‘Why do you have to go back?’ she demanded. ‘Why can’t you stay here?’
As soon as the words were out, Letty knew she shouldn’t have said them. Servants weren’t meant to question their mistress.
‘I want to,’ Mary answered. ‘That’s my home, Letty.’ Her face softened. ‘With Clem and my little boy. I’m Harry’s mama too. They need me; and it’s where I belong.’
Mary did not mean to be harsh, but Letty felt as if her words had knocked the top off an old scab. Letty knew what it was like to have no mother. She knew what it was like to have nowhere to belong. That was how Letty’s life in Sydney had been before George took her in. It was how her life would be again if Mary and Victoria left.
Letty didn’t want them to go, but she couldn’t stop them. She bit her lip and hunched her shoulders.
‘Oh,’ was all she managed to say. She looked away from Mary, at the baby wrapped warm and safe in her basket
‘When are you going?’ George asked.
‘As soon as you can get us seats on the Bathurst coach,’ Mary replied. ‘I need to speak to Letty’s sister Lavinia, too.’
‘What am I going to do without you ladies to look after me?’ George moaned.
‘Ha! Find a wife of your own,’ said Mary.
Could that be why Mary wanted to speak to Lavinia? George was sweet on Letty’s sister, everyone knew.
Lots of people wanted Letty’s beautiful sister. But hardly anybody wanted Letty.
Meet the other Australian girls and authors
A FRIEND FOR GRACE 1808
It’s 1808 and Grace is on board the ship Indispensable with her friend Hannah. The girls wonder what the new land will be like - the convict women say there are giant rats and other strange animals! Then sickness strikes the ship …Will they survive to reach the shores of New South Wales?
Follow Grace on her adventure in the second of four exciting stories about a convict girl who is given another chance.
Sofie Laguna, author of the Grace books, is a highly regarded and award-winning writer of several books for children. Bird and Sugar Boy was shortlisted for the 2007 CBCA Book of the Year Award, Younger Readers, and Sofie’s adult book, One Foot Wrong, was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award in 2009.
Poppy at Summerhill
1864
It’s 1864 and Poppy, disguised as a boy, has escaped from Bird Creek Mission to find her brother, Gus. Life on the road is hard, but Poppy is given shelter at the Summerhill Homestead. There she meets a new friend, Noni – but will Noni discover that Poppy is not who she says she is? And will Poppy find Gus before they lose each other forever?
Follow Poppy on her adventure in the second of four stories about a Gold Rush girl who dreams of a better life.
Gabrielle Wang, author of the Poppy books, is a much loved writer for young people. Gabrielle’s recent books include her bestselling Young Adult novel, Little Paradise, and the very popular Ghost in My Suitcase, which won the 2009 Aurealis Award for young fiction.
Rose on Wheels
1900
It’s 1900, and Rose feels that Aunt Alice is the only one who understands her. But now it looks as if Aunt Alice is going to live in Adelaide, leaving Rose with a dreadful new governess, Miss Higginbottom! Can Rose stop Aunt Alice leaving Melbourne? And has her chance of going to school gone forever?
Follow Rose on her adventure in the second of four stories about a Federation girl who’s determined to do things her way!
Sherryl Clark, author of the Rose books, is a prolific and popular writer for children. Sherryl’s most recent Puffin book is Motormouth, a companion volume to Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!), which was an Honour Book in the 2008 CBCA Book of the Year Award, Younger Readers.
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Follow the story of your favourite Australian girls and you will see that there is a special charm on the cover of each book that tells you something about the story.
Here they all are. You can tick them off as you read each one.
A girl like me in a time gone by
Letty and the Stranger's Lace Page 6
