Inadvertently Flowering

[Minnie Pendergast]

The trouble was that she had absolutely no point of reference to know what to do with the surprisingly, but not entirely unwelcome, token she had received that morning. She had never received flowers from any gentlemen other than papa but that scarcely counted, and this was made rather more odd by the identity of the gentleman.

Why would Killian send her flowers? It was too early to be the anniversary of her father's death - though on the approach to it she had found herself increasingly morose so perhaps he had simply assumed she would need something to lighten her mood? Killian had always seemed quite perceptive in that sense so it was possible, wasn’t it?

Having dwelled for half the morning Minnie eventually decided that actually asking was probably the wisest choice. Killian was ever such a nice man and she knew he wouldn’t mind her calling round, even if Emma was out, which she inevitably was, and so when she was shown into the drawing room, flowers still in hand, she was smiling and didn’t feel especially uneasy.

”Killian!” She greeted, eyes bright with fond warmth. “I do hope you’re well?”

@'Killian Macmillan'
@'Leander Grantham'

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   Killian Macmillan

[Killian Macmillan]

It was a normal mid morning for Killian. The children were with the nurse and tutor and Emma had pointedly left the house. She had either neglected to tell him the reason or he hadn't listened but her point was clear: if he wasn't going to leave for the day she was. The fact of the matter was he just wasn't interested in a traditional job any more. At least nothing like what he had done before. And his current business ventures kept him at home in his study more often than not.

Being told a 'Miss Pendergast' was here to see him was a surprise and as he made his way to the drawing room he wondered if maybe Minnie had actually come to see Emma and that the butler had been mistaken. The warmth of her greeting was enough to convince him otherwise. It was so refreshing to be met so genuinely and he greeted her equally in turn.

"I am well." he agreed with enthusiasm more appropriate to the conversation than may have reflected his actual state. "I must admit we weren't expecting your visit. Emma has gone into town." It was instinctive for him to revert to his married state in social situations. As if he and Emma were supposed to be a single organism in the face of visitors. "Though I am more than happy to have you regardless. Shall I call for tea?"

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   Helena MacMillan

[Minnie Pendergast]

“Please do,” Minnie said with a nod, taking her cue to settle into her seat and crossing her ankles demurely. She had always liked this room – had always liked Killian and Emma’s house in general for that matter, as every home Minnie had ever seen she had thought improved by the pitter-patter of children deep in the house – and she had never had cause to feel unease here. Each of these rooms did not make her think of someone she had lost, which was definitely a blessing!

“And it’s just as well Emma is out – I thought she might be to be honest – as it was you I came to see,” she smiled brightly, glancing up at him from her seat with eyes that matched the lustre of her smile. “I wanted to thank you in person. I have no idea how you knew I needed cheering up but you are so terribly good-hearted…” Smile not faltering, Minnie felt at a loss for a moment. How on earth had Emma married a man so impossibly kind? She would consider herself incredibly fortunate if she managed to find a young man half as good as Killian – not that she was having a great deal of luck in that department but that was a worry for another day!

  

[Killian Macmillan]

Killian reached for a small bell on a table along the wall and gave it a ring.  It was even quieter than it seemed it would be but he knew the appropriate ears would hear it.  It was a new system Emma had decided on and Killian still wasn't sold on it.  He couldn't remember if the bell magically sounded just in the kitchen or in the maids' own ears but it meant tea would come shortly and that was the important part.  

He should have been a bit more surprised about her intentionally avoiding Emma but he knew a thing or two about going out of his way to talk to people when his wife was not around.  He was, however, pleasantly surprised to hear she had come to see him specifically.  It had been a long time since a young woman had sought out his company, his wife not withstanding.  

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure I know what you're talking about.  But had I realized you needed cheering I certainly would have -"  It was good that a maid had appeared to answer his ring.  It saved him from having to finish his sentence.  The tea request was made in short order and the maid disappeared once again.

  

[Minnie Pendergast]

(OOC: Sorry,#Mayfail but I’ve wanted to thread them for ages so win-win XD)

As the maid laid out the tea Minnie furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of his words. Surely he was just teasing her? He obviously knew that he had sent flowers and that he had put his name to them so the possible meaning of his denial was opaque to Minnie. She watched the place down the tea tray and bob a curtsey before she left and she wondered whether the girl was the cause: perhaps Killian had intended it to be secret and didn’t want it getting back to Emma through the maid?

But...that...surely not? It was impossible!

But why else would Killian be sending her secret flowers?! Suddenly Minnie felt a sense of foreboding uncurl in her stomach, quite strangling all the giddiness she had felt at the previously innocent gesture. She should not have come here, at least not alone. She should have waited till Emma was here at least. Oh goodness, it was confusing – Killian had never, ever...

But she was being foolish wasn’t she? Killian was good and would never-

“I don’t understand,” she said in a whispering, keeping it low in case he was worried about the maid overhearing even now. She didn’t mind but if she wanted the truth she might have to join in. “I don’t understand it one little bit brother-” There, that was good wasn’t it? A reminder! “What do you mean by it all?”

  

[Killian Macmillan]

He had always been fond of Minnie for all the obvious reasons anyone else would be fond of her. She was sweet, kind, well mannered, and he thought it was not out of line to admit she was beautiful even if only to himself. But he was especially fond of her because she seemed to be a sort of polar opposite of Emma. He had wondered on more than one occasion what his life would have been like if he had not been so eager to marry. He had been admittedly young though well within his right, as firstborn and heir. But naturally, had he waited to a marry at a more traditional age, Minnie would have Likely been the choice at hand. And it was an odd feeling to go about his life, occasionally crossing paths with her, with this knowledge.

He now eyed his sister-in-law with tempered alarm. This odd behavior was more Emma-like than he’d ever seen her display. “I really have no idea what you are talking about.” He insisted with a note of sharpness in his tone. Her Emma-like behavior was evoking a very Emma-oriented response in him. He knew better than anyone that he and Emma were prone to fighting but it was odd to see his own instincts point him towards a fight with someone who simply reminded him of his wife.

@'Minnie Pendergast' @'Helena Macmillan'

  

[Minnie Pendergast]

Oh Merlin, she had offended him and she didn’t even know why!

“These,” she said in a small, unassured voice, limply holding out the flowers that had looked so beautiful to her earlier but now seemed to be wilting between them as her confusion seeped into them. Perhaps he had sent them and forgot? For a married man sending flowers might not be such an occasion that he recalled each incident but she had always thought of Killian as being a thoughtful soul and to forget such a thing seemed so unlike him.

“You sent me these this morning. Look,” she reached into the pocket of her dress where she had been keeping the note for safekeeping and held it out towards him, feeling distinctly foolish. “It has your name so I assumed…I hope I haven’t offended you by voicing my thanks, I certainly didn’t intend to embarrass you but I believe I have and I am so sorry for that.”

Somehow she knew this muddle was her doing. Perhaps they had been intended for mama? She was a much likelier candidate for receiving flowers now that her mourning was done but Killian would hardly be paying court!

@'Killian Macmillan'
@'Leander Grantham'

  

[Killian Macmillan]

And suddenly she was nothing like Emma and he felt a small pang of guilt despite trying to reason with himself that he'd done nothing wrong.  For a moment it had seemed she had been implying something... indecorous.

It was one thing to privately consider the prosperity of a hypothetical match between himself and Miss Pendergast.  Another thing entirely to... he rolled some tension from his shoulder and stepped forward to take the card she offered, firmly banishing what ever path his thoughts were on.

The card indeed bore his name, though in an unfamiliar handwriting - the florist perhaps- but was otherwise unremarkable.  "Well that is strange indeed"