It sounded like Neil. ‘For fuck’s sake, Sadie, I’m doing everything I can. I can’t magic money out of thin fucking air.’ He must be on his mobile. ‘I know it’s a shit job. I’m the one who has to flog my guts out at it. But it’s all I know how to do. So you’re just going to have to fucking put up with it.’

He was obviously having a rough time of it at home. Clare was finding it enough of a struggle getting by on her salary. She couldn’t begin to imagine how tough it must be to make ends meet on the pittance they were paying Neil. The hand-to-mouth existence of a jobbing archaeologist was precarious enough without having a wife and young baby to support too. She might ask David if there was any way they could offer him a bit of work on the post-excavation side afterwards. At least then he’d know he had some job security.

The camera rig could wait for now. Neil would be mortified if he knew she’d overheard him rowing. Best leave him to it and go and get that tea David had promised her.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

‘I’m so glad you asked me over, Clare. Those aerial shots you sent over were wonderful. But there’s nothing quite like seeing the site in the flesh.’

Clare said, ‘I’m the one who should be thanking you. I’m really grateful you made the time to come over. I really do appreciate it, Margaret. Having you cast an expert eye over the finds has been invaluable.’

Margaret placed the sherd of pottery she’d been holding carefully back into the plastic finds bag from whence it had come. ‘Nonsense. From what I can see Val here is doing a splendid job.’

The elfin Scotswoman sitting between them in the Portakabin beamed with pride. Val had been terrified when Clare had told her she’d asked Margaret over to take a look at what they’d found. Professor Margaret Bockford’s reputation had evidently preceded her.

Margaret was warming to her theme. ‘It’s always such a help to have a finds supervisor who’s both organised and knowledgeable – sadly not always the case in my experience. Now, Clare. When do I get to have a look at the site itself? Let’s take a peek at this temple of yours.’

The two women leant into the gusting wind as they made their way uphill towards the trench containing the remains of the shrine, passing the descending diggers who were trudging past them in search of a hard-earned cup of tea.