Recipe for Love

CHAPTER Fifteen





AS THE REMAINING contestants gathered in the marquee waiting for the judges Zoe noted that everyone looked better than they had done the last time they’d seen each other. Then they’d been hollow-eyed, greasy-haired, verging on the hysterical. Now they’d all had a rest and had probably been cooking in their own homes, reassuring themselves that they really could do it, and they did have enough left in them to continue the competition. They had arrived back at Somerby during the day and now, before they were bussed off to the pub for supper, they were going to be told their fate: the challenge for the next day.

But there were only five of them. A quick look round told Zoe Alan wasn’t there. She hoped he hadn’t left because he was ill or had a family emergency. She liked Alan. In fact she liked everyone – apart from Cher.

It was ironic, thought Zoe, that the closer they became as a group of people (excluding Cher, of course) the more direct the competition felt between them.

‘It’s like being gladiators,’ she muttered to Becca, who happened to be next to her. ‘We’re all a team but we have to fight against each other.’

‘What?’ said Becca, who obviously hadn’t seen the relevant films.

‘Never mind. I’m nervous, I’m rambling. Here are the judges.’

Except that Gideon was missing. In spite of all her resolutions, the plans she had declared to herself as well as to Jenny and Bert for keeping him out of her mind at all times vanished. All she could think of was why he wasn’t there.

‘Gideon is still in New York,’ said Anna Fortune, looking straight at Zoe and making her feel extremely anxious. Did she know anything or – worse – was she a mind-reader? Were they about to be exposed, and on cameras? Thank heavens this wasn’t live.

‘And Alan has been offered a part in a soap, starting immediately, which is why he’s not here. It’s very good news for him.’ Somehow she managed to imply he wasn’t going to be getting good news about his cooking skills, so he might as well join a fictional community in the North-East. Everyone murmured and smiled.

‘Now Fred is going to tell you about the next task.’

‘Well, chefs,’ said Fred, smiling and friendly as usual, ‘this is going to be a real challenge to some of you. It’s to make just one course …’

‘Easy!’ said Cher from behind Zoe.

‘… from what you find on a foraging trip that you’ll take under the watchful and informative eye of Thorn here.’

He indicated a dark, bearded man, who could have been an extra in a Narnia film. Thorn was wearing a selection of clothing that seemed grown on or half sloughed off: leather, tweed and various unidentifiable fabrics that could have been rescued from a recycling bin.

‘Good evening. I’m an experienced forager, I live mainly on what I find for free and have done for years.’

Zoe thought, unkindly, that he possibly hadn’t come across much soap in his foragings, or even the plants that were purported to serve the same function.

‘Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we’ll meet up here and I’ll take you for a walk in the woods that I’m confident will change your cooking lives for ever.’

There was no denying the fanatical glint in his eye as he said this. The mutterings behind Zoe became louder and more obscene.

‘I’m sorry, I don’t do weeds or fungi: they kill people,’ said Cher.

‘Then you’ll be out,’ said Bill. ‘Don’t be such an idiot.’

‘Don’t worry. I’ll be checking everything you find. You won’t be allowed to eat anything harmful,’ said Thorn.

As Thorn and Cher contemplated each other Zoe thought they hardly seemed from the same planet. Thorn was like a faun, wild, almost animal. Cher, glossy and pale, looked even more mannequin-like than usual beside him.

‘And you’ll be glad to hear that there’ll be a good selection of ingredients you can add to your wild food,’ said Fred. ‘Thorn here wouldn’t have permitted adding things you hadn’t gathered, but we persuaded him. And we do have to eat what you cook.’ He smiled to indicate he’d made a joke and everyone laughed politely.

When everything had been explained, several times, with the cameras and without, they were dismissed and wandered over to the minibus. ‘Shame for you Gideon’s not here,’ said Cher to Zoe. ‘How will you manage without your pet judge?’

Zoe said nothing. Muriel, who always managed to put Cher in her place, was no longer there to stand up for her. But Cher’s casual jibe made her think. Had he in fact fought for her specially? Was she good enough to get through the next round without him there?

‘You’ll be able to have the cowshed to yourself though,’ Cher went on. ‘I got Mike to put me in a room at the pub. A bit more what I’m used to.’

