Page 100 of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea

When she rushed across the room, almost stumbling in her haste, Nessa took a step towards Gabriel. But Amelia grabbed hold of her arm and pulled it towards her.

‘Where did you get this?’ she demanded, staring at thebangle that encircled Nessa’s wrist. The golden snake was glinting in light streaming through the window.

‘It was a gift from my late grandmother. She was given it by her mother.’

‘The same woman who made this exquisite mosaic? And where did she get it?’ asked Amelia, carefully slipping the bangle over Nessa’s fingers.

‘I’m not exactly sure. She found it.’

‘Where did she find it?’ demanded Amelia, cradling the bracelet in her palm as if it were her first-born.

‘My gran always believed her mum found the bracelet when she was digging the garden.’

‘And where was this garden?’ asked Amelia, not taking her eyes from the golden snake in her hands.

‘Here. They had a garden at the back of the cottage, where it’s sheltered by the headland from the worst of the winds.’

‘In that case we’ll definitely be doing a survey of this area, Mr Gantwich, because…’ Amelia swallowed, the blush on her cheeks even brighter. ‘If I’m right, this is a rare Roman bracelet from around the first century A.D. I’ve only ever seen anything like it in books.’ She looked up at Nessa, her eyes shining. ‘Did you have any idea of what you were wearing around your wrist?’

‘No, I mean, that is…’ Nessa paused, stunned by Amelia’s revelation. ‘I’ve always loved the bracelet but my family thought it was a piece of inexpensive jewellery, dropped and forgotten by someone who’d lived here before them. A little while before them, that is. Not two thousand years before them. My gran told me it was gold-plated brass.’

‘Your grandmother was wrong about that,’ said Amelia. ‘I believe this bracelet is solid gold and precious historically as well as in monetary terms. It’s quite remarkable.’ She turned the bracelet over in her palm. ‘Would you allow me to let an expert in Roman jewellery examine the bracelet?’

‘Of course you can examine it. I’d love to know more because it meant so much to my gran.’

‘Yes, that’s all fine and dandy,’ Billy butted in. ‘But where does that leave me? I’ve got diggers here and men ready to start work.’

Amelia turned to him, her expression hardening. ‘I would advise you very strongly to hold off from any work on this site until we’ve discovered more about the significance of what I’ve seen today.’

‘And if I don’t?’

Amelia reached into her handbag and brought out an identity card, which she flashed at Billy. ‘As you can see, I’m a professor of archaeology, and I occasionally advise the local authority on planning matters. It could cause you and your business all sorts of difficulties if it transpires there’s a site of national significance beneath our feet and your diggers cause damage to it.’ She put her hands on her hips. ‘The publicity alone would be dreadful, don’t you think?’

Amelia Fulden meant business, thought Gabriel, and his father knew it.

Billy turned his back on Amelia and spoke directly to his son, his voice dangerously low and quiet. ‘I’d like to have a word with you in private, Gabriel. Perhaps Ms Fulden and Ms Paulson could leave us?’

‘Of course,’ said Amelia. ‘I’m keen to talk more with this young lady about her great-grandmother and the provenance of the bracelet. I trust you won’t be starting any work, Mr Gantwich?’

Billy’s head twitched as though the words were being forced from him but he replied, ‘It appears that my hands are tied so there will be no work, for the time being.’

‘Would you like me to stay?’ whispered Nessa to Gabriel as Amelia left the cottage.

He shook his head. ‘No, you go and speak to Amelia and I’ll join you in a minute.’

When the front door banged shut behind them, the room was plunged into semi-gloom.

‘Well, Gabriel.’ Billy walked to the window ledge and ran his finger along the stone. ‘I appear to have underestimated you.’

‘You’ve always underestimated me,’ said Gabriel quietly.

‘Perhaps. You certainly showed some backbone inviting that archaeologist along today. You must have known how it would end, whatever she thought of that absurd artwork on the wall.’

‘Yes,’ said Gabriel sadly. ‘Think of it as my letter of resignation.’

Billy paused and rubbed stone dust from his finger. Then he turned to his son.

‘Your resignation? All of this for a ruined village and a girl who isn’t worth it?’

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