You must tell me what's happened , William says you know so much about food .sx " .sx Slipping her hand through Darina's arm , she took her through the door at the back of the hall and into a small office off a dark corridor .sx A dirty window gave out on to a scruffy courtyard but failed to let in much daylight .sx It was left to a green-shaded central light to provide illumination of a slightly higher quality than that in the hall .sx The room was crowded with equipment and paper .sx A computer and copier occupied one corner , a large desk covered with files and leaflets another .sx Behind the desk sat Alex , studying a large atlas .sx Ulla looked at him with exasperation , " Have you checked the bar for this evening ?sx " .sx He didn't look up .sx " Plenty of time for that .sx We're unlikely to be rushed off our feet .sx The only booking we've got is that table for four .sx " .sx Ulla indicated a small easy chair .sx " Please , sit .sx " She rubbed her hands .sx " Isn't it cold ?sx Perhaps we could have the fire on .sx " She bent and switched on one bar of a small electric fire .sx " This is Darina Lisle , Alex .sx She could be interested in becoming a partner .sx " .sx The piercing eyes lifted their gaze from the atlas and looked across .sx " Sell up , Ulla , get rid of the whole bloody incubus .sx You're fighting a losing battle .sx " The young man stood up and tucked the book under his arm .sx " You've had a good offer , take it .sx " He strolled to the door .sx " You know I won't do that , Alex , though sometimes I'm tempted .sx It would at least mean I'd never have to see you again .sx " .sx He turned in the doorway , " Temper , temper !sx Be careful or I could disappear right now and then what would you do , mother dear ?sx " The last words were given an ironic twist , then the door was closed carefully behind him .sx Ulla made a noise somewhere between a screech and a growl and banged her head with clenched fists .sx " That Alex , I could strangle him sometimes .sx Why is it that some people know just how to drive you to screaming point ?sx " .sx It was a question that required no answer .sx Darina watched her seat herself in the chair Alex had vacated .sx Ulla couldn't be more than thirty at the most .sx A few lines were starting to etch themselves into the fine skin but the figure was in great shape , a knitted dress and jacket making the most of swelling breasts .sx The hips were slight and boyish .sx That combination of provocative sexuality and androgynous innocence must be lethally attractive to men , especially when matched with a face as sweet as a fairy princess's and hair with natural highlights so fair as to be almost white amongst shades of honey gold and umber .sx " I take it Alex is your stepson ?sx " .sx Ulla nodded .sx " He isn't really a hotelier ; after Tony died he came to help out .sx But don't let's talk about Alex , he always makes me so mad .sx Tell me what happened with lunch .sx I thought the new menu was going to be such a success .sx " .sx " Have you had your chef long ?sx " .sx " Ken Farthing started a couple of weeks ago .sx I was so pleased , he seemed so good .sx Our previous menu was very straight forward , steak , chops , chicken , that sort of thing , all with chips , and a sweet trolley .sx He coped with that fine but I'd hired him to transform the food , bring it up to the standard of our new dining room .sx When he said he could create a new menu , stylish , top class , I said go ahead .sx " .sx " You didn't try the dishes first ?sx " .sx Ulla looked crestfallen .sx " I didn't think it necessary , I thought he knew his job .sx It all sounded delicious .sx What went wrong ?sx " .sx " I'm afraid every dish was misconceived .sx " Darina briefly outlined their disastrous meal .sx Ulla looked more and more miserable .sx " What am I going to do ?sx We can't go back to what we were serving before , it doesn't match the dining room .sx " .sx " I think you'd better have a word with your chef .sx " .sx She rose .sx " Will you come with me ?sx You're such an expert , I don't want him to confuse me .sx " .sx Darina reluctantly followed the proprietor along the badly painted corridor to the kitchen , passing odd nooks and crannies stuffed with boxed of loo paper and cartons of breakfast cereal .sx She wondered just what Ulla's qualifications for running a hotel were .sx Alex's advice that the place should be sold seemed sound .sx And just why she herself had agreed to act as back-up at what would no doubt be an unpleasant confrontation , Darina found it difficult to decide .sx There was something about Ulla , a helpless quality , that brought out protective instincts .sx It must be a priceless asset in business .sx Darina sighed .sx She had long ago recognised that she never brought out a protective instinct in anyone .sx Capability was her aura .sx Even William , who at least topped her nearly six foot by several inches , hardly treated her as 'a little woman' .sx But then , that was the last thing she wanted , wasn't it ?sx The kitchen was as radically different from the rest of the hotel as the dining room .sx A powerhouse of stainless steel , brand new ovens and gleaming tiles , it was having its floor wiped by a small girl dressed in grubby whites .sx A massive figure in equally grubby whites crowned by a tall chef's hat was making notes on the back of an old envelope with a blunt pencil .sx " Chef !sx " Ulla's voice made a brave bid for authority .sx " Yes ?sx " Ken Farthing raised his head , revealing a face that seemed once to have tangled with the business end of a lorry .sx Flattened nose and blunted chin , pock-marked skin and small eyes added up to a sight better not confronted on a dark night - or in a kitchen well equipped with razor-sharp knives and a couple of cleavers to hand .sx Darina eyed their proximity with unaccustomed nervousness .sx It wasn't , she decided , so much the way he looked as the way he managed to invest that one word with an indefinable air