Marriage And Miracles
Miranda Lee
THE STORY SO FAR
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?
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK
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.
A NOTE TO THE READER
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.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
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
