Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (a court of thorns and roses ebook free txt) 📗

Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick? Perhaps Julian was talking about another show entirely on the phone?

‘And you’d like this to form the episode’s closing address?’ Shaun asked as he reread the outline.

‘With some additional words added in by your good self,’ Julian said. ‘That’s only a hasty jotting of ideas.’

Thea didn’t miss the looks the AA gave each other at Julian’s unusually deferential tone.

‘Thanks, Julian.’ Shaun hooked a pen out of his pocket and turned to Thea. ‘We’d better get this sorted and practiced.’

‘Good idea,’ she downed her lemonade and held up the empty cup, ‘but I think I’ll get us some refills first.’

Ajay picked up the other empty cups and the tray. ‘I’ll come with you. It’s hot in the truck, and we need to get packed up too.’

As they strolled over to the catering van, tagging onto the short queue of security men and archaeologists, Ajay asked, ‘I take it Shaun had the most to say in the closing speech?’

‘Which is how it should be.’

‘But not how it’s been for the remainder of the episode.’ Ajay’s eyes narrowed as he looked back to where Julian was sitting. ‘It’s been you all the way. Why’s he suddenly changed tack?’

‘I don’t know, but I’m glad.’ Reassured to hear Ajay voice her own thoughts, but not wanting to fan the flames of his gossipy imagination, Thea added, ‘It’s Shaun’s show. The viewers would be disappointed if he wasn’t heading it.’

‘Umm.’

‘That was a loaded “umm”.’

‘I wish I could shift the feeling that our producer is up to something. Ever since that dinner we had, he’s been acting as if he knows something we don’t. It makes me uncomfortable.’

Part of the phone conversation Thea had overheard flashed through her mind. ‘A shake up of the team is inevitable. If we want to be seen to be keeping up, then we need someone at the helm of the ship who is professional and likeable and, let’s be honest, easy on the eye.’

Ajay shuffled forward as they got closer to the front of the queue, his voice little more than a whisper. ‘It might just be that he’s a game player. Someone who likes to make people think he knows more than they do.’

‘That would certainly fit his persona.’ Thea sighed. ‘Perhaps it’s alright though. For the past few days, he’s been less, what’s the word?’

‘Creepy?’

‘I was thinking, “in your face”.’

‘A much more professional way of putting it.’ Ajay grinned. As Thea reached her turn in the queue, he changed the subject. ‘So, you’re Mill Grange bound, then? Swapping one Roman excavation for another.’

‘Yep.’ Thea looked back to where Julian was now tapping furiously at his laptop. ‘I can’t wait.’

*

The villa was swathed in a sea of blue. The heavy-duty tarpaulins, weighted down and neatly pegged in place, covered all but one last trench on the far right of the site. Here, three archaeologists swept away the final dustpans of loose earth as Shaun and Thea got ready to do their last piece to camera before Easter.

‘It’s looks so peaceful.’ Thea surveyed the scene as the tarpaulins rippled gently in the soft breeze. ‘Hard to imagine that there’s thousands of years of history hidden beneath.’

Shaun slipped a hand into hers. ‘I haven’t seen a site put to bed like this for a long time.’

‘Really?’

‘We don’t normally get breaks in the middle of a dig. We plough on through, Easter break or no Easter break. At least that’s one thing we can thank Julian for.’

*

Thea turned the lock in her camper’s door and picked up her rucksack and laptop case, ready to head across the grass to where Shaun had parked his car. She could see him throwing his own stuff into the boot as he chatted to Andy.

‘Thea, I’m glad I caught you.’

‘Julian! You made me jump.’ Thea automatically took a step backwards as the producer appeared from around the side of the campervan, making her wonder how long he’d been stood there.

‘Sorry, Thea. I needed a quick word before we go our separate ways.’

‘Sure.’ Hoping she sounded less uneasy than she was, Thea pointed towards the car park. ‘Shall we walk and talk?’

‘Here would be better.’ Julian tilted his head. ‘I’m going to pop back to the site to have a final chat with the security team before I go.’

‘Right.’ Thea hugged her laptop to her chest. ‘How can I help?’

‘Just wanted you to know that the broadcast you did to the local news team went down very well with the chaps at head office.’

‘Oh, thanks.’

Julian twisted his stance so he could follow the line of Thea’s gaze, towards Shaun. ‘Yes. Very well indeed. They congratulated me on getting you in action on a wider stage.’

Thea stiffened as Julian’s phone conversation ran through her head once more. ‘… they will soon be seen in action on a wider stage…’

Julian kept his eyes on Shaun and Andy as he added, ‘They were so impressed in fact, that they asked me to enquire if you’d ever considered doing more presenting?’

‘Me?’ Thea palms were suddenly sweaty. ‘Phil asked me if I’d like to do more, and I’m here, doing just that. But beyond this, no, not really.’

‘Nonetheless, I’d like you to think about it.’ Julian turned to face the path back to the excavation. ‘But, for now, keep this conversation to yourself.’

‘Not tell Shaun, you mean?’ Thea frowned.

‘The conversation I had with the television company was confidential. I’d ask you to respect that.’

‘Well I—’

‘When you get back next week for the final mosaic shots, I’d like a meeting. Just us, please. To discuss where your career could go from here.’

‘But I already have a good career.’

‘So do I, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have better ones.’

Twenty-seven

Saturday April 4th

The aroma of strong fresh coffee teased Thea’s senses as she sat across the immaculately set breakfast table from Shaun. Tucked into the hotel’s