Page 7 of Forgive Not Forget
Katherine wasn’t keen on this seating arrangement and hoped the project manager and the archaeologist wouldn’t butt heads, literally across the table.
“What’s the verdict?” she asked.
“I have good news and bad news for you,” Sophie said. “The good news is we are happy that the burial was one-off in that area, so you can recommence building work.”
Mark sat back in his seat and let out an audible sigh of relief. “The bad news?”
“You’ll be pleased to know it won’t affect you,” Sophie replied, meeting Mark’s glare.
Katherine raised her eyebrows and braced herself. “Go on then, hitmewith it.”
“The team would like to extend the survey to the rest of the site. No survey has been carried out before. We only have the historical records and very basic information gathered from when the Government took over the site during World War II. It’s a good opportunity for the abbey, a chance to see beneath the soil. We’d like to extend it to your garden if we may, Katherine.”
Anna grinned. “You’ll have to ask Virginia’s permission, not Katherine’s.”
“She won’t say no to me. We’ve become firm friends.”
They all let out a light laugh, dispersing the tension in the room. Katherine’s cat had been a common sight at the abbey in the last weeks, more so than usual. She’d been found nosing inside the cabins of the diggers, Mark’s temporary site office that had been placed in the car park, and even the trench itself, much to the annoyance of the archaeologists.
“How long will it take?” Anna asked.
Sophie scrunched her face. “A week to survey, another few to analyse the data and decide on a plan of action.”
Carrie fidgeted in her seat. “What then? You find something and shut us down?”
“We would initially put in test pits to look at any anomalies we find, but there is nothing that would cause the site to be shut down. It’s unlikely we’d do any excavation unless we found something particularly interesting. At most, we’ll just need to cordon off areas. I know you will have concerns, but this is a good chance to add to what we know about the abbey’s history.”
Mark leaned forward and stared at Sophie. “You’re sure it won’t interfere with the construction work. We really cannot accept any more delays.”
“The area you are working in holds no further interest for us.”
Katherine looked to Anna, who shrugged.
“Can you supply a written report on your intentions, timings, number of staff on-site?” she asked Sophie. “I’ll need to feed it back to the rest of the trustees for their approval.”
“You’ll have it first thing tomorrow,” Sophie replied, standing up. “It might be that we find nothing, and we’ll be on our way. Anything we do find will only add to the history of the site.”
Sophie’s last comment made Katherine feel like it was her duty to agree whether she liked it or not, which was likely the intention. She would be standing in the way of increasing knowledge about the abbey, and that would be working against their aim.
“I look forward to receiving it. I’ll try and have an answer from the trustees by the end of the week.” Katherine gave her a weak smile; it was all she could manage. One problem resolved, yes, but another one potentially created.
“If you could. We have some test pits going in up at Halsey Castle this week and next, so it will be a few weeks before we can get back on-site anyway. We’ll have the results from the carbon testing on the remains in a few weeks, so we’ll reconvene then.”
Katherine nodded her agreement as Sophie and Mark made their exit, ten paces apart.
“Well, at least Mark’s happy,” Carrie said when they were out of earshot.
“For a change,” Anna added with a smirk.
“He’s under a lot of pressure from all sides, as am I.” Katherine rubbed at her furrowed forehead. “Who knows what this additional survey will throw up? I think we’d be mad to disregard it. I wonder if they would do it anyway, even if we refused.”
Anna’s forehead creased as her gaze turned to Katherine. “You think they could?”
“I wouldn’t like to bet against it. I’m sure they could get any permits they wanted and wave them at us.”
“Best put it to the trustees then,” Carrie added, rising from her chair. “I’d best get back to the rabble.”
“And I have an exercise class to prepare for. Then Anna and I are leaving early,” Katherine said, a little smirk dancing on her lip.
