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"Gold?" Kate exclaimed, and he heard George give an answering shout from above.

"Gold! Did someone say gold? Briar, I knew it! I knew there would be treasure!"

Nathaniel paid him no attention for the moment, for he was examining the object with careful attention. It was a beautifully worked band of gold, curved to fit around the animal's neck and decorated with a delicate pattern of raised circles. At one end he could just make out what appeared to be a fastening, and although he could not yet see the whole piece, he knew at once what it was.

"Cathy, I believe we have found a collar."

She looked at him in astonishment. "A gold collar? For the dog?"

"So it would appear, my darling. I have never encountered anything quite like it. We must be careful in removing it, but if it is what I think it is, this may indeed be an important discovery."

"Oh, Nathaniel, how wonderful!" Kate clasped his arm in her excitement. "A gold collar! He must have been the most beloved dog in all of ancient Britain."

"Or the wealthiest," said George, who had come to peer down at them. "Good God, Briar, you have done it! I knew there would be gold in that hole, and I have been proved correct. Never mind the dog, let us have a look at his jewellery!"

"George, you are dreadful!" Bella laughed, coming to stand beside her husband. "That poor little creature has been lying there peacefully for goodness knows how many years, and all you can think about is the value of his collar."

"Well, Princess, you must admit that it is a most unusual discovery. I have heard of gentlemen leaving fortunes to their dogs, but never of one having his pet buried with a gold collar. Perhaps the fellow was some sort of canine prince."

"I think he was a very good dog," said Elizabeth, looking towards Pegasus, who had now abandoned his investigations into the earth and was sitting beside Darcy in the hope of being offered something to eat. "And I imagine his family loved him very much."

"Then we shall have to do the same for Pegasus when his time comes," declared Mina, looking at the spaniel with renewed interest. "A grand burial chamber and a gold collar, and perhaps I could paint his likeness upon a great stone to mark the spot."

"Absolutely not," said Darcy, looking horrified. "Pegasus has many years ahead of him, and I will thank you not to begin planning his funeral."

"Oh, Papa, we are only being fanciful," said Mina, laughing. "Although I do think he would look noble in a gold collar."

"He would look ridiculous," said her father, although Nathaniel noticed that he had bent down to scratch the dog's ears. "And I should be most displeased if anyone were to suggest putting the poor creature beneath a great pile of stones."

"I think Pegasus would be happy enough with a pot of food," said Elizabeth. "Although we should have to make it a very large pot."

This sent the family into another fit of laughter, and Nathaniel found himself looking down at the ancient dog with affection. He remembered Pip, the scruffy old creature he had loved so dearly as a boy, and wondered whether the animal lying before them had been as good a friend to his family. He hoped so. There was something touching about the thought of people who had lived so long ago loving their animals in much the same way that the Darcys loved their silly spaniel.

They spent another hour examining the chamber, although Nathaniel was careful not to disturb its contents beyond what was necessary to establish the nature of their discovery. Kate made detailed notes of the position of the skeleton and the vessels, while Mina settled herself upon a stool and began a careful sketch of the chamber as it appeared from the entrance. She had forgotten her fear of bones now that she had a subject to draw, and Nathaniel was delighted by the speed with which she captured the arrangement of the objects. George continued to offer ridiculous suggestions for the name of the ancient dog, beginning with His Royal Highness Prince Woofington and eventually settling upon Lord Barkington, First Earl of Bonesbury. Kate declared that she would be putting no such nonsense in her report.

At last, Nathaniel declared that they had done enough for the day. There was still work ahead of them, and he wished to take his time examining the collar and the other objects before attempting to remove anything from its position. They would return to the chamber in the morning, when he and Kate could make a more thorough record of what they had found. For now, he felt that they had earned a little celebration.

The family were pleased with this announcement, and the footmen had already spread a large blanket beneath the shade of a nearby tree. Before long the whole party was comfortably settled upon the grass with plates of cold meats, bread and a selection of the excellent little cakes for which Pemberley's kitchens were famous.

Nathaniel sat beside Kate, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sunshine and the cheerful conversation around him. William had been placed upon a blanket between his parents, where he was busily engaged in attempting to feed small pieces of bread to Pegasus, who had discovered that the little boy was an easy mark when it came to obtaining food.

Mr Darcy was discussing the archaeological importance of the discovery with Kate, and Nathaniel found himself listening with pleasure as she explained her thoughts about the arrangement of the chamber. She had become so confident in her knowledge over the past weeks, and it delighted him to hear her speaking with such enthusiasm and assurance.

George, meanwhile, had been attempting to persuade his father-in-law that the gold collar ought to be displayed in the great hall at Pemberley, preferably beneath a portrait of Pegasus wearing a similar ornament. Darcy had refused to entertain the suggestion, although Elizabeth thought the idea of a little cabinet devoted to the discoveries from the barrow was an excellent one. Mina immediately offered to paint a picture of the ancient dog as she imagined him to have looked in life, and before long the conversation had turned towards the best place in the house to display their collection.

Nathaniel laughed and let the discussion wash around him. How strange and wonderful it was to be part of such a family. There had been so little laughter in the house where he had grown up, and now here he sat surrounded by people who found amusement and joy in everything. He wondered what his parents would make of the scene and then decided that he did not care. Let them sit in their cold drawing rooms and disapprove of the world. He had found something infinitely better.

Eventually, the afternoon began to draw to a close. The picnic had been thoroughly enjoyed and William was growing sleepy after his exertions. Bella declared that she ought to take him back to the nursery, and George rose to assist her, lifting his son into his arms and settling the little boy's head against his shoulder. Mina gathered her sketches, promising to begin work upon a more elaborate drawing that very evening, while Mr and Mrs Darcy took their leave of Nathaniel and Kate with warm congratulations upon the day's discovery.

Nathaniel watched them begin their walk back towards Pemberley, Pegasus trotting happily at his master's heels. The spaniel had eaten a great deal and was now moving with a slightly ponderous gait, although he still found the energy to stop and investigate every interesting smell along the path.

"He really is the most ridiculous dog," Nathaniel said, laughing as Pegasus attempted to squeeze himself beneath a low bush and emerged with several leaves caught in his ears.

"He is," Kate agreed fondly. "But we love him very much."

Nathaniel laughed and turned towards her. They had been standing beside the excavation, watching the family depart, and now that the others were some distance away, he took her hand and drew her closer, enjoying the way she smiled up at him.

"Well, Miss Darcy, what do you make of our discovery? Are you disappointed that we have not found some great ancient warrior?"