Digging Deeper Read Online Free PDF Page A

real-life Indiana Jones.
    Beck didn’t expect every student who enrolled to study archaeology at Yorkshire University to have the same level of interest as him, but there seemed to be a widening gap between what they said on their application form and what they believed. He’d begun to wonder if they’d all downloaded the same sentence.
    “I have a passion for the past and a burning desire to make my own individual contribution to the understanding of human development.”
    It should have been the truth but Beck suspected the burning desire related to three years of digs in the sun, during which they could consume copious amounts of alcohol, have lots of passionate sex, and if they could be bothered to look, make that unique, once in a lifetime discovery to bring them fame and a vast fortune. Very few would become anything like Indiana Jones, though Beck’s hat and whip still hung in the shed.
     
    Giles opened the front door of Hartington Hall and grinned at Beck. “Workmen round the back.”
    “Very funny.”
    “Are you on your own? I said you could bring Isobel.”
    Beck followed Giles through the paneled hall. “She’s not coming up until later in the week.”
    Hartington Hall was stuffed with antiques. Old paintings and clocks lined every wall. As much as Beck loved old things, his home was modern and minimalist—according to his mother—sterile and boring.
    “Well, the chief bridesmaid is a K, Kirsten, though she’s not here yet, plus she has a boyfriend.”
    “Since when did that stop you?” Beck retorted without thinking. He added quietly, “Are you sure you’re ready to get married?”
    Giles pulled up short and turned to glare. “Are you crazy? You’re my best man. You’re supposed to be supporting me, not trying to talk me out of it. Talking of duties, I hope you’ve arranged something spectacular for my stag night. I don’t care where we go but there has to be naked women. Lots of them.”
    “There’s a sculpture exhibition on at the art gallery.”
    “And because I’m not sure whether or not that was a joke, I insist the naked women are alive,” Giles said. “And if one of them has a name beginning with X, so much the better.” He rubbed his hands together.
    “I had hoped you weren’t playing that game anymore.”
    Giles winked. He turned to push open the door of the drawing room and Beck caught his arm. “I met Felicity today.” He watched Giles’ face.
    “Flick? I’ve already got an F. Do you need one?”
    Beck raised his eyebrows.
    Giles laughed. “I’m joking.”
    “Is she one of the bridesmaids?” Beck asked.
    “No, she works a few days a week for my mother. She’s serving the meal tonight.”
    That explained her cryptic comment, Beck thought.
    Giles pushed open the door and ushered him inside. “Brace yourself.”
    “Oh look, here’s Professor Beckett,” Celia called as they walked in.
    “She makes me sound old,” Beck muttered under his breath.
    “You’re over thirty. You are old,” Giles whispered.
    Beck made his way across the room toward Celia’s proffered cheek. She turned the other and then turned again for the third peck. Beck was getting dizzy.
    Celia waited until she had everyone’s attention before she spoke. “This is Giles’ frightfully clever friend from Cambridge. Got a First. Giles just missed his. Alexander is the youngest ever professor of archaeology at Yorkshire University. He’s the best man and he’s still single.”
    Not quite what he had on his CV. Plus Giles had not just missed a First. Beck kissed Willow on each cheek and shook hands with her parents, Kitty and Barry, and then with the three identikit bridesmaids whose names he instantly forgot, and finally with Henry Hartington, already red-cheeked and drunk. To Beck’s relief, Giles’ grandmother was asleep. On a previous occasion, Celia had introduced him as Doctor Beckett and Gertrude had latched on like a leech and subjected him to a detailed description of her