you?â
âNo, who is she?â Eloise asked.
âShe cleans. She comes every day, but perhaps you missed her today. Lawrence nicked her from someone else who treated her badly, wouldnât even let her have a glass of water without asking.â He exclaimed, âSome people.â
âI look forward to meeting her, Iâll try not to make too much mess.â She was relieved that she didnât have to do the clearing up as well. She was exhausted and she was only halfway through cooking the dinner. She cleared a place on the cube to set out the bits she needed for the starter, wishing that battered old table that had so much more space was still there in the middle of the room.
With its new role she accepted that the layout of the chalet was different to the time she was last here. These rich guests were far too important to eat in the kitchen, as she had done in the past, but at least it meant she could stay out of the way in here. Bert came bustling in, sniffing hopefully round the floor, when he didnât find anything, he gave a long sniff of disapproval and left the room.
Half an hour later she heard the guests arrive, clumping into the hall in their boots, having had to walk through the snow from the car before changing into their shoes for inside.
Saskia crept into the kitchen. âWow look at you, Kiss the Cook,â she giggled, âis that an invitation to Lawrence?â
âNo, of course not,â Eloise said hurriedly; she hadnât thought of that. âThe twins gave it to me for my birthday, and itâs the best one I have, my others are faded or stained. I pushed it in at the last minute without thinking. No oneâs going to see me anyway.â
âThey might come in to congratulate you, well not Aurelia, she canât bear anyone to upstage her.â Saskia rolled her eyes.
âAurelia?â Eloiseâs heart did an annoying little dip, remembering Lawrenceâs conversation with her on the phone making her think she was waiting for her to fail so she could rush to the rescue. âThe ready-made food person?â
âYes, Quinn thinks itâs disgusting; he believes food should be freshly cooked not frozen or cooled and put in some tarted-up box for someone to shove in their own oven.â
âI suppose,â Eloise said mournfully, dreading what heâd think of her cooking.
âBetter go and join them, weâll catch up later; so glad youâre here. Ohooo, baby meringues.â She stretched out her hand towards them.
âOh, please donât. Theo has eaten some already and there wonât be enough,â she begged her.
âOK,â Saskia smiled as she left the room. âIf there are any leftovers⦠which I doubt, maybe I can take them home in a doggy bag.â
Eloise laughed, âIâll see to it, if Theo hasnât got there first.â
A little later, Theo, whoâd been pouring out the drinks, came into the kitchen, announcing the guests were about to eat.
âMost of your canapés went,â he said, ânow Iâll take in the starters.â He watched her putting the finishing touches to them. Individual tomato sorbets scattered with avocado and chives. âToo pretty to eat, but theyâre not much more than a mouthful,â he said, picking up the tray.
âThey are only the starters,â she wailed but heâd gone, leaving her feeling anxious that theyâd complain the portions were too small.
The evening passed in a whirl, Eloise was so tired she felt like a robot. Each time Theo came back with the finished plates he told her their verdict.
âThey liked the sorbets but Aurelia thought they were too cold,â he announced. âLawrence said the lamb was not very well carved.â
âI thought it easier to carve it in the kitchen,â Eloise said, wondering how many more criticisms thereâd be.
At last the dinner was finished and when
Dianne Nelson, Dianne Nelson Oberhansly