear, it’s a beautiful day. Why not pack a picnic basket and surprise James at the office? Take him to Hyde Park, and tell him the news. I think you’ll find you’ve been worrying for nothing.”
Estella stood up and tried to pull herself together. “I suppose he has to know sooner or later.”
“How do you feel, Estella? Are you happy to be having your first child?”
Estella put her hand on her tummy and tried to imagine the tiny life growing within her. Slowly, a smile appeared on her pretty face. Arthur Blake loved to see the looks of wonderment on the faces of expectant mothers. Those moments were what made his work so satisfying.
Estella wandered through the glass-roofed promenade of the Burlington Arcade, stopping to admire a lovely tweed suit that caught her eye. The calf-length pencil skirt and fitted hip-length jacket would have suited her willowy figure, but knowing her shape was about to change, she smiled wistfully. She couldn’t help wondering if she was ready for all the changes taking place in her body. Turning, she caught her own reflection in the window. She was wearing a cream-coloured calf-length dress, the full skirt splashed with red roses, and red shoes and a matching broad-brimmed hat. She tried to imagine her tummy distended and her legs and feet swollen. She wondered if James would find her attractive, and again tears filled her eyes. “Oh, for goodness sake,” she muttered, becoming impatient with herself. “James loves me, and he’ll love our child.” Although he could be self-indulgent at times, she was sure he’d be a wonderful role model. Secretly, she hoped they were having a son so that James could play football with him in the park. He’d always been very athletic, especially at university, so she was certain having a son would thrill him.
Estella opened the door to James’s office in a building on Grosvenor Square, and stopped in her tracks. Expecting to see the mousy Miss Frobisher, her husband’s assistant, she was confronted with a woman with wide shoulders, strong arms, and an intimidating expression. The woman looked like she’d be well suited as the matron at St. Bernard’s Asylum in Ealing. Glancing at the mountain of sandwiches and cake on the unfamiliar desk in front of the woman, Estella realised she had disturbed her lunch. “Excuse me. Where’s Ms. Frobisher?”
“Who is Ms. Frobisher?” the woman growled, a bulging sandwich poised in front of her twitching lips.
“My husband’s assistant. Is she ill?”
“I work for Mr. Cook, and you are certainly not his wife.” Estella was given a once-over by a pair of piercing, ice- blue eyes. Normally, she would have been annoyed, but with the way she was feeling at the moment, she only wanted to turn and flee. “I’m Mrs. Lawford. I don’t know a Mr. Cook.”
“And I don’t know a Mr. Lawford.” The icy blue eyes narrowed as the woman put her sandwich down with obvious reluctance, and got up from her chair. She stepped towards Estella with a glint of ominous intent in her eyes, giving her the impression she was about to be unceremoniously tossed out the door. “Are you sure you have the correct office, Mrs. Lawford?” the woman asked with distinct impatience.
“I know my husband’s place of work,” Estella said, glancing at the frosted pane of glass in the door. She was alarmed to see that her husband’s title, James Lawford — Solicitor, was gone. Suddenly, Estella burst into tears. She felt foolish, but she couldn’t help it. How could she not find her husband’s place of work?
Reluctantly, the woman’s face softened. She glanced back at her lunch for a moment as if undecided. Then she turned back to Estella and sighed. “What’s the matter, dear?”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Estella sobbed. “I just wanted to have a lovely picnic lunch with my husband and tell him we’re expecting our first child. But I can’t even find his office. I’m sorry I’m so emotional ….”
The woman’s demeanour thawed even further as she leaned towards Estella and said, “It’s all right, dear. I was the same with all five of mine. Thankfully, they’re grown up now.”
Estella tried to imagine the woman before her as something other than robust and disciplined, but found it impossible.
“In a couple of weeks you’ll be fine, dear.”
“I hope so. As I am now, I can hardly bear to be around myself.”
A middle-aged gentleman came through the door, shrugging his jacket off his shoulders. “It’s quite warm outside,” he said, turning towards the desk. When he saw Estella crying, his eyes widened, and he glanced at his secretary. “Is something wrong, Edwina?”
“No, Mr. Cook. Mrs. Lawford will be all right in a minute. She’s looking for her husband, and she got the wrong...
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 8.8.2017 |
|---|---|
| Verlagsort | Köln |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Themenwelt | Literatur ► Historische Romane |
| Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen | |
| Schlagworte | 20th century romance • Aboriginals • Australia • australian romance novel • Australien • betrayal • between world wars • Brisbane • Cornwall • England • Familiengeheimnis • Family Saga • family secrets • feel good novel • female protagonist • Ferne Länder • Fernweh • Frauenroman • Frauenunterhaltung • Geheimnis • Great Depression • Großbritannien • Happy End • Haran • heartbreak • herzkino • Highlander • historical fiction novel • Historical Romance • historical romance novel • Historische Liebesromane • Island • island of whispering winds • Kate Morton • Kauri • Landscape Novel • Landschaftsbild • landschaftsroman • Landschaftsromane • Lark • Leidenschaft • Liebesroman • Liebesromane • Longreach • Love Story • Maori • Melbourne • Natur • Neuseeland • Outback • outback romance • Ozeanien • Rescue • Romance • Romance adventure • romantisch • Romanze • Sarah Lark • scenery • Schmöker • Schwester • Shipwreck • Spannungsroman • staircase to the moon • State of Queensland • State of Victoria • strong female • The Forgotten Garden • Unterhaltung |
| ISBN-10 | 3-7325-4614-4 / 3732546144 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-3-7325-4614-5 / 9783732546145 |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
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