Isobel opened the small drawer below the tabletop and took out a sheet of paper with a notice printed on one side. She turned the paper over. ‘We can keep it simple for the next wee while and see how it goes.’ She licked the tip of the pencil and started to write, thinking aloud as she added things to the list. ‘Everyone likes a proper pie with a good pastry crust. If I do that twice there won’t be any complaints. I’m sure I can find something different from beef or mutton for yours and with any luck no one will notice.’ She tapped her forehead with the blunt end of the pencil. ‘Macaroni once. Cottage pie with mash on top. I would need to think about what could be a substitute for the escalopes. Perhaps I could make a risotto? One of my friends is in a house where the grandmother is Italian. She’s always talking about making a big flat round bread with tomatoes and cheese and anchovies on it. We could leave the anchovies off for you, of course. I don’t suppose this place has a recipe book? It wouldn’t help their trade.’

‘I don’t know, but James Thin is just over the road. I’m going back to the café tomorrow. I’ll ask the server if he has any suggestions.’

‘I’ll keep this list in my pocket for now. I know Mr Black doesn’t often come into the kitchen, but Miss Ann does, and she’s very inquisitive.’

‘She is indeed.’ Ursula pointed at the paper. ‘Is that an advertisement for the theatre?’

Isobel nodded. ‘The Great Lafayette is coming to town. I don’t fancy it myself, far too noisy for me, but Miss Ann gave me the notice anyway. She hasn’t stopped talking about it for weeks.’ She pushed her chair back from the table. ‘I’ll make a pie for this evening. In fact, if I make individual pies for everyone it won’t be much extra work and it’ll be less obvious.’ She turned and lifted the coal scuttle to slide another rush of fuel onto the grate. ‘I just need to fire the oven a bit so it’s hot enough for a nice pastry crust.’

They looked at one another across the kitchen, each aware that their relationship had shifted slightly, and neither of them was sure that she wanted it to go back to how it had been before.

Chapter 13

Late February 1911