A MAZE OF GREED

Legs thumping sound was so prominent that the sounds of the surroundings fell dull in front of it. Was it the heart beating fast in the chest, or the footsteps that fell on the ground after applying so much effort?

The path under the walking feet was familiar yet so unnatural. The passing buildings and then trees wondered what the person was doing there?

The grand structure that came into view mocked that 'you do not belong here. Perhaps a true statement, but who can fight with destiny?

The guard watched the approaching figure and straightened up.

"Good morning, My Lady!" He bowed politely.

Ruth was taken aback by his gesture. My Lady? She looked down at herself to double-check if she was in someone else's body, but that was not the case.

Then what made the man think that she was someone belonging to the elites?

"G-Good morning!" She responded after watching the man patiently waiting for his head to move up.

'Since when these O'Dell's guards became polite and gentlemen?' Ruth wondered.

Her eyes searched around for a familiar face who had insulted the last time she stood outside these gates along with Thea.

"Are you searching for something, My Lady?" The guard asked.

Ruth bit the insides of her cheek and asked, "Another guard used to work here..." She did not know how she should ask directly about that foul-mouthed man.

The guard nodded in understanding. "Yes, he used to but not anymore."

"Why, if may I ask?"

"I do not know the truth, but I heard someone say that he used to disrespect the visitors and did not let them enter 'the great manor'. So Young Master dismissed him from the service." The guard answered truthfully.

Ruth's brows raised in surprise.

'Was it because Rees told the blue-eyed monster about how the guard insulted Thea and... me?'

Ruth shook that thought aside as soon as it crossed her mind.

"Oh, okay. Erm... I am here to meet Mr Rees Welby. I do not have any appointment but he is my-"

"You do not need an appointment to come here, My Lady. Please go straight and then take a right. You will find a maid waiting for you there." The guard smiled and bowed again.

Ruth was utterly confused now. Either the man was too polite for his own good or was out of his mind to treat an Eastern living poor woman with no social status with such courtesy.

"Thank you so much! Have a good day!" She smiled and walked through the gates of 'the great manor'. The last time she entered through these gates, she had Florence beside her, rather dragging her.

That did not go well and changed Ruth's life completely. Maybe that happened for good, that was what she kept telling herself.

Ruth could not help but try to take in the tall and gigantic structure in her vision which was impossible with the sun blazing at the top of the tallest tower of the manor. She wondered how much time it would have taken for building this marvellous piece of architecture.

She did not know anything about architecture, but she had an eye for beauty and a will to admire the efforts. If she could meet the person who planned and built this structure, then she surely had kissed their hands in appreciation.

She walked straight as per the guard's instructions to see the number of carriages of different sizes and colours stationed in a straight line. Ruth wondered who might be using so many carriages when there were only five members in the O'Dell family.

She then took the right turn, which felt familiar. The path led her to the main circle, where a large fountain was. She had been there before when she came there with Florence.

Her head moved in the direction of the rows of artistically cut plants in the shapes of oval and sometimes in circles. She had learned about the art of topiary.

"Good morning, miss Ruth!"

Ruth, startled, found a young woman smiling at her.

"G-good m-morning!"

"Oh, I apologise, if I frightened you." The woman apologised genuinely.

No... no. That is fine. I was just not being attentive, that is. Erm.. but how do you know my name?"

"Mr Welby told me."

"But how did you know it was me with name Ruth? I mean it could have been some other woman too." Ruth wondered.

The woman again smiled brightly before answering. "Yes, but I knew it must be you as per the description Mr Welby gave. He said the most beautiful woman in Vincardine with toffee brown hair and hazel eyes would come and I would need to attend her."

"The most beautiful woman in Vincardine?" Ruth cocked her brow amusingly.

The maid's eyes widened by a fraction when she recalled something more. "Oh, but he then immediately added that you are beautiful, but his fiancee is exceptionally beautiful and you stand second after her."

Ruth laughed hearing that, shaking her head in amusement.

"Did I tell too much, Miss Ruth?" The maid asked nervously.

"No, you did not. I am sure Rees must have said that. He loves his fiancee that much! And I love both of them too much!"

The maid did not understand how Ruth was related to Rees and his fiancee, but she was a servant and servants were not allowed to pry deeper.

"Where is Rees?" Ruth asked.

It felt strange to hear someone calling him by his first name except the ones who were higher in their rank or status than him. The maid knew that some of the guards who were seniors as per experience than him, were requested to call him by his first name.

And if the beautiful woman was calling him by his first name, then she must be someone from his family or friends. Perhaps that was why Rees ordered the maid to attend the Lady personally.

"He is busy in work and told that he will join you after some time. Till then I should take you to Lady Elsie." The maid answered.

Suddenly all the smiles faded from Ruth's face, and nervousness was too higher. Meeting Lady Elsie?

She had only glimpses of the youngest daughter of Augustus O'Dell on the night of celebrations. She was a good looking young woman and seemed much approachable than her elder sister.

But Ruth knew that a book can not be judged by its cover.

What if she did not like her? What if she turned out just like her elder sister or the arrogant women of elites? What if she insulted her, and throw her out of 'the great manor'?

These hundreds of what-ifs settled down on Ruth's shoulders heavily.

"Shall we go then Miss Ruth?" The maid asked.

Ruth managed to nod and started walking a step behind the maid. Ruth did not dare to lift her head high until they walked through an arch and entered a building. The first thing that caught Ruth's attention was the designer carpet which was sprawled on the floor in the length of the hallway.

The red coloured carpet looked so expensive that Ruth hesitated first and then smacked mentally herself for stepping onto it with her dirty shoes.

The hallway was decorated with various paintings, flower arrangements and large vases that Ruth had never seen before anywhere.

The most luxurious house that she had been was Rees's. But it was nowhere near what this magnificent structure had.

It felt like they were walking for hours, taking hundreds of turns and ascending thousands of steps. Ruth's head started spinning, walking through that extravagant maze when they finally stopped outside a door.

"Is Lady Elsie available? She has her guest here." The maid informed one guard who stood outside the door. He cast a look at Ruth, then nodded.

"She is inside." He opened the door for the two women then shut it behind them.

If Ruth was impressed before then now she was flabbergasted at the sight. The room that was Elsie's private chamber as per the maid's information was large enough to fit at least ten rooms as large as hers into it.

The walls were painted in beige and a light shade of green with dark green curtains at the windows. A large circular carpet covered most part of the floor, and a beautiful chandelier hung from the roof.

The windows had broad space that was covered with frost cushions, and a small pile of books lay on top of them.

Ruth suddenly got aware of the strangeness of the place and became more conscious of her identity. She was surprised at how easily the maid moved around in such an intimidating place.

"Do not worry. Lady Elsie is the best person in 'the great manor'." The maid whispered in Ruth's ear.

Those words lessened some burden of nervousness from Ruth's shoulders.

Her eyes then landed on a woman who sat on a stool in front of a large full-length mirror with wooden carved borders. She had her back towards Ruth. Another maid helped her put on her jewellery and shoes.

The Lady was yet to notice Ruth, and Ruth thought that it was her last chance of running away from there. But before she could decide that possibility, the maid said loudly.

"Good morning Lady Elsie! Miss Ruth is here to meet you."

Ruth held her breath, clutching her dress tightly as she saw Elsie turning around to face her.

The woman was younger than her by a year or two with facial features that resembled Lord Augustus, and some that Ruth assumed must have resembled with her mother.

The woman did not say a thing, neither did her face give away her thoughts. She stared at Ruth unblinkingly, recking her up and down with her curious eyes.

Ruth wondered if it was a bad idea to come here when the woman did not say anything for long.