Luckily it was deserted before then, for we saw no bodies among the stones. I beg your pardon for mentioning so unpleasant a topic."
"But I would be fascinated to find an ancient body entombed here. It would yield wonderful information about the past. If you wish to persuade me to abandon this task, or if you doubt a woman can be of use here, you are mistaken."
He narrowed his eyes. "I do not care if Sir Edgar sent man, woman, or bogle to examine this hill. Surely you can tell a black house from a hill fort."
"I can tell you, sir, this is no black house," she snapped.
"A shieling, then. Just a lot of old, dirty stones to be moved out of the way."
"I am no archaeologist—that is a fairly new science—but I will not dismiss this as unimportant. Not yet," she repeated. "I mean to assess it carefully."
"Be as careful as you like. Just be quick about it."
She stood, brushing off her hands. "What is the rush?"
"The road must be completed by mid-October. Your assessment must take only a few days at most."
"You wish to be rid of me."
He inclined his head, and she could see that his temper and impatience were sparking hot. "You and your brother are welcome to stay at Dundrennan as long as you need. I only ask that you be efficient about your work, and see quickly how insignificant these stones are, so I can get on with my work."
"I will not be rushed, nor can you tell me what I should think about this place," she said furiously.
"I would simply appreciate your... sensible conclusion, madam." He stepped backward. "We must go, if you please."
"If you please, I will stay for a while. Go about your day. I will be perfectly safe here with my brother."
"Well." He frowned. "My crew is working on the moor on the other side of this hill, and I will be there if you need anything. I will leave the gig for you and Mr. Blackburn, and take the horse. Mrs. Gunn expects you for luncheon at one o'clock. Good day, Mrs. Blackburn."
"Before you leave, there is a matter to discuss." She knew he would not like it, but that suited her well just now. "You know all construction on the hill must cease for now."
"I am aware," he said curtly.
"Sir Edgar wants the nearby roadwork halted until he can come here to make his determination. That includes any work on the moor, if it is within a mile or so."
He narrowed his eyes. "That is ridiculous."
"The use of black powder or machinery could set up vibrations that would disturb this fragile find."
"There is no find," he said bluntly. "That is slate and sandstone behind you, not bone china, for the love of God!"
"There is no need to swear. You are a civil engineer. Do not pretend to dismiss the danger of tremors. As for the rest, the law of treasure trove dictates—"
"What treasure?" he demanded. "Are you now judge and jury to dictate the future of my career and my home, as well? If I lose Dundrennan because of—" He stopped, turned away, as if holding his temper and protecting some private thought.
"Lose Dundrennan?" she asked. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing." He frowned. "Mrs. Blackburn, this road must go through, no matter what you find here." He turned on his heel and walked away, nimbly clearing the rocks until he disappeared around the sloped curve.
* * *
"Aedan MacBride may indeed be right, Christina," John said later. "This may be one great, useless pile of stones." He sat on a boulder, having slowly climbed the rest of the hill to join her after Aedan left. "But I suspect you will not surrender to him on that point."
Christina surveyed the confusion of rocks around her, feeling discouraged. Realizing the enormity of her task, she felt almost ill. MacBride's angry outburst bothered her more than she wanted to admit. She understood his dilemma, but she could not give in to his will. "Sir Aedan wants me to dismiss this, but I must continue."
"Aye, you must, over and above treasure trove law." John nodded. "You hope to find something to support Uncle Walter's theories."
She nodded.
"But I would be fascinated to find an ancient body entombed here. It would yield wonderful information about the past. If you wish to persuade me to abandon this task, or if you doubt a woman can be of use here, you are mistaken."
He narrowed his eyes. "I do not care if Sir Edgar sent man, woman, or bogle to examine this hill. Surely you can tell a black house from a hill fort."
"I can tell you, sir, this is no black house," she snapped.
"A shieling, then. Just a lot of old, dirty stones to be moved out of the way."
"I am no archaeologist—that is a fairly new science—but I will not dismiss this as unimportant. Not yet," she repeated. "I mean to assess it carefully."
"Be as careful as you like. Just be quick about it."
She stood, brushing off her hands. "What is the rush?"
"The road must be completed by mid-October. Your assessment must take only a few days at most."
"You wish to be rid of me."
He inclined his head, and she could see that his temper and impatience were sparking hot. "You and your brother are welcome to stay at Dundrennan as long as you need. I only ask that you be efficient about your work, and see quickly how insignificant these stones are, so I can get on with my work."
"I will not be rushed, nor can you tell me what I should think about this place," she said furiously.
"I would simply appreciate your... sensible conclusion, madam." He stepped backward. "We must go, if you please."
"If you please, I will stay for a while. Go about your day. I will be perfectly safe here with my brother."
"Well." He frowned. "My crew is working on the moor on the other side of this hill, and I will be there if you need anything. I will leave the gig for you and Mr. Blackburn, and take the horse. Mrs. Gunn expects you for luncheon at one o'clock. Good day, Mrs. Blackburn."
"Before you leave, there is a matter to discuss." She knew he would not like it, but that suited her well just now. "You know all construction on the hill must cease for now."
"I am aware," he said curtly.
"Sir Edgar wants the nearby roadwork halted until he can come here to make his determination. That includes any work on the moor, if it is within a mile or so."
He narrowed his eyes. "That is ridiculous."
"The use of black powder or machinery could set up vibrations that would disturb this fragile find."
"There is no find," he said bluntly. "That is slate and sandstone behind you, not bone china, for the love of God!"
"There is no need to swear. You are a civil engineer. Do not pretend to dismiss the danger of tremors. As for the rest, the law of treasure trove dictates—"
"What treasure?" he demanded. "Are you now judge and jury to dictate the future of my career and my home, as well? If I lose Dundrennan because of—" He stopped, turned away, as if holding his temper and protecting some private thought.
"Lose Dundrennan?" she asked. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing." He frowned. "Mrs. Blackburn, this road must go through, no matter what you find here." He turned on his heel and walked away, nimbly clearing the rocks until he disappeared around the sloped curve.
* * *
"Aedan MacBride may indeed be right, Christina," John said later. "This may be one great, useless pile of stones." He sat on a boulder, having slowly climbed the rest of the hill to join her after Aedan left. "But I suspect you will not surrender to him on that point."
Christina surveyed the confusion of rocks around her, feeling discouraged. Realizing the enormity of her task, she felt almost ill. MacBride's angry outburst bothered her more than she wanted to admit. She understood his dilemma, but she could not give in to his will. "Sir Aedan wants me to dismiss this, but I must continue."
"Aye, you must, over and above treasure trove law." John nodded. "You hope to find something to support Uncle Walter's theories."
She nodded.
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