Hannah frowned. Adrienne was just being kind, but as usual with her mind-reading trick she said, ‘Have you ever watched Bake Off?’

With a sputtered laugh, remembering her own cake-making disaster at work, Hannah said, ‘Yes.’

‘And do you think it’s the first time those folk have baked a cake?’

‘Well, no.’

‘No, they’ve been practising their little socks off. I promise you, the more you cook, the better you get. You’ll know next time. You won’t make that mistake again.’ She shot Hannah a brilliant, encouraging smile and, at that moment, Hannah would have followed her to the ends of the earth.

‘Come on. Let’s have another go.’

Patiently, she stood watching as Hannah started over, her hands shaking slightly under the personal tuition. It was especially nerve-racking as all the others had finished now and were leaning back against their benches observing. She could feel the sweaty patches under her arms growing as she concentrated on every aspect. At least this time she wasn’t worrying about being last – she was last! And, miraculously, when she whisked her hollandaise sauce over the low, barely simmering water, it thickened into a beautiful, soft lemon-coloured thick sauce.

‘Right, now season it, just a tiny bit at a time and then a taste. Then add more.’

After her second pinch of cayenne and a couple of drips of lemon juice, she nodded. ‘I think that’s it.’

Adrienne dipped in a spoon and tasted. ‘Spot on. That is fabulous. Well done, Hannah.’ She beamed at her, as Hannah wilted with relief on the spot. ‘Now, let’s try everyone else’s.’ She walked from bench to bench tasting everyone’s sauce, encouraging them to all try each other’s.

‘Mm, good job, Fliss, perhaps a wee bit more seasoning. Excellent, Meredith. Very nice, Alan. Not bad at all, Izzy, although I can’t taste any seasoning at all and, Jason, go steady on the cayenne but very nice consistency. Ah, and Conor is back.’

They all looked up to see him carrying what looked like a juice carton. Adrienne smiled, with an unnerving combination of mischief and Machiavellian cunning.

‘Right, we’re going to do a blind tasting. All of you bring your sauces to the front and then line up and turn around.’

Like obedient children they all walked up with their identical glass bowls and popped them down one by one and then lined up as instructed. Izzy shot Hannah a what-is-she-up-to grimace, while Fliss rolled her eyes and muttered, ‘Enough with the drama already,’ and Jason yawned. He looked as if he’d spent the last night few nights down at the pub.

There was a lot of tapping and chinking in the background until Adrienne invited them to turn around and approach the bench. Conor handed out clipboards and pens. Adrienne filled a tumbler full of teaspoons and motioned to two bowls on the counter top.