Page 20 of The Love Position

‘I’m really struggling to hold it together, Maggie.’

‘I know, love, but I’m here for you, as are the rest of the volunteers. We’ve got your back. Now have some more brandy, take a deep breath and go do your job, okay?’

Sophia nodded. ‘Thank you. I will.’

May

Sitting on the edge of a trench, Sophia stared into space, the evening sun warming her skin. Nearly a month had passed and all they’d uncovered was an old wall, some broken crockery, and a few more Iceni coins. She’d sent everyone home an hour before, but couldn’t find the energy to move. This was meant to be the highlight of her career, but it was a big fat failure.

Gazing across the field, she thought of the places she’d wanted to dig, but that Marcus had vetoed. The fact that his supposed ‘burial mound’ had indeed turned out to be a pile of rubble didn’t fill her with any satisfaction. Instead of admitting he was wrong, Marcus had doubled down, claiming that the landowner had disturbed the site, and insisting they continue excavating nearby.

Had opium overuse addled his brain? Or was he too preoccupied with keeping two girlfriends happy to do a proper job as an archaeologist?

Sophia rubbed her face. What does it matter? He’s pulling the plug and there’s nothing I can do about it.

Getting to her feet, she gathered her tools, ready to head back to Maggie’s, her eyes still drawn to the land that lay untouched. The one place she’d always wanted to excavate was at the edge of the escarpment, but the site was tricky to access. However, the spot where she’d planned to put in a trench on the very first day of the dig was on level ground.

Her hand tightened around the handle of her spade. Could I?

Without allowing a second thought to usurp the first, she strode over, her tummy prickling with excitement and nerves. Double-checking the site surveys, she marked a small section and removed the turf. She may have been going over Marcus’s head, but she was still going to do this properly, even if it was just a test pit.

With only two and a half hours of light left, Sophia moved quickly but carefully, inspecting the ground each time she lifted out more soil, and using her trowel as she went deeper.

Was there something there?

The sun was now low in the sky, creating deep shadows in the hole, so she crouched down, her body blocking the light, and blinked at the soil.

Yes!

The earth here was a slightly different texture and colour, indicating human involvement at some point in the past. Her breath quickening, she used the point of her trowel to remove a thin layer of dirt.

Oh, my god.

It was the cross guard and blade of a sword, stained reddy-brown with rust. Heart thumping, Sophia grabbed her smallest tool and excavated around the edge of the metal.

There was more.

Holding her breath, she carefully moved the soil away, shrieking with shock and excitement when she found human bone and a gold coin glinting in the darkness of the pit.

Had she found her? What now?

Do the right thing.

She rang Marcus.

He didn’t pick up, so she sent a text.

Sophia: I’ve found a grave. Please ring me

Her phone rang almost immediately.

‘Marcus! I—’

‘What are you talking about? You there now?’

‘Yes, I decided to put another trench in, and—’

‘What? You did what? When?’

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