Meredith and Alan both nodded as if it were something they’d known all along. ‘Wait until you try the bacon.’

‘You left dinner early last night. Were you all right?’

‘Yes, just had a bit of a headache.’

‘I was pooped,’ said Izzy. ‘Nearly fell asleep in dessert.’

‘You did fall asleep in your dessert,’ pointed out Fliss. ‘You had cream in your hair.’

Izzy gave her a bright smile and ignored the sharp triumph in Fliss’s tone, instead turning to Meredith. ‘The smell of those herbs is just divine. As soon as I get home I’m going to plant a herb bed. I feel so inspired.’

‘Having tasted this egg, I’m tempted to say I’ll get some chickens but I live in a second-floor flat, so I’m not sure they’d be very happy on the balcony.’

‘You could move,’ suggested Izzy.

‘Yeah. Right. Of course I could,’ said Hannah with a laugh. She couldn’t imagine ever moving out of Manchester, let alone to somewhere where she’d keep chickens. It had taken her forever to choose her particular apartment because she’d been so worried about making a mistake. Her parents’ chaotic lives and the way they had died made her all too aware of the consequences of jumping into things without thinking them through carefully.

After breakfast they all headed to the kitchen, falling into pairs: Hannah and Izzy, Meredith and Alan and a silent Fliss and Jason.

Adrienne welcomed them with a sunny smile and her boundless energy. ‘How are we all today? Raring to go? As I said before, this week is all about flour. It’s the most basic of our foodstuffs but one of the most universally used around the world. Today we’re going to be making pastry. Shortcrust, puff, and suet. And you’ll be eating the fruits of your labour tonight. Chicken and leek pie, steak pudding, and raspberry puff pastry tarts.

‘Oooh, I harvested the leeks and the raspberries and pulled up onions,’ said Meredith, her voice rising with sudden excitement as she pointed to the trugs on the counter.

‘And my herbs are right there,’ said Izzy, pointing to the jam jars filled with greenery.

‘Bully for you,’ muttered Fliss, clearly not impressed with her job in the greenhouse.

Adrienne’s superpower hearing picked it up. ‘You’ll all get a turn at everything, if you want to. I want you all to feel in touch with the land and the food. Which reminds me, Jason, is it one or two euro in the pot this morning?’

He scratched his head but her steady look had him walking to the front and putting in two euros. Hannah heard him mutter, ‘Swear she’s a witch.’

The kitchen assistants filed in carrying trays of flour and butter which they deposited at each station.

‘We’re going to start with shortcrust pastry. Nice and simple. What’s the most important thing with pastry?’