A MAZE OF GREED

"Seems like you both know each other well?!" Elsie marked.

Lester glanced at his mate then smirked Ruth's way knowingly. "Let's just say that we had a small encounter before."

Rees walked towards Ruth and touched her shoulder, pressing it a little in encouragement.

"I am glad that you came." He smiled down at her.

"Yes." Ruth smiled back, but the three people could sense her uneasiness after Eloise's episode.

"Miss Moore, you can not expect only goodness to prevail in the world. There will always be no-good things along with goodness.

It does not mean that no good is always equal to evil. A family has all kinds of members with their individual personalities. If we are not comfortable with one of them does not mean we discard them, right?"

Ruth listened to Lester attentively and understood the hidden meaning behind his words.

Although Eloise came out to be a strong-headed and arrogant person, that did not mean she was evil, and Ruth should not avoid her or decline the job.

"I do understand Lord Wright." Ruth nodded her head.

"Well..." Elsie looked expectantly at her.

Ruth nodded her head again with a smile. "When should I begin serving you My Lady?" She even courtesied in front of Elsie by bowing deep.

Ruth did not understand the reason behind Elsie's joy, but she was glad that her mistress was not Eloise and was someone who wanted her around them.

Lester called the maid who was waiting at the door. "Take Miss Moore to show 'the great manor'. Give her details about what she is expected to do and what not."

"Yes, My Lord!" The maid bowed.

Lester then turned towards Ruth, "Miss Moore, I know it might be little too much for you to remember everything at once. But I am sure you will get a hold on it eventually. If you need anything or have any doubts, she will help you with it or you can ask any one of us about it."

"Thank you Lord Wright!" Ruth was on the top of the moon. She still could not believe that she was going to get paid seven times than what Mr Cooper used to pay her.

Ruth followed the maid but was called from behind by Elsie. "Ruth, please meet me after you see everything. I want to talk something important with you."

"Yes, My Lady!"

Ruth stepped out of Elsie's chamber with mixed emotions. So much had happened during the short period of an hour. She was still bothered by Elsie's behaviour, but she could not keep thinking about that only.

"Miss Ruth, from where we should begin? The property is so vast that I am afraid it would take me two days to show you everything." The maid said as they walked side by side.

"Erm... I do not know. Maybe you can first show me the places where I will need to work or visit? I will learn rest of the places eventually."

"You are right. So let us start from this building only. This is the residential building where all the family members have their private chambers. That was Lady Elsie's chamber.

Lady Eloise has her chamber on the same floor. And below this floor is Lord Augustus and Lady Theodora's chambers."

"Chambers?" Ruth asked.

The maid looked around then whispered. "Rich people have different tastes unlike us. They both have their bedroom and two other chambers where they like to live alone." She shrugged.

That was something new to Ruth.

"That building over there... that is where the guest rooms are. Lord Lester lives on the first floor in that building, exactly opposite to Lady Elsie's chamber."

"Oh..." For some odd reason, Ruth could not hide her blush.

Yes, Lord Lester was a charming man. If he was someone Ruth could have then she would have taken him as her suitor in a blink of an eye. She had to admit that if they have met in different circumstances then she should have a crush on him.

But after seeing him today around Lady Elsie, she smelled their chemistry. So discarded the little crush she had developed for him over the days.

Ruth shook her head to clear her mind. Then she realised something. She did not want to ask that, but curiosity got the best of her.

"Erm... you did not tell where the O'Dell's heir lives."

The maid stopped in her tracks abruptly. Ruth slapped herself mentally, thinking she made another mistake by asking that question.

The maid watched Ruth for a long moment then asked, "Why did you ask that?"

Ruth shifted on her feet uncomfortably. "I.. I do not know. I mean I have heard so much about him from Rees. You showed me everyone's chambers so...."

"Is that the only reason?"

Though somewhat younger than Ruth, the woman was more confident and straightforward than her.

"Yes." Ruth answered.

"That building." The maid pointed after a moment.

Ruth lifted her head to look in that way.

"That building belongs to Lord Edwin. His chamber, library, office, everything is in there."

Ruth was confused. Why does he live away from his family? And why did the maid react that way?

"Okay." Ruth mumbled and was about to begin walking when the maid stopped her.

"Miss Ruth, I apologise if I have offended you in any way. But let me clear one thing to you, do not, and I mean DO NOT ever go there unless you are asked for it.

Lord Edwin... he is the most complicated person in the family. He does not like people lingering around him. Only a few people like the family members, Lord Lester and Mr Welby are allowed to enter his building.

My Lord likes to keep his business to himself. Please do not ever get on his bad side or do anything that he does not like. It will... let's just say it will not bring good consequences to you. Alright?" The maid smiled.

"Hmm..." Ruth nodded her understanding.

The maid though young was clearly wiser than her age. It seemed like she knew the nook and crook of not only the buildings but also the corners of the people's lives and minds. She was familiar with everything that happened between the four walls.

"I forgot to ask you your name. Now that we are going to work at the same place, I will need someone to be called as friend, only if you do not mind." Ruth added the last part quickly.

The maid smiled at her. "My name is Ida and I am working in 'the great manor' since I remember."

"Ida! Nice name! So do you work here since your childhood?"

"Yes. My father is a gardener and my mother used to be a maid."

"Where is she now?"

"She passed away two years ago."

"Oh, I am sorry!" Ruth knew the loss of her own mother and felt truly sorry for the young maid.

"It is alright. I born here and brought up here. I lie in the servants quarter with my father. Oh, which room you got for you and your family?"

Ruth shook her head. "I am not moving in there... not yet at least." Ruth then explained to the maid about her family and Mrs Payne.

They walked around 'the great manor' while laughing and sharing things with each other. Ruth could see a good friend in her and was sure that Thea would like Ida too.

They were walking near the building where Edwin's chamber and the office were when another maid stopped them. She was Ida's friend, and after Ruth's introduction, they were engrossed in the gossiping.

Ruth nodded her head occasionally with a yes or no, but her eyes kept wandering around. She had never been to such a beautiful place. The stories she had heard about 'the great manor'- the home of the originators- fell short on describing how pretty the place was.

It was heaven that Ruth was fortunate to step in. The thick, tall walls, the creepers grown on those walls, dark brown wooden doors, wide windows, the vibe of the place- everything was splendid in her opinion.

Ruth's breath hitched again when she saw Edwin coming out of one of the many rooms along with a man. They were discussing something important. She saw how the space between his straight brows was pinched together as he heard the other man attentively.

His coffee-brown hair fell on his forehead that making him look younger by a couple of years. His cerulean blue eyes, unaware of eyes on him, were focused ahead of him as he walked with his head held high and his shoulders broad.

Ruth gulped as she could not move her eyes from him. He looked lethal yet attractive.

"Ida" Ruth was broken from her staredown at Edwin by a familiar voice.

She saw a familiar face of Fannie walking towards them.

"Ida, Lady Theodora has requested this woman's presence in a parlour."

Fannie did not wait to hear anything more and walked back without sparing a glance in Ruth's way. Ruth was confused. Why would Lady Theodora want to meet her?

She looked at Ida for help but saw the woman already frowning in trouble.