A MAZE OF GREED

Ten minutes later, Florence found herself in front of three buildings with an open area in front of them. She had not expected the servants quarters to look this way. She thought it must be a small and dusty place. But what stood in front of her eyes was anything but that.

She went looking for the apartment number Ruth had given her and found it soon. Knocking on the door, she waited while scanning the surroundings.

People here were nothing like her neighbours. Unlike her nosy neighbours, they did not even glance her way as she passed by them. These people knew how to respect others' privacy.

The door was opened by Mrs Payne, who looked utterly surprised to see Florence.

"Hello, Mrs Payne."

A smile broke on her lips anyway. "Oh dear, welcome... welcome! How are you?" She pulled her in a welcoming hug.

"I am good. How are you?"

"I am good too! Please come in." Mrs Payne said after releasing her from the hug.

Florence's eyes instantly moved around to see a living room larger than hers- neatly arranged. A bed was provided by the O'Dell family, along with the basic pieces of furniture like a cupboard, small table, another shelf in the kitchen, etc.

The apartment was much better than Florence's room. And that fueled her envy some more.

While sipping the coffee that Mrs Payne had made for the two of them, they talked a lot. Florence filled her up with the various gossips of the Eastern part of Vincardine and their neighbours.

Mrs Payne missed her home though she was getting accustomed to the life here. She told Florence that she had even made some friends and the people here were nice.

"Ruth must be happy now that she had achieved what she was struggling for so long, is not she?" Florence finally asked.

"Yes, she is." Mrs Payne, herself was not sure of that answer.

"By the way, when I met her some time ago, I saw a beautiful locket around her neck. I really liked it and want to buy the same. Where she found it? I forgot to ask her."

"That blue stoned necklace?"

Florence nodded.

"Oh Florence, do you think that Ruth would spend a penny for herself buying such things?" Mrs Payne laughed.

"It is a gift from Rees."

"Rees?" Florence was so confused.

If Ruth was using Edwin for her gains, then what is the relationship between her and Rees. Or was she using both of them at the same time?

This little-miss-innocent was not that innocent, it seemed.

"Ruth is very lucky to have such a caring friend." Florence commented to see if Mrs Payne's face gave away anything, but it did not.

"Yes. That she is!" She nodded proudly.

"But you did not tell me that Ruth is now head maid for Lady Elsie and that you were moving here when I asked you." Florence said in a tone of complaining.

That made the change in Mrs Payne's expressions. "Florence, please do not misunderstand. You know how many people there are. If they got to know, then their reaction might have not been good. And it all happened very suddenly that I could not tell you.

But I am glad that you came here to meet me." Mrs Payne smiled.

For the next half, an hour Florence tried her best to get any kind of information about Ruth, and her possible connection with Edwin from Mrs Payne. But, got nothing particular.

So now, giving a last try, Florence suggested, "Mrs Payne would you mind if I say something?"

"Of course not dear. What is it?"

She smiled. "Now that Ruth is here and with the kind of life she always wanted, is not it the right time for marrying her off to a nice man? Even her friend is getting married."

Mrs Payne's face turned serious. She remembered Mrs Green suggesting Mr Edwin Berrycloth's name for Ruth. Mrs Payne liked that man, but she wanted to be sure before stepping ahead with him. There was something to the man more than he showed the world.

"She is not ready to marry yet." Mrs Payne sighed.

"But she is getting older everyday. At this age of hers she had to be married and with at least one child. I am older than her but love, marriage and family these things are not meant for me." Florence said sadly.

"But I want Ruth to have all of that. She has struggled a lot all in her life and now she deserves to get settled down with a good man and start her own family. If her parents were here then they would have thought the same, would not they?"

Unexpectedly, Mrs Payne's face morphed in some peculiar emotion that piqued Florence's curiosity.

"If her father was here then he would have thought the same!" Mrs Payne mumbled with sad eyes that darted towards the black box, inside which was the white feather.

Mrs Payne had not expected Ruth to find that box and touch that feather. She could not take out the images of her crying and screaming in pain and fear when she found her with the feather.

Mrs Payne was avoiding her thousands of questions, but how long she could? Ruth was always on the edge since then and was nothing like the normal Ruth. And that worried Mrs Payne.

Florence was too smart and heard what the old lady said.

Her father? Why only her father and not her mother? Why would Mrs Payne mention only her father?

Florence followed Mrs Payne's gaze to catch the sight of the black box that was placed on a square-shaped cloth. Florence narrowed her eyes as she thought it looked familiar.

She did not know if it was that cloth or the box Mrs Payne was looking at, but she thought she had seen that cloth before. Forcing her brain to process all the past memories, finally, it struck her.

She knew where she had seen that cloth!

"Mrs Payne, I forgot to ask you. How are your relatives?"

"Relatives?" Mrs Payne was broke from her reverie by Florence's out of the blue question.

"The one who send medicines and pickles for you. I went to recieve the parcel for you when Ruth was busy at Mr Cooper's shop."

At last, Florence felt like she had found something. She was only picking the guesses in the dark, but her instincts told her that it was related to Ruth in some way.

Mrs Payne covered her uneasiness with a smile. "They are doing well." She gave a short reply.

Florence smiled. "Well... it is good to know that. Do tell me if you need to recieve another parcel and Ruth could not find time. I will be glad to help."

"Of course, my dear! Thank you!" Mrs Payne, now at ease, smiled.

"By the way, where they live, you told me before? Sorry I forgot!"

"Warthford island-" Mrs Payne stopped abruptly.

She should not have said that. But now that the words were gone from her mouth, there was no way of calling them back. It was only Florence, and there was no harm in telling her, was there?

After twenty more minutes, Florence left the servants quarters with only one name in her mind- Warthford Island!

*

*

*

The air in the room of a small cottage was thick with tension as the two men glared at each other. Sensing that it would not lead to any conclusions, Ripon decided to mediate the situation.

"Lord Augsutus, Mr Chairman... we are here to see what good we can find in this situation that will benefit both sides. I request you two to be patient and listen each other first before reacting."

Augustus turned his gaze sharply towards Ripon. "Benefit both sides?" He scoffed, not believing the other man said that.

"You helped my enemies by giving them access to the Vincardine's border. It cost me six innocent lives! You planned and, plot against me. You tried taking advantage of the situation by humiliating and pressurising me.

You even dared to blackmail me with the threat of royals. Do you seriously think that I am afraid of facing them?" Augustus cocked his brow challengingly.

Barret restrained himself from giving a befitting reply and, expose how much hatred he was harbouring in his heart about Augustus.

"Yes, I did that. But was not it what everyone does to get more power? We eliminate or overpower our opponent by any means. You are not only a warrior but also a cunning diplomat. Have not you shook hands with the enemy of your enemy ever?"

Barret's argument was right.

"Why do you want to change alliance all of a sudden? Are Garfields treating you like a shit because you are a humam?"

Augustus knew he had hit the right spot after listening to the change in Barret's heart rate.

"You must be aware of three deaths of your pack members?" Barret instead addressed another issue.

"They used to be my pack members, but I threw them out as punishment. They were rogues when they died."

Augustus was confused to see a taunting smile on Barret's face after listening to his reply.

"Oh Lord Augustus! Seems your spies are not well efficient at their job."

Augustus's eyes hardened. "Say what you have to say." He ordered.

Barret's smile widened as he replied, "Those three were rogues. Right! But do you know who they really was?"

Augustus narrowed his eyes while he think.

"They were your nephew's spies, Lord Augustus! About which you had no single clue."