Hattie laughed. ‘What’s wrong with it?’
‘It’s too long and it makes me look even more snobby than I really am – and I’m bad enough as it is.’
Hattie smiled wryly but didn’t like to contradict her. Well-spoken Fliss, with her tendency to speak as she found, could come across as aloof and distant. But even as the thought filled her head, Fliss whirled around and grasped both of her arms.
‘Thank you so much for giving me this chance. You don’t know how much it means to me. I’ve been fannying about for months now, trying to decide whether to go for it and set up a catering business and go it alone. Your call was just the nudge I needed. I can’t wait to get started. And what a place.’
‘It’s pretty nice, isn’t it?’
‘Even nicer than Kinlochleven Castle, although don’t tell Izzy, who sends her love by the way, and it’s a damn sight warmer. I went up to Scotland at Easter and thought I’d freeze my nuts off.’
‘No danger of that here,’ said Hattie. ‘Do you want to see your room?’
‘Yes, please.’
‘Actually, you’ve got a choice, if you don’t mind moving out to something smaller during the week of the wedding. I may have to let some of the wedding party use the best rooms to get ready on the day of the wedding.’
‘Huh! You’re kidding me. I’m used to being in the servants’ quarters in the attic at home. Being the youngest, the four best rooms had been taken by my brothers by the time I arrived.’
Hattie figured that even the attic, in a house where there were enough rooms for four brothers and her parents, probably wasn’t that shabby.
‘You know, I’ve got so many ideas and I’ve been doing some research into local food and suppliers. I can’t wait to get cracking and start planning the menu. And of course cooking for that many we’re going to have to do a lot of prep in advance, but I reckon between us we can do it. If there’s any chance of getting any additional help that would make a big difference. I bet you could hire some local people.’
‘Mmm,’ said Hattie. ‘That might be a problem.’ She didn’t want to tell Fliss straightaway about the resistance to the wedding. She had no proof, just a suspicion that no one really wanted this wedding to take place.
‘Nothing’s insurmountable,’ said Fliss with a cheerful flick of her hair over her shoulder. ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way and all that.’
Fliss was easily pleased and took the first bedroom she was shown, with the comment ‘I don’t plan to spend much time in here.’ She dropped her rucksack on the bed, opened the top pocket and removed a shallow black case which she tucked under her arm. ‘Now show me the kitchen.’
‘You don’t want to unpack?’
Fliss shot her a ‘puhlease’ look. ‘Kitchen.’
‘This way,’ said Hattie and led her back to the stairs and down to the kitchen.
Fliss slinked in like a panther assessing its prey, running a hand over the white marble counter tops before standing in front of the big range cooker. She reached out and touched the shiny chrome tap-like knobs and sighed before saying reverently, ‘Lacanache. Brilliant.’ Her head tilted upwards to take in the row of pans hanging on the rack above. ‘Copper.’ She turned and beamed at Hattie. ‘I’m in chef heaven. Oh look, Sabatier knives as well.’ She put down the black case next to the incumbent knife block. ‘OMG this is heavenly. Just perfect. I might never leave.’ She sighed and leaned back against the range, her arms spread wide, and stood there for a minute just smiling to herself.
‘Phew, that’s a relief,’ said Hattie, sinking into a chair, not having thought about any of this. As far as she was concerned, a kitchen was just a kitchen.
‘It’s bloody wonderful. Izzy’s place didn’t have a decent knife in sight and her mother killed off the only decent pan cremating the risotto in it.’ Fliss opened both doors of the big American-style fridge, nodding her head in approval.
Solange appeared at that moment.
‘Ah, Solange, this is my friend Fliss who’s come to do the catering. Fliss, this is Solange, the housekeeper, who looks after the château.’
‘Hello.’ Fliss’s usually serene face was alive with enthusiasm. ‘This kitchen is wonderful. It’s going to be a joy to work in. And what a range. It’s beautiful. And the layout, so well designed.’
‘Thank you,’ said Solange, one of her rare smiles lighting up her face. ‘Marthe and I spent a long time on the arrangement. We wanted somewhere that would be a pleasure to work in.’
‘You designed it?’ Fliss beamed at her. ‘I think I might be in love with you. It’s going to be a dream to work in. Would you mind me asking what sort of equipment you have? Depending on what menu we decide upon, I may have to go shopping.’
‘I don’t think that will be necessary,’ replied Solange. ‘Come.’ She led Fliss over to one of the tall units and opened the doors to reveal various utensils.
‘Terrine moulds. And a ricer. A blowtorch too!’ Fliss turned to Hattie. ‘This is kitchen heaven.’
Solange showed her another drawer full of kitchen implements and Hattie listened to Fliss’s sighs of appreciation and awe.
‘Oh my God. Seriously.’ Fliss fanned her face.
