A MAZE OF GREED

Eloise was burning from inside, watching Elsie and Lester together. Now that they had already announced that they were mates, it had become easy for them to be close to each other, not caring for the people around.

Fannie was watching Eloise closely, for she saw an opportunity in the situation. And soon, she got Eloise alone and in a state of listening to her.

"Lady Eloise."

"What?" Eloise snapped at Fannie for interrupting her music lesson that she had begun taking after her mother died.

That was the only thing that prohibited her mind from going insane. It was her coping mechanism.

Making sure that there would no disturbances, Fannie walked to where Eloise sat with a violin in her hand.

"I... I know that this is not my place to ask but I could not stop myself from coming here. I just want to know if you are okay?" Fannie poured all the innocence that she had inside her in her words and expressions.

"I am. What can happen to me?" Eloise dodged her attempt carelessly.

"Well... after everything that happened with Lord Lester... I thought..."

"You thought that I must be sulking in a corner, weeping over a man who chose my younger sister instead of me. Right?" Eloise's gaze was as cold as ice.

Fannie, alarmed, shook her head fervently. "No... No Lady Eloise. I know how strong you are. I have never expected that from you. But... but not everyone shares my thoughts on you."

Now Fannie had all of Eloise's attention. Eloise frowned, looking like an irritated bull. She put her violin aside and gestured for Fannie to sit.

Excited, Fannie hurried to the chair in front of Eloise. But before she sat, Eloise made a disapproving sound at the back of her throat. Fannie's face fell, but she masked it quickly.

"Thank you, Lady Eloise, but I would prefer to stand," Fannie said, half-heartedly.

Eloise shrugged her shoulders. Leaning back in her seat, she asked, "Who you are referring fannie? I want to know everything."

Fannie fidgeted with her dress. "Pardon me, Lady Eloise. My tongue just does not know how to mind its business. I should not have said anything."

"Fannie! Tell. me. everything! Now!" Eloise used her autoritative tone.

And that was what the wicked young woman wanted.

"Okay if you say so. But trust me Lady Eloise, I do not mean to gossip or create any trouble for you. But... I think there are people who are happy that Lord Lester rejected you."

"Fannie! He did not REJECTED me. Keep that in mind!" Eloise hissed through a clenched jaw.

"Yes, Lady Eloise. I know. But the word is spread in that way."

Eloise temper was worsening by every minute. Who was this person trying to rub salt on her wounds?

"Who said that?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

Fannie paused for a dramatic feel, then said. "Ruth. She is telling everyone that Lord Lester rejected you for her Lady Elsie."

"Ruth?" Eloise shot up from her seat like an angry goddess.

"How dare she say that? She does not even know what mates are!"

"Pardon?"

Then only Eloise realised that Fannie was a human, unaware of the existence of the werewolves. For her, mates meant lovers and not the two individuals chosen by the Moon Goddess to be with each other.

"What else she is doing against me?" Eloise distracted Fannie's attention with the next question.

"Lady Eloise, that woman is the most shrewd person I have ever seen in my life. She always supported Lady Elsie's case in front of Lord Lester. She kept giving Lady Elsie tips on how to win over his heart.

And when they declared their love for each other, Ruth was the happiest person."

Eloise was a wounded tigress, and knowing that a lamp was laughing at her pain, aggravated her even more. But Eloise was not that dumb. She did not trust Fannie at all.

Seeing the hesitance on Eloise's face, Fannie pushed her plan to the next step.

"You do not trust me Lady Eloise because I am loyal to Lady Theodora."

Eloise's eyes shot up to Fannie, gauging the sincerity of her words.

"Think Lady Eloise. The sister who never talked back to you is now acting like she is the elder sister and not you. Why?"

Eloise recalled the incident where Elsie put up a fight against her for the first time in life. She was still shocked because of it.

She also remembered how Ruth convinced Elsie that it was the right thing to do.

"Has Lady Elsie came to talk to you? Or Lord Lester or anyone from the family?"

Right! The Elsie she knew would not have stopped herself from coming here. She would have come running and begging for Eloise to understand. The Elsie she had known would not have even dared to admit that Lester was her mate without telling it first to Eloise.

"I heard that Lady Elsie was coming to apologise to you but that bitch Ruth stopped her. She told her that she did not need to apologise becasue she did nothing wrong. And I heard Ruth talking with ida that you deserved this betrayal."

Eloise's eyes turned bloodshot with anger. That Ruth... that bitch... how dare she say those things about Eloise?

And the first fight she had with Ruth. Eloise could never forget it ever!

The seed of revenge was already sown in Eloise's heart and over time and now by Fannie's words, it was only watered to grow in a giant tree.

"Even Young Master seems to be influenced by her."

"What?" Eloise narrowed her eyes again.

"Yes, Lady Eloise. I heard maids gossiping that Ruth is seducing Young Master. Many people have seen her lingering around his office and private chamber."

Now Eloise was more alarmed than angry. Her elder cousin was the only sane person in the family according to her. Although he was more inclined towards Elsie, he was never unfair to Eloise.

After her mother's death, he was always there whenever she needed somebody to lean on.

"That leech Florence... we got rid of her recently. And now her friend is trying to take her place."

The bitterness in Fannie's voice was wrongly taken as her concern for the O'Dell family by Eloise. Little did she know that the cunning woman was trying to kill two birds with one stone.

She was trying to put Ruth in her place and away from Edwin.

"No! I wiill not let it happen till I am alive! No any gold digger can get her filthy hands on my brother." Eloise growled in anger.

Fannie suppressed a winning smirk. She tsked helplessly. "But what we can do Lady Eloise. It seems like everyone is under that witch's spell."

Eloise paced to and forth while her mind ran faster than horses.

"We need to show her real place. We need to show her that she belonged to dirt and can never fly in the sky." Eloise was rambling furiously while Fannie enjoyed the show.

She was also curious to know what Eloise's tactful mind would come up with?

"Do you know any of her weaknesses Fannie? With spicy ears like you, I am sure you must have gathered more than enough information on her."

Fannie found that comment offensive with the way Eloise said it, but she let it slide for now.

"She is a smart woman disgused as a naive person. Other than her old lady Mrs Payne, I do not think there is any other way of breaking her down."

Fannie had herself thought about it over and over. Everything her mind came up with could end up in Ruth's favour. One thing that she had learned about Ruth was that she was a strong-willed woman, and thus hard to break.

They needed something sensitive and delicate that could bring her to her knees easily.

"Hmm..."

A minute later, Eloise's face brightened and, Fannie knew that she had an idea in her head.

She asked Eloise about it, but she refused to tell.

"You do not need to know it yet Fannie. You just do what I say. Target Ida. Ask her about someone who is well aware of information on medicines. I heard once from Elsie that Mrs Payne has very good knowledge of medicines and herbs.

I am sure that she would suggest Mrs Payne's name. Then you will see the next step of my plan."

"But Lady Eloise, would not Ida ask to consult the family physician first?"

Walking towards Fannie, Eloise held her chin tightly till her long nails dug in her skin.

"Oh Fannie! Do not stress you little brain much. Leave that part for me, okay?! You just do as I say and we will be fine. Now get out!"

Fannie left from there. But this time, she felt the excitement in her bones.

Ruth came recently in 'the great manor' and still managed to be everyone's favourite. Especially her closeness with Edwin stabbed Fannie's heart. She was yet not over of what sorcery she did with her.

Because of Ruth, she was humiliated in front of all the staff. She also had to spend her days in bed. But now... she would feel the same fear and pain that Fannie had experienced.. And this time, there would be no one to save her.