Page 21 of Kate Darcy is Digging up Trouble

"He would have loved to join us, but he has no mind for scientific pursuits and is currently very busily engaged in knocking together the heads of his toy soldiers. I believe he may be contemplating a military career."

The chatter rose and fell between them as they made their way across the south lawn and followed the gravel path towards the western pleasure grounds and continued towards the old boundary stones where they had first discovered the mound. Before long, the neatly tended gardens gave way to rougher grass and scattered trees, and they came upon the little rise where several large men in shirtsleeves were painstakingly removing the turf from a broad strip across its top.

"Ah, excellent," said Mr Briar, surveying the scene with satisfaction. "The men have made a good start. We are going to open a trench across the centre of the mound, although we shall proceed carefully until we have a better understanding of how it was constructed. The first task is to lift away the turf and remove the loose surface soil. Once we reach the older deposits beneath, we shall be able to see whether the mound was built up in stages and, with luck, discover something of its original purpose."

He turned to one of the men, who had straightened at their approach. "Good morning, Watkins. How are we getting along?"

"Very well, sir. We've cleared most of the turf, as you can see, and we've begun taking off topsoil at the western end."

"Excellent. Let us keep the turf to one side so that we can replace it when the work is finished. And I want the men to take particular care as we go deeper. If you notice any change in the soil, or come upon stone or anything that looks out of place, you must stop and call me over. I should hate for us to put a spade through some ancient treasure that has been lying undisturbed for thousands of years."

There was a table and two chairs standing somewhat incongruously on the grass beside the works, and Mr Briar motioned towards them.

"Miss Darcy, I thought you might prefer somewhere more comfortable to note your observations."

"How very thoughtful of you, Mr Briar," she said, setting down the papers and writing instruments she had brought with her. He had even provided a paperweight to prevent her notes from blowing away. Was there nothing this man did not think of?

Her parents and family watched the work for a little while, asking questions and offering observations, before gradually dispersing to go about their day. Her father had estate business to attend to, her mother was expected in the village and George announced that he ought to return to his wife and son. Mina stayed a little longer, making several quick sketches of the mound and the men at work before promising to return later with more drawing materials. Soon Kate was left with Mr Briar, the labourers and Thomas, who had stationed himself at a discreet distance beneath a tree and looked resigned to a long day.

She realised very quickly that excavation was not a quick or decisive endeavour. Earth was removed in thin layers, with Mr Briar frequently interrupting the work to examine something in the soil or take a measurement. He moved between the men with an easy authority that Kate had not seen in him before, directing their efforts and often taking up a spade himself to demonstrate precisely what he wanted done. The men appeared to respect him, and he spoke to them with the same good humour he displayed in the drawing room, although there was nothing frivolous about him now. He knew exactly what he was doing, and Kate found herself watching him with interest. He was so different from the teasing, flamboyant gentleman she had first encountered in the library. Here he was entirely in his element, and so in control that she found it difficult to tear her eyes from him.

He showed her what to measure and how to record their findings, beginning with the width and depth of the trench and the position of the mound in relation to the surrounding land. As the men worked their way down, Kate was to note the depth at which each new layer appeared and record anything they uncovered, however insignificant it might seem.

He was patient and clear in his instructions, but he did not pander to her as other gentlemen might have done to a lady in her position. He expected her to understand what he told her and clearly thought her capable of carrying out the tasks he set her. Kate was grateful for that. She had encountered too many gentlemen who assumed that being a woman rendered her incapable of understanding anything more complicated than ribbons and the weather.

The morning passed quickly. Kate filled several pages of her notebook with measurements and observations, moving between her table and the trench to examine something Mr Briar wished to show her. Beneath the turf, the soil was dark and loose, but as the men dug deeper, they encountered patches of lighter earth mixed with small stones. Mr Briar explained that this might indicate material had been brought from elsewhere to build up the mound, although he warned her against drawing conclusions too soon.

"One of the problems with my line of work, Miss Darcy," he told her, crouching beside the trench and examining a handful of earth, "is that people tend to find what they want to find. A gentleman gets it into his head that he has discovered the tomb of King Arthur, and suddenly every stone is part of Camelot and every bit of pottery is the Holy Grail. All very exciting, of course, but not a helpful attitude in discovering what is truly beneath one's feet."

"That does not sound a very scientific approach, sir."

"It is not, but I'm afraid that beneath the surface of every scholarly, bespectacled antiquarian beats the heart of a small boy with romantic notions of history. Please do let me know if I become hopelessly lost in my own imagination on this dig, Miss Darcy. I shall rely upon you to bring me back to the facts."

"I shall do my best, Mr Briar. Although it must be difficult not to get carried away when you spend your life making such wonderful discoveries."

"Indeed it is. I am due in Scotland in a few weeks to join an excavation of a cairn near Inverness. If my colleague is correct, there may be several burial chambers beneath it. I have never excavated in Scotland before, and I must admit I am already dreaming about the wonders we may find."

"Scotland! Oh, how I envy you, Mr Briar. What a wonderful life you lead."

By the time a footman arrived from the house with their luncheon, Kate was surprised to discover how late it had become. They ate at the table beside the excavation, Mr Briar continuing to explain the various things they might expect to find as he helped himself to a generous portion of cold chicken. She had so many questions that she scarcely remembered to eat, and he seemed happy to answer them, even when she interrupted him to ask another before he had finished replying to the first.

The afternoon brought no great discovery, although they uncovered a few more fragments of pottery and several stones which Mr Briar wished to examine. He was particularly interested in a thin band of darker earth beneath the surface, and Kate recorded its position and depth while he instructed the men to leave that portion of the trench undisturbed until the following morning.

At last, as the shadows began to lengthen, Mr Briar called a halt to the work. The men laid down their tools, and Kate rose from her chair, stretching her back with a groan. She had been bending over her notebook or the trench for most of the day, and her legs and back were unhappy with the unusual activity.

"Well, Miss Darcy," said Mr Briar, coming towards her and wiping his hands on a cloth, "what do you make of your first day as an antiquarian?"

"Oh, it has been wonderful! I had no notion there was so much to think about!"

"And we have barely scratched the surface, if you will forgive the dreadful pun."

She laughed. "All is quite forgiven, Mr Briar. Indeed, I think I could forgive you anything for the experience you have offered today. It has been marvellous!"

He did not reply but bent over her desk and helped her gather her papers and notebooks before accompanying her towards the path where Thomas was waiting. Kate thanked him for his assistance throughout the day and wished him a pleasant evening, already looking forward to another day of discovery.

By the time she reached the house, she was exhausted, her boots were muddy and she was desperate to step into a warm bath. Despite her aching body, she could not remember the last time she had enjoyed herself so much. And this was only the first day! Who knew what they might uncover over the coming weeks? She could hardly wait to find out.

Best of all, she realised as she climbed the stairs towards her room, she had scarcely given a thought to how handsome or affecting Mr Briar was. Perhaps it had been nothing more than a passing fancy after all, and now that her mind was more agreeably engaged in intellectual pursuits, she would be troubled by it no longer. Yes, that must be it. Kate went to dress for dinner feeling very pleased with herself.