Penny turned, her dark eyes widening slightly as she recognized Emily's name. There was a moment of hesitation, a flicker of something – surprise? wariness? – crossing her features before she schooled her expression into a polite smile.
"Of course, Mrs. Fairfax," Penny replied, her voice warm despite the caution in her eyes. "Welcome, Emily. We're always glad to have an extra set of hands."
As Mrs. Fairfax left them to their tasks, Penny quickly briefed Emily on the lunch menu and assigned her to vegetable preparation. Emily rolled up her sleeves, determined to prove herself useful. The weight of Penny's gaze on her back told her that she had a long way to go before she would be accepted here.
