The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of France - Book 3. Alice Ross

of the cookery club – Melody and Trish – arrived together. Melody, resplendent in blue with her perfect little pregnancy bump; and Trish, resplendent with the flush that accompanied a new relationship.

      ‘Wow. Something smells good,’ Melody gushed upon entering the kitchen.

      Kate looked at Connie and burst out laughing, thanking whoever might be up there, for bringing the Cotswolds Cookery Club to her this evening.

      Although no surprise to Kate, the group not only met its lofty culinary standards again that evening, but was as supportive as ever regarding her manic life. Having revealed the fabulous, rustic, golden French loaf she’d baked to accompany Kate’s pot-au-feu, Melody subsequently tottered off to play with the children, thereby allowing the cooking to proceed unhindered in the kitchen. Assuming control of the main dish, Connie added succulent free-range chicken and browned pork and leek sausages to the pot, then turned down the heat to allow it to simmer for thirty minutes. She then moved on to preparing the starter: market salad with walnuts and goat’s cheese croutons. Trish, meanwhile, ploughed on with the dessert of pumpkin tart. The pastry having been prepared beforehand, she threw together the filling – pumpkin, milk, sugar and a vanilla pod – and stirred it in a saucepan on the hob.

      Kate remained at the table under strict instructions not to lift a finger other than those required to raise her wine glass to her lips. After a swift quashing of her feeble protests, she found herself enjoying the break – from the children and from doing stuff – relishing the easy chatter that flowed between her friends.

      ‘So, what’s going on with you two?’ she asked. ‘Both still loved-up?’

      ‘I’m not,’ batted back Connie.

      ‘Liar,’ countered Trish. ‘Don’t forget I saw you and Max in town last weekend and you couldn’t keep your hands off each other.’

      Connie blushed as she shook a jam jar containing the ingredients for the salad dressing. ‘Only because Max was just back from ten days away.’

      ‘Ah. The joys of dating a pilot, eh? Ten whole days apart. No wonder you were stuck together like velcro.’

      ‘Er, you need talk. As I recall, there was someone attached to your hand when we saw you.’

      ‘Steve?’ enquired Kate.

      ‘Of course. Who had eyes for no one other than Trish.’

      Trish gave a dismissive tut as she transferred the tart filling from the pan to the blender. ‘I wish. I have to admit, though, for a woman of forty-two, I’ve never felt more like a sixteen-year-old since I was sixteen. Although I think I probably felt about twenty-two then.’

      Connie giggled. ‘You and Amber could be sisters. You could share her paper round.’

      ‘Nice thought. But no thank you. Talking of my daughter’s paper round, though, I can’t believe she’s stuck it all this time. I honestly thought, as soon as she went back to school, she wouldn’t last a week.’

      ‘Oh ye of little faith,’ said Connie. ‘She’s actually turned out to be one of the most reliable members of the team. Miguel being the other. And the two of them seem completely besotted with one another.’

      ‘They are. Which is slightly worrying given they have their GCSEs next year. Steve and I are already stressing about it.’

      ‘Goodness. That sounds very couple-ish.’

      ‘It’s very parent-ish,’ countered Trish, playfully swiping at her friend with a tea towel.

      Melody staggered into the room, her long brown hair decidedly more dishevelled than when she’d left.

      ‘Oh no. What have they done to you?’ gasped Kate.

      ‘They wanted to play hide and seek. Which involved an impressive attempt at stuffing me into a suitcase.’

      Kate grimaced. ‘Ugh. I’m so sorry. Please feel free to press charges. I promise not to object.’

      Melody laughed as she pulled out a chair at the table and lowered herself onto it. ‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself. They’re so funny.’

      ‘That’s one word for them. I hardly dare ask what they’re doing now.’

      ‘They’re in bed.’

      Kate’s weary eyes grew wide. ‘Already? And with no screaming?’

      ‘No screaming at all. I did use a bit of bribery and corruption, though. I told them, if they went quietly, the next time I came, we’d play pirates and I’d walk the plank.’

      ‘Ha! There’s a top tip. Although if I offered to walk the plank, they’d have one jutting out of the bedroom window in a flash.’

      ‘If they do, let me know and I’ll film it for YouTube,’ snorted Connie.

      Kate shook her head. ‘No chance. I’d be far too embarrassed. Not only because of my unruly children, but because of the state of the windows. And talking of clean windows – or rather lack thereof – reminds me of a conversation I had with Jemima this afternoon. She seems to be developing an obsession for her friend Cecilia’s mother, who not only has the most sparkling windows in the Cotswolds, but is everything I’m not. Making me feel like the world’s worst wife and mother.’

      Stirring the pot-au-feu at the hob, Connie tutted. ‘Kate Ellis, you are one of the cleverest women I know. You’re a vet for heaven’s sake. You save animals’ lives. And you’re just feeling low because you’re worn out. Which is hardly surprising.’

      Kate managed a weak smile. ‘Thanks, but there’s slightly more to it than that.’ She broke off, wondering if she dared voice the matter that had been weighing heavily on her mind for the last couple of weeks. ‘The thing is…’ All three members of the club stared at her. ‘…I think Andrew’s having an affair with the au pair.’

       Chapter Three

      At the voicing of her husband’s suspected infidelity – to which she’d expected a collective horrified gasp – Kate was amazed to witness a flurry of knowing looks bounce around the trio in her kitchen.

      ‘Oh. My. God!’ she exclaimed, as the reason why slapped her in the face. ‘You already know.’

      ‘Of course we don’t know,’ countered Melody. ‘We just… might have seen them together. Occasionally.’

      ‘How occasionally?’

      ‘Just… now and then.’

      ‘And you didn’t think to tell me?’

      ‘There’s nothing to tell,’ said Connie. ‘When we have seen them, all they’ve been doing is talking.’

      ‘We thought she might be teaching him French,’ piped up Trish.

      Kate rolled her eyes. ‘Hardly. Ugh. I feel like such an idiot.’

      ‘Well, you shouldn’t,’ insisted Connie. ‘Unless you’ve witnessed something you’re not telling us.’

      Kate shook her head and puffed out a breath. ‘Nothing incriminating. I just… have a feeling.’

      ‘Based on what?’

      ‘Well, this is the second time in a few months that they’ve been away at the same time. And Andrew’s so grumpy these days. And Domenique’s always receiving text messages. And—’

      ‘But you haven’t actually seen them together together?’

      ‘No.’

      ‘Well, there you go then,’ said Melody. ‘You’re most likely blowing the whole thing out of proportion because you’re exhausted. What you need is a nice meal and a good night’s sleep.’

      ‘I