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is if they are of archaeological significance. Once I have had the opportunity to study and document the pieces, they are sold to the British Museum for its collection, with the understanding that I am to have continued access to them should I ever wish it.”
    â€œI see. And just how much you have managed to earn in the past five years while engaged in this pursuit?”
    â€œWhat my father and I earned in the past is of no consequence,” she informed him firmly. “At the time of his death six months ago, my father was on the verge of an extremely important discovery. Unfortunately, rain and water seepage have made progress on the site extremely slow, and my workers have had difficulty accomplishing much.”
    Actually, most of them had become convinced that the site was cursed and fled, but she saw no reason to share that particular piece of information with him.
    â€œWith the help of your steam pump,” she continued, “I will be able to excavate the site a hundred times faster than I could using only manpower for removing the water and mud. Then I will finally find what my father spent so many years looking for.”
    â€œAnd what was that?”
    Camelia hesitated. There had already been rampant fear amongst her own workers as to what it was she sought. When the accidents occurred, that fear had ignited into a firestorm of panic. Of course, Simon Kent was an educated man of science, who probably didn’t believe in curses and vengeful spirits.
    Even so, the less he knew, the better.
    â€œMy father was searching for the artifacts of an ancient tribe that inhabited the area of our site some two thousand years ago.” That was certainly true, she assured herself. It just wasn’t the entire truth.
    Simon looked decidedly unimpressed. “A few smashed bits of ancient tribal artifacts? No secret stashes of gold or diamonds? No mysterious ancient powers trapped in a jewel-encrusted chest?”
    â€œThe value of these particular artifacts will be enormous.” Camelia struggled to keep her temper in check. “My father spent his last twenty years on the cusp of an important scientific discovery, which is certain to open the door to an entire new area of archaeological study.”
    â€œSo what you are offering me at present is essentially five percent of nothing,” Simon observed bluntly, “given that you and your father have so far failed to find this so-called ‘significant discovery.’ ” He began to gather up the sopping wet garments strewn about the kitchen and toss them back into his washing machine. “Forgive me if I seem ungrateful, Lady Camelia, but as marvelously tempting as your offer is, I’m afraid I shall have to decline.”
    Camelia glared at him in frustration. Simon Kent was nothing like she had imagined. She had envisioned him as a refined, elderly man of science and letters, who was driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, as her father had been. She had believed Mr. Kent would welcome the extraordinary opportunity to participate in her exploration, in which one of his inventions would be used to further the world’s understanding of its own origins. She had convinced herself that he would be nothing like the other British men she had met upon her return to England, most of whom seemed to think that South Africa was nothing but a scrubby plot of dirt inhabited by barbarians, a land just waiting to be ravished for diamonds and gold.
    â€œTen percent then, over two years,” she offered stiffly as he continued to hurl garments back into his infernal washing machine. She hated the fact that she needed his assistance so desperately. “Will that satisfy you?”
    â€œIt isn’t just a matter of the money.” Simon was impressed by her obvious determination. Clearly her desire to honor her father’s life’s work and succeed where he had failed was admirable. “Even if I built another