Jane Aurélie Henry, 24 years old, Canadian, left an unhappy childhood behind and completed a second degree in Archaeology at the University of Bordeaux and looks forward to beginning a career in France. She falls in love with a fellow student, Paul-André Labat, who invites her to spend summer with him in Brittany. But then he finds a wealthier marriage prospect from an influential French family, and tries to get rid of Jane by getting her arrested. With the help of a female friend in Saint-Malo she begins her career on a dig excavating a Stone Age site. She moves on to excavating a city created by ancient Greek settlers, and then to a Roman-era town. But despite making a reputation she makes no friends and trusts no-one. She returns to Saint-Malo in a hurry following an assault when she hit back and caused injuries. She's so sure the police must be after her that she stops applying for permanent jobs in case that means they find her. By accident she meets Charles Pullen from Brittany Tourism. They are immediately attracted to each other, but she refuses to acknowledge it. Her last foray into love has taught her that it hurts too much. Nevertheless Charles arranges a good job for her, and her career re-starts with international recognition for her work in excavating the grave of a Bronze-Age sea-trader. She settles into Brittany, uncovering Breton history and teaching at Breton universities. Then two students attempt to assault her and she has to be rescued by Charles. In the aftermath, she agrees to meet Charles in a café and there he persuades her to marry him. But although she does she still finds it difficult to trust him. The marriage doesn't settle down. Then she takes on excavating the site of a demolished building near their flat. Charles takes an intelligent interest and they find a way to work together in uncovering the past which interests both of them. Slowly she realises that she's achieved not only the career she wanted but that herprofessional reputation and her standing in the community mean that she can now reconcile with her parents as an independent adult. And she has achieved a personal happiness with Charles that she hadn't expected.
