Page 35

“If the son has a British name, but the father was Saxon, it’s likely his mother was British.”

“Yes, that makes sense! I do love this!” She bounced a bit in her seat, and he put an arm around her, unable to resist her enthusiasm.

“Em, you make everything a pleasure,” he said. “I love it, too—I just thought I was strange. Even my friends think I’m odd.”

“You’re not odd,” she said, placing a hand on his thigh and making his semi hard cock jerk to attention. “At least no more odd than I am.”

“Emily,” he murmured and kissed her, because he just couldn’t resist any longer. She snaked a hand around his neck and kissed him back. Her lips were warm and soft, and tingling pleasure exploded through his veins like it always did every time he kissed her. Reluctantly he broke the kiss and pulled back.

He cleared his throat. “So, any ideas about this place name?”

She let out a breath slowly and bent over the rubbing. Her other hand was still on his thigh. “It should be something local if he was buried here, you would think.” She chewed her lip, and he swallowed a groan.

“Do you think this is perhaps Caer something?” she said.

“Yes. Yes, most likely, but there are dozens if not hundreds of Caer place names.”

She got up and rummaged through the pile of books they had brought with them. Pulling out a slim volume, she came back to the desk brandishing it. “I haven’t had a chance to read this, but I was glancing through it and grabbed it to bring because it’s newly published and it relates to the post-Roman period.”

He glanced at the cover: Nennius’ Historia Brittonum, translated by Gunn. “Oh God, I’d forgotten I ordered that! An excellent idea. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet either.”

She sat down and opened the volume. “I’m sure I saw a list of Caer place names—yes, here on page 3, and there are notes in the back.” She turned to the back of the book and scanned until she found the list of place names with their modern locations. “Oh, gosh. Look, Deo, Leicester! ‘Caer Lierion’ is listed as being Leicester. Could it be . . .?”

“I’m not sure if there is enough space for that . . .” He leaned over the rubbing. “I think this is a y. Yes, it could be ‘lyr,’ Caerlyr perhaps? A variation in the spelling. Medieval spelling is notoriously unreliable.”

“Yes, yes! It must be, surely! Oh gosh, Deo, we did it!” She bounced up and danced round the room, and he swung around in his seat to watch her, a smile curving his lips. He got up and captured her, pulling her close.

“You did it,” he said, lifting her off her feet and kissing her. She flung her arms round his neck and clung to him as they shared a warm, tingling kiss.

“We did it,” she said, breathless and flushed.

“We still have to figure out the full names, but we know his title and location, and that is a lot,” he said, setting her on her feet gently but not letting go. He couldn’t. Holding her was so addictive.

Kes, who had been watching their antics from the fireplace, got up and ambled over to paw at his leg.

“Need to go out, do you?” he said, reluctantly letting Emily go. “All right, I’ll take you.” He glanced at Em, suddenly feeling awkward. He had promised her kisses and more tonight. He was both eager and nervous at the prospect.

“I’ll just take him out,” he said.

“Yes, of course.” She flushed faintly and began tidying up books and papers. “We can write it up tomorrow and maybe continue the search for the names?”

He nodded and held the door for Kes.