All That Glitters

Shelagh Mazey

Description

Aurora Dryer is the adopted daughter of Lord and Lady Dryer of Alvington Manor. She has fallen for the prospector Rhys Thomas on a short-lived trip to Australia. Her challenge is to persuade her parents to let her follow her heart and return to the gold mining town of Bendigo to see if the magic can be re-captured. Lucy Seymour, the young widow of murdered Ashleigh Seymour, makes the decision to travel with her small son Frankie to the diamond mines of South Africa to visit her brother-in-law, Rupert. Enticed by the offer of marriage, Lucy knows that she and her son have a long sea voyage and epic trek overland ahead of them, but she wishes to escape her uneventful provincial life with her in-laws.Both women are yearning for excitement, but their journeys are destined to take different paths to those they had envisaged. Their story will take them to the gold and diamond mines of Australia and South Africa. In the pursuit of love they will face many adventures including a shipwreck, black magic, vendettas, arson, kidnap and extortion.

Sujets

• Historical fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Date de parution: 28 février 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781800468863
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Copyright © 2021 Shelagh Mazey

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

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ISBN 9781800468863

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Cover image
The Diggers Rest Saloon and Diamond Dealer illustration at the Big Hole Museum in Kimberley, South Africa.
Photograph by kind permission of Dirk Jacobs.

Matador® is an imprint of Troubador Publishing Ltd

This book is dedicated to
My South African family members
My late brother Terry who was the pioneer
My late mother and father, Roma and Pat Farrell
My sister Bridget Overd and her family
My sister Maddy Sams and her family

I have visited them all so many times
Travelling to Johannesburg and north to Pretoria
and the Kruger National Park
South to Cape Town, the Garden Route
and the Stellenbosch winelands
I have driven with my husband across
the Great Karoo and visited the coastal towns
of Durban, Knysna and Port Elizabeth
This beautiful African countryside has enticed
the characters in my book and inspired me to write this story
Contents
THE PROLOGUE (April 1871–March 1872)
CHAPTER ONE (March 1872)
CHAPTER TWO (August–September 1872)
CHAPTER THREE (October–November 1872)
CHAPTER FOUR (November–December 1872)
CHAPTER FIVE (December 1872)
CHAPTER SIX (January 1873)
CHAPTER SEVEN (January–February 1873)
CHAPTER EIGHT (April–May 1873)
CHAPTER NINE (May–September 1873)
CHAPTER TEN (September–October 1873)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (October–December 1873)
CHAPTER TWELVE (December–February 1874)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (March 1874)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (May–June 1874)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (June–August 1874)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (August–October 1874)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (January 1875)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (March–July 1875)
CHAPTER NINETEEN (August 1875)
CHAPTER TWENTY (January 1876)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE (January 1876)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO (February 1876)
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE (March–May 1876)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR (February–May 1876)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE (June 1876)
THE EPILOGUE (May 1876)
GLOSSARY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Note that some historical characters are mentioned in the text, but are not included in this list of fictional characters.


PORTLANDERS
VIOLET STONE (1814) Joshua’s mother
MATTHEW STONE (1811) Joshua’s stepfather
REBECCA STONE (1838) Joshua’s sister
BENJAMIN STONE (1832) Joshua’s half brother
JEM STONE (1866) Joshua’s nephew

THE IVELL CAST

THE DRYER FAMILY
ALVINGTON MANOR
LORD JOSHUA DRYER (1832)
LADY LOUISA DRYER (1833)
AURORA DRYER (1851)
GABRIEL DRYER (1855)
LYDIA MAY DRYER (1870)

ALVINGTON MANOR STAFF
HARVEY WOODFORD (1823) Butler/House steward
EDGAR PARISH (1830) Footman
JOHN MOORE (1827) Head groom
EDWIN PROCTOR (1841) Groom
PERCY SANDFORD (1810) Gardener
THOMAS HAWKINS (1831) Gardener
HENRY HODINOTT (1820) Handyman
JOHN BOUCHER (1809) Gamekeeper
RAYMOND HAWKINS (1832) Gamekeeper
RUTH PROCTOR (1820) Housekeeper
FLORA BOUCHER (1810) Cook
ROSA WARREN (1825) Lady’s maid
LETTIE BOUCHER (1838) Parlour maid
ELSIE HALL (1833) Chambermaid
EMILY POTTS (1837) Housemaid
HARRIETT PROCTOR (1844) Kitchen maid
ELLIE PROCTOR (1848) Scullery maid
CHARLOTTE HODINOTT (1827) Laundress
BETH PUDDY (1835) Nanny
GRACE TWEEDY (1821) Governess

THE WARREN FAMILY SENIOR
HOME FARM
ISAAC (1792) & ELIZABETH (1795) WARREN
SIBLINGS: JACOB (1830) & BEATRICE (BUNNY) (1844)

THE WARREN FAMILY JUNIOR
HAMLET COTTAGE
MALACHI (1825) & ROSA (1825) WARREN
SIBLINGS: RUBY (1856), ELI (1858) & DAISY (1861)

THE SEYMOUR FAMILY
SUTTON BINGHAM MANOR
COL. JEREMY (1803) & MRS HELEN (1808) SEYMOUR
SON: RUPERT (1823)
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: LUCY (1836)
GRANDSON: FRANKIE (1869)
GORDON ROBSHAW – Steward
MARY ROBINS – Cook
GLADYS TURNER – Parlour maid
MERCY MEREDITH – Nanny
TIM JEFFRIES – Gardener