of menace , as the piggy eyes looked first at Ulla Mason and then at her .sx Ulla glanced at the minion cleaning the floor , then back at the chef .sx " I would like a word with you in the office .sx " Without waiting for a response , she led the way back to the room they had just left .sx Good psychology , thought Darina , get him off his territory , not to mention away from those knives .sx She knew many a story of chefs running berserk in their kitchens ; until now , she had disbelieved most of them .sx Ulla sat herself behind the desk .sx Darina stood to one side , watching the huge figure advance through the door .sx " Chef , I want a word about lunch .sx " .sx Astonishingly , a broad , beaming smile split the giant's battered face .sx " You tasted it ?sx Fantastic , wasn't it ?sx " .sx " Well , actually , no .sx I have had several complaints .sx " .sx The smile faded a little then composure was recovered .sx " Pah , most of these people know nothing about food .sx They can't appreciate my cooking .sx " .sx Ulla looked helplessly towards Darina .sx " But Miss Lisle here does know about food and I'm afraid she didn't like it either .sx " .sx The big head swung round to confront this new threat .sx " You didn't like my cooking ?sx " .sx Diplomacy struggled with honesty .sx With Darina it wasn't much of a struggle .sx " The flavours were appalling .sx " .sx Shoulders that a self-respecting ox could have been proud of were squared .sx " Appalling !sx " The word could have been heard several counties away .sx Darina gathered courage .sx Only blunt talking was any use in this situation .sx " To use dried tarragon with the cream cheese was inept and the cheese itself was unsuitable for that dish , the avocado and mango needed dressing , the sauce for the fish was bitter and had the consistency of wallpaper paste and what you did to the pastry for the dessert I can't imagine .sx But the fish itself was beautifully cooked , " she added hastily .sx The tiny eyes surveyed her incredulously , then the body swelled alarmingly .sx A huge fist was raised .sx Darina flinched but stood her ground , ready to ward off the threatened blow , then watched it come pounding down on the desk instead .sx " You know nothing about food , " he roared .sx " Nobody knows anything about food .sx I create dishes , new dishes .sx I don't do what everyone else does , my food is original .sx Just because I don't have the name , you all think it's no good .sx You don't deserve success , " he shouted at Ulla .sx She clutched at the arms of her chair but said nothing .sx The chef continued to look threateningly at her .sx A silence grew in the office .sx First one to talk loses , thought Darina , watching the anger gradually leak out of the large figure .sx His forehead creased in a frown as Ulla steadily returned his gaze .sx " If you don't like what I did today , maybe I can do something else tomorrow ?sx There's the grouse with pomegranate , that's got to be a winner .sx " But his confidence had been shaken , there was an air of uncertainty about him now .sx Ulla glanced at Darina , who gave a tiny shake of her head .sx Under strict supervision this chef manqué might just be able to produce edible haute cuisine .sx On his own only disaster loomed .sx " I'm sorry , " the Hotel Morgan's proprietor said , " I need a competent creative chef and today shows you are not suited .sx " .sx She reached behind her and pulled a wages book off a shelf .sx " I give you two weeks' wages and you leave now .sx " She opened the book with a snap .sx A huge hand put the chef's hat askew and scratched at his head .sx Ken Farthing seemed bewildered .sx " I can't stay ?sx " .sx Ulla looked up from her calculations .sx The balance of power in the room had shifted .sx " It's best you go now .sx You must find another job .sx Get your things together and I will bring you your money .sx " .sx The chef gave her another glance but Darina could see he had accepted the inevitable and a moment later he left the room .sx She was a little surprised he had given up so easily .sx One moment he had seemed angry enough to have smitten either of them to the ground , crushed like carcasses for the stock pot , the next he was like a child pleading with authority to be allowed a second chance .sx Ulla opened a small safe , extracted a cash box , filled the wages envelope , sealed it , replaced the box in the safe and relocked it .sx She looked at Darina .sx " Come with me to the kitchen ?sx " .sx The tall girl nodded and followed her back along the passage .sx In the kitchen , the chef had removed his whites and was dressed in a thick sweater and jeans .sx He seemed smaller and not in the least threatening .sx Without the chef's hat his hair was thinning and greasy .sx He took the envelope Ulla offered and turned it over in his big hands then raised his haze and looked straight at Darina .sx " It was no good , the food , really no good ?sx " .sx She hardened her heart .sx " No .sx Stick to plain cooking , you seem able to handle that .sx " .sx " That's what they all say .sx " .sx Ulla held out her hand .sx " Goodbye , Chef , good luck .sx " .sx He wiped his hands on the back of his jeans and shook hers .sx Ulla blinked as he pumped her arm up and down , then massaged her hand as soon as he had released it .sx She stood and watched as he thrust the envelope in his pocket , picked up a hold-all and disappeared out of the back door .sx " That's that .sx , " she said .sx " I'm glad he gave no trouble .sx For a moment I thought he was going to attack us .sx Now what am I going to do ?sx No chef and Christmas coming up .sx Who is going to cook the food ?sx " .sx Chapter Three .sx Cold crisped the edges of the afternoon as William drove up to the layby .sx Sunlight slanted across the scene low and bright but long shadows warned of dusk's approach .sx At the top of a steep hill a slip of shrubby land bordered a half-moon shaped parking area on the busy A37 that runs from Yeovil to Bristol .sx