Cher’s slightly sneering tone managed to imply the cowshed still sheltered cows and hadn’t been turned into luxury accommodation.

‘That’s fine. I like to be on hand myself,’ said Zoe.

‘So you can go sneaking up to the house whenever you want to.’

‘That’s right!’ said Zoe, hoping Cher wouldn’t see her blush. Why on earth had she thought absence might have made her heart fonder towards Cher? If anything she disliked her even more.

‘Well, you do seem very keen to help out.’

‘I like Fen and Rupert,’ said Zoe, trying not to sound defensive. ‘And what’s wrong with being useful?’

‘The fact that you need to ask that means you’re just not a winner. Haven’t got the right personality. But hey!’ She flicked her hand in a way that showed off her French manicure to best effect. ‘There’s only room for one at the top and that place has a great big reserved label on it – with my name underneath.’

Zoe shook her head and smiled, hoping she looked pitying of Cher’s uber-confidence. Part of her admired Cher for her self-centred ambition. And another part feared she was right – maybe she, Zoe, wasn’t a winner. The thought stiffened her resolve. She’d bloody well make herself one!



After a warm welcome back from Fenella and Rupert, Zoe had enjoyed a blissful Cher-free night in the cowshed. It was just a shame she’d had to get up so early. She shifted from one foot to the other and scrunched her toes inside her wellies. She was cold and although the scenery was beautiful, five o’clock was just too early to enjoy anything. Everyone felt the same, she could tell by the way they were hugging their arms and muttering. At least Zoe hadn’t been to the pub with the others the night before.

The rain didn’t help. It wasn’t torrential and they’d been warned to wear boots and waterproofs, but it made the unearthly hour seem as if it was still night-time. It was still night to most sensible people.

They’d been driven in four-wheel-drive vehicles to a wood and then made to get out. Cher moaned the loudest but for once Zoe had to agree with her. She had more sense than to agree out loud, though.

But Thorn, who seemed to be even more made of moss and bark than he had done yesterday, was convinced it was the zenith of the day and mere wetness couldn’t dampen his enthusiasm. ‘Don’t worry about the rain, people. The sun will come out in a moment.’ His soft voice and ancient-hippy demeanour seemed to give him magic powers because at that moment the sun did come out. There was just time for a rainbow to form before the rain stopped.

‘Oh wow! That was so amazing!’ said Cher, doing a movement with her hands more suited to a fifties musical than a foraging expedition.

The others agreed and Zoe’s spirits lifted a little. When the alarm on her phone had beeped her awake she’d been ready to resign from the competition, having concluded that never seeing Gideon again was by far the best option. With the sun turning raindrops into tiny diamonds and the prospect of learning new skills she decided to give it her best.

‘Now, we’re going to have a walk through the woods together,’ said Thorn, ‘and then you’re going to go off and gather things for your meals. I’ll check everything first to make sure no one’s going to poison themselves.’

It was a revelation. Zoe knew that there were lots of edible things apart from blackberries but Thorn seemed to pick anything and everything. He wasn’t a cook but he knew what things tasted like and soon everyone was chewing on bits of leaf – except Cher who seemed to find the idea of eating random bits of greenery weird and faintly disgusting.

‘OK, folks. Go forth and forage,’ said Thorn at last.

Zoe walked as fast as she could in the opposite direction to the others. She didn’t want to get stuck with Cher saying ‘eewu’ and ‘yuck’ all the time. Once out of earshot of the others she paused for a few seconds, to worry that she might not find them again before starting to look for food. She began to enjoy herself. It was strangely absorbing and she was reminded of sloe-picking with her father.

She’d found some sow thistle, which would apparently make a nice salad but, more importantly, was easily recognisable. She also spotted some reachable ash keys but decided she didn’t want to make pickle. They didn’t yet know how long they’d have to cook their foraged dish. Beginning to worry that it was all a con and there was nothing edible in the wood, she went down into what might have once been a quarry and up the other side again. To her relief she spotted some coltsfoot, its huge semi-circular leaves reminding her how it got its name. At least she’d have one vegetable, she thought, and began to pile it into her basket. Then she heard a noise. She turned round. Gideon was on the top of the quarry, the place she had just come down from.

