William's conversational airs are met with relative silence, even overly concentrated focus on his book. One might think Ned is ignoring the poor fellow and that would be true but mostly for the reasoning that involved keeping his mind on what was going to need to be said. Preparing a speech or what all.
Ned doesn't look up from his book when Doc enters the Study (except perhaps a glance to see which of the two it was first, a brief smile cutting across his face before his gaze drops back into the volume). The Doc takes the lord's name in vain and Ned is still reading. The Doc offers a single word indicator of what this is all about. Ned is squinting at something on the page, rubbing at it with his thumb. Then Margot enters and Ned's eyes flick upward toward her. Then over at the Doc. Then around toward William, all while still holding the book poised in his lap.
"Hey."
Margot says hello. Ned returns it, though it seems intended for both his Cabalmates. He sucks in a breath, almost as if he is about to go on one of his patented Ned explanations (Ned tried to call it a 'Nedsplanation' once but Doc interrupted him halfway through with a 'No' so that was the end of that). Instead, Ned claps the book shut, puffs his cheeks out and lays the book in his lap.
"I've asked William to Join our Cabal."
Pause for effect. Wave of his free hand at the room.
"Discuss."
Ned doesn't look up from his book when Doc enters the Study (except perhaps a glance to see which of the two it was first, a brief smile cutting across his face before his gaze drops back into the volume). The Doc takes the lord's name in vain and Ned is still reading. The Doc offers a single word indicator of what this is all about. Ned is squinting at something on the page, rubbing at it with his thumb. Then Margot enters and Ned's eyes flick upward toward her. Then over at the Doc. Then around toward William, all while still holding the book poised in his lap.
"Hey."
Margot says hello. Ned returns it, though it seems intended for both his Cabalmates. He sucks in a breath, almost as if he is about to go on one of his patented Ned explanations (Ned tried to call it a 'Nedsplanation' once but Doc interrupted him halfway through with a 'No' so that was the end of that). Instead, Ned claps the book shut, puffs his cheeks out and lays the book in his lap.
"I've asked William to Join our Cabal."
Pause for effect. Wave of his free hand at the room.
"Discuss."