Page 24 of The Love Position

Sophia picked up the press release she’d helped write from the table in front of her and scanned it.

What? He’s changed it?

Her heart sank. This could not be happening.

‘For those of you who don’t yet know me, I’m Professor Marcus Thwaites, head of the archaeology department at Salisbury University and a world-leading expert in Roman history. Two thousand years ago, the Romans arrived in ancient Britain to find a tribal and, some might say, primitive society.’

Sophia shook her head.

Marcus’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at her, then his smile was back. ‘We live in a culturally-rich landscape and after gold coins were found not far from here, I knew we had to explore what might be hidden beneath the soil.’

He paused, as if for dramatic effect, and spread his arms wide. ‘And my hunch paid off. In one of the most significant finds of a generation, I discovered the grave of a Roman soldier, complete with a sword from his vanquished enemy.’

Everyone clapped, and Marcus nodded, bathing in the applause.

‘No,’ Sophia said, her voice cracking.

A few heads swivelled in her direction.

‘No.’ Her head was pounding, but she didn’t stop. ‘It’s not the grave of a Roman soldier. It’s most likely the grave of an Iceni male.’

All the other people in the room blurred as she stared Marcus down.

‘The pottery isn’t imported Belgic, it’s middle Iron Age and shell-tempered. The bridle-bit and sword are non-Roman, the coinage is almost exclusively Iceni, and the isotope analysis shows he was native to the UK, most likely from the east where the Iceni were. It makes no sense for him to be Roman. And it’s not your discovery, it’s mine.’

Marcus laughed and held up his hands in a placatory gesture. ‘I apologise, ladies and gentlemen, for this distasteful interruption. Unfortunately, Miss Hunter-Savage and I were involved romantically, and she’s been a little unstable since I broke off our relationship.’

‘You… You…’ Sophia shook, her breath coming faster and faster. Everyone was staring at her as if she were an animal hurling its own shit at the fence of their enclosure.

‘Darcie, do you mind escorting Miss Hunter-Savage out? I think she needs a little help.’

Pushing to her feet, Sophia dashed from the room. She didn’t stop, running along the corridor and down the stairs. She had to get out.

Reaching the street, she sat on a bench, clutching her pounding head.

It can’t get any worse. It can’t.

Her phone rang. It was Elyse, her father’s assistant.

She picked up, using all her strength to keep her voice even. ‘Hello?’

‘Sophia, it’s Elyse. Your dad’s in the hospital.’

‘Oh, my god.’

‘He’s adamant I shouldn’t tell you, but I disagree. He’s been suffering from chest pains but has been hiding it from everyone.’

Sophia pressed a hand against her heart as if to stop it from exiting her ribs. ‘I’ll leave now.’

Elyse told her which ward he was in, then ended the call. Standing, her limbs stiff, Sophia walked slowly towards where she’d parked her car.

A text came through.

Elyse: Drive safe. James is about ten minutes away from the hospital and your mum is here too

Lights were flashing behind Sophia’s eyes, and her fingers were tingling. She knew how important it was to control her breathing, but every time she gulped in a breath, she had a panicked urge to take another one.

She fumbled to text Isaac.

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