‘Zoe!’ he said.

Her heart gave a jolt and her brain could hardly take in what she was seeing. She had managed to put him out of her mind for at least half an hour, and she’d thought he was in the States so had stopped hoping to see him. Now that he had appeared her brain could hardly take in his presence.

Her instinct was to fling her basket into the bushes and clamber up the quarry and into his arms but her last remaining gram of sense stopped her. They could so easily be seen. A moment of impulsiveness could throw her chances of winning as easily as she could have chucked her basket. Her mouth had gone completely dry and her legs shook a little.

But then he smiled and started down towards her. Suddenly nothing seemed to matter, not Sylvie’s warnings, not the competition, not the potential shame, nothing. She moved to join him, barely aware of how she got there.

He was holding her in his arms before she remembered her resolution to give him up. Just before his lips met hers she realised all her virtuous plans had no chance. She was in love with him and if she got her heart broken so be it. Her passion swept all logic away.

They stayed welded together for long minutes, then at last broke away an inch or two.

‘God, I’ve missed you,’ he breathed into her hair.

Zoe gave a shuddering sigh. Now he was with her all her doubts disappeared. So what if he’d once been in love with someone else? So what if their being together meant that she might be thrown out of the competition? His arms were round her; nothing else was important. ‘How did you find me?’ she asked.

‘Rupert knew where you’d been brought. I found the others, saw you weren’t with them and went exploring.’ He paused. ‘Maybe it was my soul calling to your soul that helped me locate you.’

She giggled. ‘Silly!’ she said, but in her heart she wished he’d meant it. Wanting to get nearer to him again she pushed her arms under his coat so she could press her face against his shirt front. He smelt lovely. His arms encircled her more tightly and he lowered his head so he could rest it on her hair. Eventually she said, ‘I dropped my coltsfoot.’

‘I’ll help you get more.’ He paused, suddenly serious. ‘Actually, if I help you, would you mind going back early? I’ve got the car.’

For a moment Zoe thought he was about to suggest something romantic, but he seemed concerned, as if he’d remembered something that was bothering him. ‘Why? What’s the problem?’

‘It’s Fen. I think the baby might be coming.’

‘Goodness, but that isn’t a problem, is it?’

‘I don’t know. They wouldn’t really tell me.’

‘Now you’re not really telling me!’ Zoe was starting to worry. ‘What’s going on?’

‘I’m not sure, but Rupert said he’d find out if you’d mind coming back early, and then Fen said, “No, Rupes! We’ve already made her mess up one challenge, I’m not doing it again.” So Rupert said, “Oh, OK.” But he looked worried.’

‘But you don’t really know why?’

He shrugged. ‘It might be because Fen was frantically cleaning the kitchen and muttering about beds and things.’

‘Women about to give birth do clean,’ said Zoe, glad that she knew this and so needn’t worry about it.

‘I don’t think this is to do with nesting,’ said Gideon, ‘but more because Rupert’s parents are coming. I gather they’re not easy guests. Rupert would have asked Sarah but she’s up to her eyes in weddings. It’s her busiest time of the year.’

Zoe began to understand. Rupert thought Fenella ought to go to hospital but Fenella didn’t want his parents arriving and finding the place in a state. But nor did she want to ask Zoe to help, because she was in a competition. ‘I tell you what, let’s pick as much as we can for me to make something and then go back.’

‘Good idea. You mustn’t risk your chance in the competition. That would be a real waste when you’ve done so well so far.’

His words brought her up short. When she first saw Gideon again she had thought ‘all for love and the world well lost’, only for her it meant the competition rather than the world. But now she realised it was madness. Gideon was right. The competition was important, but so was Fenella. She’d find a way to do both. She had to.

‘I don’t want to let Fen down. She’s become a real friend.’

‘You won’t let her down if you pick a few more weeds,’ said Gideon.

She was diverted by his sceptical expression. ‘Not a fan of foraging, then?’

He shrugged. ‘I think it may be a fad, but you didn’t hear me say that. It’s possible someone may create a dish one day that doesn’t taste of compost.’

Zoe received an instant shot of extra enthusiasm for the task. She had to impress Gideon and convince him that she could make anything taste good.