CAMP ROAD FAMILIES
ESTATE WORKERS
RUTH PROCTOR (1820)
SIBLINGS: AMY (1838), EDWIN (1841)
HATTIE (1844) & ELLIE (1848)
MICHAEL (1800) & MAUD (1802) PORTER
HENRY (1820) & CHARLOTTE (1827) HODINOTT
JOHN (1827) & SUSAN (1831) MOORE
SIBLINGS: LUKE (1851) & LILLY (1853)
PERCY (1810) & MARY (1812) SANDFORD
SIBLINGS: ROBERT (1830) & HARRY (1833)
JACK (1805) & MOLLY (1802) HAWKINS
SIBLINGS: FRANK (1823) & THOMAS (1831)

THE BOUCHER FAMILY
KEEPER’S COTTAGE, POUND LANE
JOHN (1809) & FLORA (1810) BOUCHER
SIBLINGS: LETTIE (1838) & TOBY (1846)

THE BONFIELD FAMILY
KNAPP COTTAGE, PRESTON PLUCKNET
ARTHUR (1808) & MARTHA (1813) BONFIELD

THE FAIRWAY FAMILY
CHURCH COTTAGE, STAIRS HILL, IVELL
AMBROSE FAIRWAY (1804)
DAUGHTER: CLARA (1834)
MISS MAUD CAVENDISH (1824) Housekeeper

THE MEAKINS FAMILY
SUMMERVILLE HOUSE
LADY ANNABEL (1797)
ALISTAIR (1802) & OLIVIA (1813) MCNAB
AGNES (SENGA) (1860)

THE TOMPKINS FAMILY
THE BOROUGH
MR & MRS TOMPKINS
SIBLINGS: HARRY (1834) & BOBBY (1835)

THE SOUTH AFRICA CAST
ON THE ‘SYRIA’
LUCY SEYMOUR (1836)
FRANKIE SEYMOUR (1869)
ETHAN HART – Diamond prospectors
SIMON McCALLISTER – Diamond claim salesman
ROGER & DAVID MOSS – Diamond prospectors
ELLEN WEATHERALL – Travelling to Durban
MAISIE BARFORD – Travelling to Cape Town
MR & MRS PARTRIDGE – Travelling to Port Elizabeth

HOPETOWN
RUPERT SEYMOUR
TAMELA – Rupert’s Khoikhoi maid
BERKO – Tamela’s son
MOSES & SOLOMON – Rupert’s diggers
BENTHE – Waitress
MR & MRS BUTHELEZI – General Stores
MRS ERASMUS – Draper
MAGHIEL – Frankie’s school friend

ON THE FARM
LUAN AND HILDA VAN DER MERWE
SIBLINGS: FRIEDRICH, ANJA & MARTA

EUREKA ROW
NORMAN & BETSY NORRIS – Grocers
MR & MRS BEKKER – Bakers
MR & MRS JASPER COFFIN – Chandlers
LUIGI CAPELLO – Barber

IDAYIMANE ENCAMPMENT
KHUMO TSHWANA – Xhosa diamond digger
Sons: KOFI – Works for Thomas
ROELI – Frankie’s playmate
MPHO – San bushman

MINERS’ DEFENCE UNIT
STEFAN RENSBURG – Landlord of the Diggers Rest
LIEUTENANT ANDREW GREAVES
BRUCE ROBINSON
NORMAN NORRIS
JASPER COFFIN

KIMBERLEY
MERVYN McCALLISTER – Businessman
SON: SIMON McCALLISTER

THE AUSTRALIA CAST
BENDIGO

THE KELLY FAMILY
KAMAROOKA, WHIPSTICK ROAD, EAGLEHAWK
SEAN KELLY (1816)
SAM (1836) & ANGELICA (1834) KELLY
SIBLINGS: CAMIRA (1863) & CONNOR (1864)

THE DAVIES FAMILY
MYRTLE STREET
HUGH (1808) & SARAH (1811) DAVIES
SIBLINGS: LEWYS (1836) & GWYNETH (1839)

THE THOMAS FAMILY SENIOR
BRECON HOUSE, WARATAH STREET
BRYN (1812) & NELL (1814) THOMAS
SIBLINGS: OWEN (1837) & RHYS (1839)
ALINTA – The maid

THOMAS FAMILY JUNIOR
WATTLE STREET
OWEN (1837) & FREYJA (1837) THOMAS

THE ZHANG FAMILY
BRIDGE STREET, DAI GUM SAN
ZHANG WEI – Grandfather
ZHANG LONGWEI – Father
ZHANG LING – Mother
SONS: WEIMIN, YINGJIE, JIAN
DAUGHTER: QINYANG

RESIDENTS OF SANDHURST
MR & MRS BRUNSVOLD – Emporium
JETHRO TULLY – Landlord Eureka Hotel
ARCHIBALD WOODBURY – Postmaster
THE PROLOGUE (April 1871–March 1872)
Mr Rhys Thomas
Brecon Valley Mining Company
C/O Bendigo Post Office
Sandhurst
Victoria
South Australia

15 th April 1871

My Dearest Rhys,
We have arrived safely back home in Somerset and it is with sadness that I put pen to paper to let you know how dreadfully I am already missing you and how I regret not being able to stay in Bendigo longer, so that we might get to know each other better. During the brief period we spent together I admit to being blissfully happy, but the time was far too short to be able to decide on the course of a whole lifetime. Cruel fate has decreed that we should be parted too soon; I dearly miss your strong arms around me, those wicked twinkling eyes and your loving kisses. Please write, for I feel it is important that we should keep in touch, for who knows what the future may hold.
My mind has been going over and over what happened between us and how I involved poor Gwyneth in our conspiracy, and I fear that she too holds a candle for you. I hope that we have not unintentionally hurt her, but I do think you need to be aware of her possible attachment to you, Rhys, so that you might deal with her sympathetically.
I must close now, as I also promised to write to Gwyneth and Camira, but please remember I am thinking of you always, longing to hear from you and praying that one day we might be together again