No Good Deed

[Edward Macmillan]

No good deed goes unpunished
No act of charity goes unresented

Macmillan Castle, after dinner
@'Emma Macmillan'
@'Cassius Lestrange'

Ned hadn't realized that Emma would be coming that evening. It didn't particularly bother him, per se -- but while she'd never seemed to like him much, she'd taken it to a whole new level ever since he'd figured out Perseus's condition. He'd only been looking out for her child, but it seemed she resented his intervention ever since that night in the nursery.

Well, it hardly mattered much to him. As long as the child was getting the care he needed -- and he had no reason to doubt that, as Killian, at least, was sensible enough to take advice when it was given -- it didn't matter what Emma felt about him.

It was just the two of them left in the drawing room, now, Ned nursing his after-dinner drink while Emma... well, did whatever Emma did. He would have rather had Minnie here, out of the Pendergast cousins, but beggars couldn't be choosers, he supposed.

"How are the other cousins? It's a shame none of them could join us this evening," he said conversationally.

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   Helena MacMillan

[Emma Macmillan]

Ned made Emma contemplate homicide. Not seriously, but she was contemplating it. She had never been able to forgive him for interfering, and had never liked him enough to work towards forgiving him.

Except now Minnie possibly liked him.

And Emma was, despite common opinion, extremely invested in her sister's future being the best future possible.

So she was stalking him through the castle and pretending to do embroidery. "Oh, they're very well," she said mildly, "Sam hopes to be named Head Boy."

She had no idea what Sam hoped for, but that sounded like the sort of thing that he would be interested in.

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   Edward Macmillan

[Edward Macmillan]

Emma's response was almost pleasant. Ned's eyes narrowed a little in suspicion as he took another sip of his drink. From what he knew of Sam, he didn't have anywhere near the appropriate temperament for prefect, much less Head Boy. He took after his sister in that regard.

"It's nice to want things," Ned said diffidently, realizing after he said it that it probably sounded more harsh than he had intended. Ah well. It's not as if Samuel was here to object. "And Minnie and Walter?"

  

[Emma Macmillan]

"Walter's fine," Emma said, which may or may not have been true for how many fucks she gave about Walter. Emma had really never liked either of her brothers, for all that she (sometimes) loved them. Minnie, meanwhile, had always been everything that Emma wasn't - soft and loving and excitable, and even Emma could not help be charmed by her even as a bratty child.

Now, Minnie needed a husband, a good husband, and Ned had qualities. They were not qualities that Emma appreciated, or even tolerated, but they were qualities. Supposedly.

"Minnie's doing the season again, of course - although I'm sure you've seen her just as recently as I have," Emma said. 

  

[Edward Macmillan]

Why was it always so difficult to have a simple conversation with Emma? Sometimes Ned felt the two of them spoke an entirely different language most of the time. Then again, they had never had much in common beyond their family, so he couldn't even begin to guess at what else she might care about.

"You're probably right," he replied with a shrug. Latching on to the one topic he thought might be mutually interesting, he continued, "And do you think she's doing well? She seemed to be enjoying herself the last time I saw her." In his opinion, Minnie could do no wrong, of course, but Ned had little concept of what constituted a successful season for girls beyond getting engaged at the end.

  

[Emma Macmillan]

"I think she's doing well," Emma said, "But she also has not quite secured any prospects." She would be damned if Minnie became a spinster, but also was not sure how to help - Reuben had practically picked Killian out for her, and they had married less than a year after meeting. She would also be damned if Minnie married anyone less than perfect for her; there would be no disappointing husbands for her sister.

(Killian was not perfect, but he neither was she, and he was a good man. Emma would settle for a good man for Minnie, if it came down to it.) 

So. This was her, helping. 

"Wilhelmina is gentler than some of the other debutantes," Emma said, "It makes her a much better person, but does not necessarily help her with the season."

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   Orlando Lovegood

[Edward Macmillan]

Ned frowned at that. He may not have been terribly attuned to the finer points of climbing the social ladder, but the sentiment still resonated with him.A good heart was not always particularly valued in their world, and when it was, it was often overshadowed by those willing to do what it took to steal the spotlight. Had Minnie set her eyes on someone, only to have him stolen out from under her nose by another?

"I suppose that's not surprising to hear," Ned said, then took another sip of his drink as he thought. "It's a shame, though. Minnie would make a fine wife for any man who's good enough to see it."

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   Minnie Pendergast

[Emma Macmillan]

Emma agreed with the sentiment. But the question remained - was Edward good enough to see it?

She did not want him for a brother-in-law. Not really. But she wanted Minnie to be married, and happy, and not doomed. 

It was with a small degree of reluctance that Emma remarked, "You're a good man."

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   Minnie Pendergast

[Edward Macmillan]

It was lucky he had already swallowed the last of his scotch, because otherwise he might have choked and died then and there before he could properly process the suggestion. Instead, his eyes widened, searching Emma's face in an attempt to discern if this was all some kind of joke. Emma was not in the habit of making jokes with him -- unless, of course, they were at his expense. Minnie's future, however, was no laughing matter, and on this Ned was certain they were in agreement.

So she was serious, then.

"I try to be," he said carefully, still on uncertain footing. "Though some in our family have made it clear they don't agree."

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   Helena MacMillan

[Emma Macmillan]

Emma snorted. "Who, Charles?" she said, "That's because he's not a good man." She had no illusions as to the goodness or morality of her favorite cousin; Charles was basically garbage, but she liked him anyways. Most of the time, at least.

"Minnie's a much better person than I am."