A MAZE OF GREED

Thea couldn't help but wonder what these two people were doing there. And why Rees brought her to meet them?

Lester looked up at her and smiled. "Nice to see you again, Miss Green."

Thea did not know how to react to that. She only waved her hand awkwardly. "H-hello, Lord Wright!"

He nodded at her and gestured for her to take a seat across from him on an empty couch.

Thea followed Rees, and they both sat together on the couch. Thea's eyes kept wandering to the other person in the room. That person was also watching her keenly with a gentle smile on her face.

Reading the confusion in Thea's mind, Rees introduced the other person.

"Thea, meet Lady Elsie O'Dell. She is-"

"Daughter of Augutus O'Dell."

Thea completed his sentence with widened eyes. She remembered Elsie from the night of the celebrations. She had seen her a couple of times before at public gatherings with Augustus and Theodora. But up close, she looked different yet more beautiful.

Elsie had worn a yellow dress that suited her complexion well. Her makeup was not too heavy but just enough to accentuate her natural beauty. Her hair was braided at the back of her head.

Elsie smiled at Thea. "Hello, Miss Green. It's a pleasure to meet the woman who has Rees wrapped around her little finger."

The way she spoke was similar to Ruth. Thea sensed that same welcoming and warm feeling in her voice. She had innocence on her face, and for some strange reason, Thea instantly felt connected with her.

"Thank you, Lady Elsie. The pleasure is mine to finally meet you in person." Thea smiled shyly.

"Oh, Elsie, you should have watched how Miss Green slapped sense into Rees that night." Lester teased with a naughty glint in his olive-green eyes.

Thea felt her face burning in embarrassment while Rees coughed loudly in shock. They both had not expected Lester to say such a thing.

Elsie looked at them curiously. She did not know the literal meaning of Lester's words.

But then she read Lester's mind in which that night's memory was still fresh.

As soon as she saw that memory, she burst out laughing like a kid.

"What? Oh, Moon Goddess! Thea you are so good! Rees... I-I can not believe that! oh... hahahaaa"

Now Thea was definitely praying for escape. She was over conscious about her appearance and look in front of Elsie.

And during their first meet, she had to face this embarrassment. She threw a sideways glance at Rees to see his face red in embarrassment too, but he also had a small smile on his face.

Lester also joined his mate in the tease, but soon Elsie sobered up after she sensed Thea's uncomfortableness.

She signalled Lester to stop laughing.

"Thea... pardon, I mean Miss Green, you do not need to feel uncomfortable about it. You did a right thing. If I had been in your place then I would have done the same, only difeerence is I lack the confidence that you have." Elsie confessed truthfully.

Thea was astonished at her honesty. How could a woman, who was not less than a princess be so honest and open about her thoughts? She even did not try to hide her weakness.

Hearing her genuine words, made Thea fall in comfort. She smiled, this time more carefreely. "Lady Elsie, please call me by name only. I prefer that. And same goes for you Lord Wright."

Elsie was surprised to see the level of easiness between Lester and Thea.

"As you say, Thea!" Lester smirked.

Now that everyone was comfortable, Thea asked. "May I ask why we are here? Especially me?" She raised her brow at the three people.

The air in the room shifted considerably, and all the humour drained down, replaced with heaviness.

The three of them shared a look, but Elsie decided to speak first.

"Thea, we called you here because we have some questions for you."

"Me?"

Elsie nodded her head. "Yes, first please have a drink." She passed two glasses of fruit juice towards Thea and Rees.

Thea hesitated for a moment but took the glass after Rees did.

"I will answer every question if I can." Thea said after taking a sip of the juice.

Gathering her thoughts one more time, Elsie began, "I have heard a lot about your friend."

"My friend?" Something inside her told Thea that it must be Ruth Elsie was referring to.

"Are you referring to Ruth?"

"Yes. I want to know more about her."

Thea glanced at Rees. His face was passive, and she could not understand this sudden interest in Ruth.

"Why do you want to know about her? Is it because she was with me twice when we broke through the wall of 'the great manor'? If it is so then I have already told you that it was my responisbility. She has nothing to do with it."

Thea was worried. Had Edwin told them everything?

"Thea, you do not need to overthink it. We are only asking general questions. Do you think that Rees would let any harm to come in Ruth's way?"

She knew that Letter was right. Rees would never do that. She shook her head. Now only, she realised why Elsie first offered her juice. She needed it more than before.

Rees silently put his hand on hers. That little gesture encouraged her.

"Ruth is my best friend. She used to work for Mr Cooper when he needed an extra hand at a low cost. We had occasional conversations, but they all were formal.

Slowly, our friendship grew, and when she needed money, I offered her my place at Mr Cooper's shop. I introduced her to Rees, and we three became close friends.

She is an orphan. Her mother died when she was thirteen years old. At that time, Ruth used to live in another town. After her mother's death, she came to Vincardine."

This time, Lester interrupted her. "I have two questions. What was her mother's name? And why she came to Vincadine and not thought about another place?"

Rees had never given a thought to these questions.

"Her mother's name was Bertha Moore. She was also a seamstress. Ruth learened the basics of the craft from her mother. While breathing her last breaths, her mother told her to go to Vincardine."

"But why Vincardine?" Rees wondered.

Thea shrugged her shoulders. "I do not know. Even Ruth does not know. Her mother said nothing about that."

"Are you sure?" Elsie prompted.

"That's what I believe."

Lester nodded his head for Thea to continue. "Ruth has no one as a relative or family. She has grown close to her old neighbours, Mr and Mrs Payne. She is taking care of them. Other than them, she only has I and Rees.

She is a timid person. She does not mingle with people. She always keeps everything to herself and avoids getting involved in other's business.

That is all I can tell about Ruth. And that is all she knows about herself, I can say."

A minute of silence passed. Lester was not convinced with the information Thea had told. He knew she did not know much, nor she was lying. He could tell it by her steadily beating heart.

Then why he felt that there was something more to Ruth's story that no one knew?

"What about her father? Has she told you anything about him?"

Thea shook her head. "No, she did not. She never talks much about her father. She asked her mother about it, but her mother did not say much.

After she grew up, she gave up asking, for she felt her mother was enough for her and she did not need a father who had abandoned her and her mother."

Again there was a dead end.

"But why are you asking so much about Ruth? Rees please tell me what is going on here."

Rees did not know how to tell her the truth. He looked at Lester helplessly.

"You must love your friend very much, don't you?"

The three heads turned in Elsie's direction.

Thea studied her face. She could point to a sliver of loneliness in her eyes.

"Yes I do! I love my friend so much that I can go to any extremes to keep her safe."

It was not only Thea's feeling but an indirect warning for them. If they were trying to put Ruth in an uneasy position, then they should know that they first needed to deal with Thea before reaching Ruth.

Elsie smiled at her words. "I can understand you, Thea. You are right. We can go to any extremes to keep our loved ones safe. And I am no exception to that."

Thea was utterly confused at the sudden change in Elsie's tone. Her voice came confident, commanding. Her eyes blazed with a determination, but Thea did not miss a silent challenge in her words.

She was nervous. What these people had in their minds? Why were they asking so many questions about Ruth?

Rees.... he knew everything. Was he also involved in whatever they were planning?