Chapter 29

“Oh.”

The disappointment in Archer’s voice finally registered with Julien. He reminded himself firmly that it was no concern of his who Dearborne spoke with. “Why do you ask?”

“I was speaking with him and some other members of the Antiquaries Club and they mentioned the excavation of a Roman fort—perhaps an entire village—near Worthy Down.”

Julien knew the site Archer meant. He’d already visited it, but as it was from late in the Roman occupation, it hadn’t interested him as it undoubtedly would Archer. “The one at Wakefield Park? It’s but fifteen miles from Shadowcross Manor.”

“Indeed.”

Normally, this was the time when he would feign disinterest until Archer was at his wit’s end, but he was grateful to the younger man for successfully distracting his thoughts from Dearborne and so decided not to toy with him—much. “Wakefield belongs to my neighbor.”