‘I could help you?’ suggested Luigi, who was standing next to Electra.
‘Oh no you don’t,’ said Electra. ‘You were just telling me about your grandfather’s olive farm and it is so interesting!’
Lizzie had time to notice that Hugo was looking amused at his girlfriend being so fascinated by Luigi’s dark brown eyes and romantic Italian accent.
‘I’ll come down with you,’ Lizzie said. ‘Can someone make sure everyone’s got drinks?’
As she left the room she saw that Hugo had taken a bottle and was topping up glasses.
‘So far so good.’ Lizzie said when they reached the kitchen. ‘These little pastry things are delicious!’
‘With the Camembert? I used the rest of the puff pastry to make those. I found a copy of Constance Spry and she’s full of good ideas for canapés.’
‘Don’t forget you are here to enjoy yourself!’ said Lizzie, taking hold of the plate Meg was handing her.
‘I am enjoying myself! I like cooking food people like eating! And there’s a lot of money to be made in canapés, you know.’
‘Meg!’ said David, who had just put down the potato masher. ‘Go upstairs and join the party. You’ve worked quite hard enough already.’ Helooked thoughtful. ‘That mash is really delicious. I have been quite generous with the butter.’
Then Ben arrived in the kitchen. ‘Oh! You’ve got a piano down here too! I didn’t notice that before.’
‘No time to play now,’ said Lizzie, not wanting him to get distracted. ‘Take up some cheese straws, there’s a dear.’
There was a lot to be said for having a head waiter among your dinner guests, Lizzie realised, watching Luigi get everyone from the drawing room to the dining room like a discreet Collie working a flock of sheep.
Alexandra had a placement (which she pronounced in the French way) and soon everyone was sitting down. Lizzie had suggested writing out place names (her mother always did) but Alexandra said she’d just write it on a bit of paper and issue instructions.
Admiring her friend’s confidence, Lizzie sat down between Ben and Piers. Vanessa was paired with Piers but, Lizzie noticed, seemed more interested in Luigi who was proving to be the star guest.
Bowls of kipper pâté, butter (put into dainty curls by Meg, much to the disapproval of Alexandra who’d have preferred plain squares of it) and piles of melba toast were ranged down the middle of the table.
‘Do start everyone,’ said Alexandra. ‘Oh, Electra, let me get you an ashtray so you can put your cigarette out.’
‘I’ll do it,’ said Lizzie. ‘No, Meg! You sit down and eat.’ Lizzie hoped she hadn’t sounded too bossy. She wasn’t usually that stern even when she was addressing Clover.
As Lizzie put an ashtray at Electra’s elbow and returned to her seat she wondered how to stop Meg getting up and down like a yo-yo and not taking part in the social aspect of the event at all. It wouldn’t be easy.
Lizzie did her own share of getting up and down during the evening but so did Ben, Luigi and Piers. Others, Hugo in particular, helped by pouring wine. There was white wine for the kipper pâté and red for the beef. Lizzie didn’t allow herself to drink much of either. Although Alexandra was definitely Head Girl of the party, Lizzie had her obligations and wasn’t going to fall down on them. Her main focus was ensuring Vanessa had a good time. Although when she had first come across her at the cookery school Lizzie had dismissed her as a ‘haughty deb’ type, she realised that underneath the veneer of sophistication Vanessa was a nice girl.
Vanessa seemed to like Ben and so Lizzie had a quick word with Alexandra, who rearranged the seating plan after the first course. Hugo was also looking out for his little sister and making sure her glass had something in it – and this included her water glass.
When she had a moment or two to breathe, Lizzie calculated that at the end of the evening with four glasses per person, which included the antique champagne saucers from before dinner, there were forty glasses to be washed, carefully, one at a time, rinsed and dried.
The meal flew by. Everyone loved the pâté, the boeuf bourguignon was full of flavour and the mashed potato was superb. In no time everyone was eating rich chocolate mousse with whipped cream on top out of dainty teacups, charmed by the idea of using such decorative items as dishes. The gâteau Saint-Honoré was much admired too.
‘So, you actually made this?’ Electra was looking at Meg as if she might be lying. ‘Yourself?’
‘Yes,’ said Meg. ‘I didn’t make the puff pastry, I didn’t have time for that, but I made everything else.’
‘Hmm,’ said Electra thoughtfully, ‘you’re rather good as a cook, aren’t you?’
‘I’m learning to be,’ said Meg.
Meg had confidence Lizzie realised, when she was talking about food and cooking.
‘So brave to do stew,’ said Electra and turned away.
A little later, clearing the table a bit to make room for coffee cups, Lizzie was putting glasses on a tray when Hugo joined her. ‘What a lovely evening. I do hope you’ve enjoyed yourself.’