They found plenty of coltsfoot and more sow thistle and filled up the basket with dandelion leaves. ‘You know the French call this pis-en-lit, don’t you?’ asked Gideon, putting a handful in the basket.

‘Doesn’t everyone?’ said Zoe. ‘And they sell it in France. We get it for nothing.’ She inspected her booty. ‘I think we’ve got enough. We can’t fit anything else in.’

‘Good, then kiss me instead.’



They had just started back when Cher appeared from behind a tree. She was holding her mobile phone and as there was no reception in the wood Zoe suddenly panicked that she might have seen her and Gideon.

‘Hiya!’ Cher trilled. ‘Just taking some piccies of the plants, in case I need to pop out and get more later.’ She paused. ‘That and other interesting things.’

‘Good idea,’ said Zoe, ignoring her last comment.

‘So, Gideon,’ said Cher. ‘You’re back from the States.’

‘Obviously,’ said Gideon pleasantly.

‘And how did you manage to find Zoe?’

‘I just came across her by chance. I was lucky.’

He spoke so calmly and with such a complete lack of guilt that Zoe felt that Cher would be forced to accept this as the truth. At least she hoped she would.



Although Zoe wanted to go straight to the house to check on Fenella, Gideon insisted she went to the marquee. ‘Babies take ages. Find out what you need to do with your potential compost heap and then see Fen.’ He paused, seeing she was still concerned. ‘I’ll go to the house and if I think she needs you urgently, I’ll come and get you.’

She sighed. ‘OK.’ The fresh green plants that had looked so appetising when she gathered them had begun to wilt a little. She hoped she could prove Gideon wrong and turn them into something delicious.

Rupert was in the marquee providing tea for the judges and contestants.

‘How’s Fen?’ asked Zoe the moment she was near enough.

Rupert sighed. ‘Cleaning the guest bathroom.’ His opinion on his wife’s choice of activity was evident by the way he slammed a tin of biscuits on the table.

‘But Gideon said the baby was coming? said Cher.

‘I think it is, but she won’t go to hospital yet. I did ring the midwife, because she’s started having contractions, but she said if Fen’s still speaking it’s OK to hang on for a bit – but not to leave it too late.’

‘Helpful,’ said Anna Fortune.

‘I’ll take my tea up and see her, if that’s all right,’ said Zoe, looking at Anna.

Anna shrugged. ‘It’s up to you. You’re missing out on thinking time but it’s your choice.’

‘I have got a bit of an idea …’ Zoe lied.

Anna relented a little. ‘Well, everything you’ve picked has to be checked by Thorn to make sure it’s not poisonous, so go and see Fenella if it’ll make you feel better.’

Rupert walked back to the house with her. ‘I’d be grateful if you could talk her into going into hospital. I don’t want her having it here with only me in charge.’

‘God no!’ said Zoe, suddenly worried.

‘She keeps telling me first babies take ages,’ he said on a sigh. ‘I do hope she’s right!’

‘I’m sure she is. Everyone says that.’

‘So, what are you going to do for your foraging challenge?’ He paused. ‘Sorry! You don’t have to tell me. I just wanted a bit of distraction.’

‘I don’t mind you asking and I’m not really sure. How do you make any of it taste nice! I do wish it wasn’t a bit too late for wild garlic. There was some growing when I was at home just now, I saw it when I went riding, but it’s over in most places.’

‘Ah ha!’ said Rupert proudly. ‘We still have it! It’s in a gloomy bit that never gets any sun. I’ll show you.’

‘Oh, that would be fantastic! I could do pesto and pasta with a weed salad. At least I know that would taste nice.’

‘Then come this way.’

After she had gathered a generous amount she suddenly said, ‘You don’t think it’s cheating, do you?’

Rupert shrugged. ‘I have no idea. Maybe you’d better trot back and ask?’

Zoe didn’t trot, she galloped. She raced up to Fred and Anna. ‘I’ve just come across this amazing wild garlic.’ It was only half a lie. ‘Can I use it?’ They exchanged glances. Zoe could see that Fred would have said yes instantly but Anna was thinking about it. Gideon was busy with the others. They applied to him and after a shrug from him Anna at last said, ‘OK, it’s wild. Thorn will have to check you haven’t made a mistake and picked lily of the valley or anything toxic, but otherwise, I don’t see why you shouldn’t make use of what’s growing here and not in the wood.’

