He gave a mock sigh. “Very well, I’ll do my best to behave…during the day. All bets are off at night.”
She kissed him. “We’ll need a place to stay for the duration of the dig. I thought of letting a house, but I think the Blue Rose Inn is quite nice and will serve us better. It would save us the need to hire a staff since they already have a cook to prepare our meals and maids to clean our rooms and tend to our garments. Also, we would not need to concern ourselves with keeping a house in good repair or tending a garden.”
“I’m sure the innkeeper will be pleased to have us remain. What’s next on your list that you are furiously scribbling down?”
“Who are we to bring in to assist us? Only your Huntsford staff? Can they be spared from the Huntsford Academy for that long?”
“Yes, some of them can be taken off other museum projects. But we ought to bring in an expert or two from the British Museum to add authority to our discoveries.”
Adela pursed her lips. “Do you really think it is necessary? Having your name behind these finds ought to be enough. There is no one with a finer reputation than yours.”
He caressed her cheek. “Says my obviously adoring wife. We will remain in charge, but having the British Museum behind us is important.”
“All right, but I will not have the Royal Society involved. Of course, the Duke of Lotheil is always welcome, but I will not allow any of their other members to set foot here.”
“You’ll have no argument from me.” He frowned, for he was still quite angry over the way Adela and her friends had been shunned and ignored by their Fellows. “What’s next on your list?”
“I’d like to invite Syd and Gory to join us. Marigold, too. I don’t know if the Farthingales will allow her to come because she’s still a little young to be trusted on her own. In truth, I think she is wiser than me or my friends and will likely be a better influence on us than we are on her. But there is no harm in asking John and Sophie if she might join us. Would you mind?”
“Not at all. I’ll reserve rooms for all of them at the inn should they accept. Invite John and Sophie, too, if you wish.”
Adela nodded. “I may do just that. Gory will leap at the chance to participate in the dig. She will be quite helpful because of her knowledge of anatomy. As for Syd…her knowledge of skeletal composition will be helpful, too. But I want her here mostly because I am afraid of what might happen to her if she remains in London without us. Even if things appear to be resolved, I’d still like to get her away from her family and this seems a very good excuse.”
Ambrose nodded in agreement.
The sun was bright and breeze cool as they continued to set their plans. Ambrose had never felt so at peace as he did in this moment. “My brothers will take up much of the slack when dealing with Huntsford business affairs, but I would like them to join us, as well. We often explored the countryside around our summer estate near Thurlestone with our father. It isn’t very far from here. I think they will be eager to join us for as long as they can manage. Perhaps we’ll even take a few days and visit Thurlestone once they arrive.”
“Do you have any caves on your property?”
“Yes, but we never found anything close to this extraordinary site. No cave art. No artifacts. Although it might be worth another look now that you’ve found these. I know it will mean a lot to my brothers to be a part of our dig. Not to mention, Octavian’s brawn will be quite useful. He always enjoyed physical labor.”
“Let’s write our letters as soon as we return to the inn tonight.”
“All right, love. But I will add two others to our list. My valet, Saunders, who has always had a love of archeology.”
“Yes, he told me. I think it is an excellent idea. He will be thrilled.”
“And we must invite Mr. Hawkins to join us.”
Adela’s eyes widened in surprise. “The young reporter from The Tattler?”
“Yes, we know he is also a lover of archeology. And what better way for our work to gain popular recognition? That gossip rag reaches people from all walks of life whereas the scholarly journals, while important, reach only the scientifically-minded elite.”
“Oh, I see your point. But we had better set down rules if he is to join us. His articles are only to be about archeology.”
“Agreed.”
As the weeks passed and their plans began to firm, Ambrose watched Adela blossom. He had always thought her beautiful. But she flowered a little more with each passing day. He had expected them to tire of each other a little, for they spent day and night in each other’s company.
His concerns were unfounded.
If anything, he craved her company more each day and missed her every minute they were apart.
Gad, was this how it felt to be in love?
His valet, Saunders, and an excited Mr. Hawkins were first to arrive in mid-July. The young reporter hopped down from the coach and rushed forward to greet them with a gap-toothed smile and a cowlick poking up from his sandy hair. “I was about to quit that awful rag when the owner called me into his office and handed me this assignment. I cannot thank you both enough, and wish to assure you my reporting will only extend to the cave site. No gossip will take place. I shall only report on dead things.”
Ambrose grinned. “You and I will have no quarrel so long as you stick to this arrangement, Mr. Hawkins.”
