As Elijah was tightening the last of the fittings, the sound of footsteps echoed through the cavernous kitchen. Hillory straightened up, wiping her hands on her skirt, just as her uncle Mr. Yates appeared in the doorway. He was a tall, imposing figure, his suit impeccably tailored and his silver hair gleaming under the bright lights of the kitchen.
His gaze landed on Hillory first, taking in her disheveled appearance and the smudge of grease on her cheek. His eyebrows shot up in surprise before his eyes flicked to Elijah, narrowing as he took in the mechanic's worn clothes and calloused hands.
"Hillory, what on earth are you doing, child?" Mr. Yates asked, his voice a low rumble that seemed to fill the room. "You should not be mucking about in here with...with the help. I thought I told you, it's not seemly for a young lady to engage in such menial tasks."
Hillory's cheeks flushed pink, and she ducked her head, suddenly shy under her uncle's stern gaze. "I-I'm sorry, Uncle Alastair. I only wanted to help Elijah, to see if there was anything I could do to assist. The leak was so bothersome, and I thought..."
But Mr. Yates cut her off with a sharp gesture, his jaw tight and his eyes flashing with displeasure. "I know very well what you thought, Hillory. But this is not your concern. I have people to handle such things, people who are paid handsomely to keep this house running smoothly. You need not soil yourself with the details of their work."
He turned his attention back to Elijah, his gaze sharpening as he looked him up and down with a critical eye. "I must say, this is a surprise. A Carter, working in my kitchen? I had no idea you were so...versatile in your skills."
There was a note of disdain in his voice, a sneer that made Elijah's hands clench at his sides. He was used to being looked down on, to being judged on the basis of his last name and the circumstances of his birth. But hearing it from Hillory's uncle, in front of Hillory herself...it stung in a way he hadn't expected.
"But very well." Mr.Yates said dismissively. "Since you seemed to have fixed my pipe, I shall compensate you accordingly."
Elijah's jaw clenched at the dismissive tone, his hands curling into fists at his sides. It took every ounce of his self-control not to say something he might regret, not to lash out at the man who stood before him with such open disdain. But he couldn't afford to lose this job, couldn't afford to jeopardize the money he desperately needed to keep his family afloat.
So instead, he dipped his head in a stiff nod, his voice tight and clipped as he spoke. "Yes sir, Mr. Yates. I appreciate the work and the pay."