Having expressed her gratitude and added her garlic to her basket, she went back to the house more quickly than she’d gone to find the judges.

Fenella was on her hands and knees in the bathroom making noises that Zoe had never heard a human make before. When she became aware of Zoe she apologised. ‘Did I swear? Sorry! It’s just when the contractions come it helps.’

‘Shouldn’t you go to hospital? Rupert is really worried he’s going to have to deliver the baby himself – with the house full of people!’

‘I can’t go until I’ve finished this. Rupert’s parents are coming and they think I’m a first-class slut.’

‘Well, if you’re going to be a slut, be a classy one!’ said Zoe, joking to cover her anxiety. But Fenella was not in the mood for jokes. ‘Seriously, Fen,’ Zoe went on. ‘I can do this.’

‘What about the competition? I can’t let you jeopardise your chances for me again. The cupcake thing was bad enough.’ Then she clenched her eyes shut and panted, in obvious pain.

At this, Zoe decided she couldn’t bear to go on arguing about it. ‘I can do both. Right now, you and the baby are more important and if you need to go to hospital, you should go. If you can’t go without sterilising the bathroom first, I’ll do that for you.’

‘I can’t let you do that!’

‘I’m only doing pasta with pesto made from the wild garlic Rupert showed me and a salad. It won’t take long. Give me the Marigolds and the bleach.’

‘Are you really sure?’ asked Fenella, handing them over.

‘Yes! We can’t start anything yet because Thorn has to go through every bit of weed and stick in case it’s hemlock. That’ll take ages.’ Although Zoe now had what she needed to finish the bathroom, Fenella showed no signs of moving. ‘Shouldn’t you go now?’

Fenella shook her head. ‘I really don’t want to go too early. It would just mean hanging around for ages. I’m better off here.’

Zoe raised her eyes to heaven. ‘How far away is the hospital?’

‘Not far! Only about half an hour. The midwife said don’t come in too soon.’

‘Fen, that’s miles – ages away.’ Zoe pulled on the rubber gloves. ‘I think this is just the right time!.’

‘I don’t want to go before Rupert’s parents get here. They’re so difficult.’ Then Fenella settled into another contraction that seemed longer and more painful than the last Zoe had witnessed.

‘Why did you ask them to come?’ said Zoe when Fenella could speak again.

‘Ask them? Ask them? I didn’t bloody ask them! They said they were coming and nothing Rupert could say would stop them. They say they want to help.’

‘And will they?’

‘Good God no! They need to be waited on hand, foot and finger. Rupert’s mother’s idea of helping is to knit a shawl that needs to be washed by hand in early morning dew gathered by virgins.’

‘Goodness!’

‘And vests. Hand-knitted vests.’

‘But it’s nearly summer!’

‘Oh, don’t worry, they will have shrunk to postage stamps before it gets really warm.’

Zoe shook her head. ‘I’d leave the house and barricade the door if I were you. They’d go home eventually.’

‘Zoe, they need you,’ Rupert called up the stars. ‘It’s time to start cooking, I think.’



‘OK, everyone, settle down!’ Mike clapped his hands, making him seem more like a teacher than ever. ‘Anna is going to talk to you. Cameras!’

‘Well, chefs, all your baskets have been checked. In a minute you can help yourselves to the other ingredients and then Fred will start you off on your next challenge. But before we do that, I just want to tell you about the challenge after that. I know it’s usually a big surprise but we’ve had to schedule another break.’

‘Excuse me, why is that?’ Cher broke in through the murmurs of confusion from the others. ‘If you don’t mind me saying so, we’ve just had a break. Is this another scheduling problem?’

Anna glared at Cher. ‘No. The next challenge is fine dining at its most demanding. It’s the grand finale and you will be cooking a four-course meal for Michelin-starred chefs, judges and celebrity judges. The reason for the extra break is two-fold. One, you will need time to devise and practise your menus: practise and practise until you can do them in your sleep.’ She sniffed in a way that implied sleep was for wimps. ‘The other reason is that the judging is slightly different for the final challenge. It won’t be just the three of us. And the judges we want can’t make it sooner.’

