‘Not so much behind the scenes.’
‘And are you enjoying it?’
Emma paused before answering. ‘I’m still finding my feet and it’s very much a junior role.’
‘So you get all the rubbish jobs?’ Betty replied knowingly.
‘A lot of the time, yes, but it’s the best way to learn.’
‘Well, that’s certainly a good attitude.’ Betty nodded. ‘But it won’t be long before you’re moving up the ladder, bright young thing like you.’
Emma blushed. ‘Thank you.’
‘And Emma still helps out me and Liz,’ Jay said.
‘Ah, Liz. How is she?’
‘She’s good, Nan.’
‘And how did you get on at the big fancy do you were at the other week?’ Even though Betty was keeping up continual conversation, Emma noted that food was still rapidly disappearing from her plate.
‘At Lord Weatherton’s?’ Jay replied. ‘It went really well.’
‘To think, a grandson of mine hobnobbing with the great and the good.’
‘He may be a lord, Nan, but he’s very down to earth.’
Betty huffed. ‘Still got a fancy-pants estate and Lord before his name.’
‘He wasn’t supposed to inherit, he was only a distant relative, but the heir died young and he found himself the next in line. The previous lord had gambling debts and when Henryinherited the place was practically falling down. But he turned it round and now he’s in the top rich list.’
‘Good for him.’ Betty nodded approvingly and smiled. ‘Tell me then? Is he single?’
‘Nan!’ They all laughed at Jay’s exclamation.
‘Now, who’s for treacle sponge and custard?’
Although she felt full to the brim, Emma couldn’t resist the temptation of a home-cooked pudding.
‘I meant to tell you, Nan,’ Jay said, when they were scraping their dishes clean. ‘I’m applying to enter a cooking competition.’
‘What would you be wanting to do that for?’ she asked.
‘So that I can better my reputation.’
‘Don’t you have a good enough reputation already with your business?’
‘I might be a partner, but sometimes I still feel it’s more Liz’s business.’
Betty got up to clear the dishes. ‘Yes, I can see your point.’
Emma jumped to her feet. ‘Here let me help.’ She still felt awkward about letting the older woman do everything.
‘Just rinse them and pop them in the dishwasher,’ Betty said. ‘The rest can be done later. I want to hear more about this competition. Jay, get us all another drink, there’s a love.’
Once Jay had poured the drinks, he said, ‘The competition is to celebrate the food of London. The winners will get to cook their dishes at a big banquet being held later in the year.’
She nodded. ‘Sounds promising. And your cockney heritage should stand you in good stead.’