Fred then stepped forward. ‘And after the finale we’re throwing a big party. Everyone’s invited, and the best thing of all is that it won’t be televised.’ He paused and then went on, ‘So, for the final challenge we need a first course, a fish course, main and a pudding. You’ll order your ingredients beforehand, or bring anything of your own you want. You’ll have all day to do it. And I’m sorry, but we won’t divulge who the final judges are.’

‘Oh go on, we won’t tell anyone!’ said Cher.

Fred shook his head. ‘I think we should crack on. We still have to eliminate someone. Only four of you will be competing in the last round.’

Zoe stifled a yawn. They’d all been up since dawn and even the thought of the final challenge couldn’t distract her from her concerns for Fenella.

‘So, those of you who don’t have cars will be taken to the station immediately after the judging, or sent back to your accommodation if there isn’t a suitable train,’ said Fred. ‘Mike’s got it all worked out. Anything else we need to tell them?’ He looked at Mike, who consulted his clipboard.

‘I think that’s everything.’

‘OK,’ said Fred. ‘Choose your ingredients!’

Zoe worked as if the devil was waiting for his dinner and it was her job to provide it. She knew what ingredients she wanted and because they were simple, she just grabbed them. Then she cooked like a demon, glad that her knife skills had vastly improved since the restaurant challenge.



At last, the cooking and the judging was over. Zoe stayed in because hers tasted the nicest although it was judged as the least adventurous. Bill made the mistake of cooking cleavers – perfectly edible, even health giving – but in this case, improperly prepared; they had made the judges gag.

‘In our house we call this wild Sellotape,’ said Fred, ‘or goosegrass.’

Thorn was disappointed in Bill for not preparing this delicacy so it tasted good. His opinion of chefs went down a bit.

They all commiserated with Bill and then as soon as she decently could Zoe went back to the house. A quick dash upstairs revealed Rupert frantically searching for Fenella’s pre-packed bag and Fenella insisting in between contractions that she didn’t want to go to hospital. When she saw Zoe she said, ‘Did you stay in?’

‘Yes. Mine tasted nice, so thank you for telling me about the wild garlic.’ She looked at Fenella, who seemed to have something else on her mind.

‘What are you going to do now?’ Fenella asked.

‘Actually, we’ve got an unscheduled break,’ said Zoe. ‘We’re supposed to go home and practise our recipes. They told us about the final challenge.’ She gulped. ‘It’s doing four courses in front of top chefs as well as the judges.’

‘Oh!’ Rupert looked at Fenella, a shocked expression on his face.

‘Why? What’s the matter?’

But neither Fenella nor Rupert took any notice. ‘No,’ said Fenella firmly. ‘We can’t—’ What she couldn’t do disappeared into a contraction.

‘Actually, Zoe, while Fen’s distracted, I’ll ask you. Would you stay here for a bit? Keep an eye on things? I know Fen isn’t going to hospital because she’s worried about leaving—’

‘I am still here, you know,’ said Fenella, panting.

‘And I’m here for you,’ said Zoe firmly. ‘Now, what is it you need me to do?’

‘No!’ said Fenella. ‘You need to practise your dishes!’

‘I can do that here perfectly well,’ said Zoe.

Fenella and Rupert exchanged glances and then Fenella sighed. ‘Well, I’d feel so much happier about Rupert’s parents being here if they couldn’t let themselves in and rampage over the house complaining what a state everything is in.

‘And think!’ Fenella went on, ‘Gideon might stay too and you could – you know – be together!’

‘Darling, Zoe might not want to …’ broke in Rupert.

But Zoe had been doing some thinking. She could practise her dishes here; in fact in some ways it would be better because she wouldn’t be taking over her mother’s rather small kitchen. And if Gideon was able to stay too, it would be heaven. Provided no one found out about it, of course.

‘Don’t worry. I understand, and I’ll stay here as long as you need me to. Now you just get in the car. The hospital’s expecting you.’ Zoe accepted Rupert’s grateful look, which was followed by a hug.

‘You’ve been a total star,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what we’ve have done without you.’