A MAZE OF GREED

Fannie was combing Theodora's long nut-brown hair with a wooden comb after she had washed them this morning.

Theodora seemed lost in her thoughts, and Fannie did not dare to disturb her.

But a knock on the door caught their attention. Fannie bowed in respect when she saw Augustus entering the chamber.

"Augustus?" Theodora looked at him through the mirror in front of her...

The look of distress on his face told her that he was in a bad mood. No wonder he decided to visit his beloved wife at such an odd hour when he was usually locked up in his office.

"Fannie, you may leave now." Theodora said.

"Yes, My Lady!" Fannie bowed again before leaving the chamber.

She had noticed how Lord Augustus had begun spending more time with Theodora. It made him happy. But what about Theodora?

Fannie knew if not sad Theodora was not particularly ecstatic with the changed situation as Augustus occupied most of her day's time. That meant she got very less chances to meet Douglas. And that annoyed her considerably.

Theodora stood up from her stool and walked towards her husband.

"What is the matter darling?" She asked after placing a kiss on his left cheek.

Augustus sighed before sitting on the couch.

"Theodora I think I am going to be insane one day!" He complained.

She sat beside him. "Will you please tell me what happened?"

Theodora observed him closely, and the realisation hit her like a brick thrown at her face. The lines of ageing had expanded their territory on his face. He had lost his previous charm.

Now that she compared his current state to how he looked at the time of their marriage, made her realise that a long time had passed. She was young at the time of their marriage and thus was still youthful. But Augustus... he was already decades older than her, and now they looked nothing like a couple.

It was an only miracle how he survived all these years without his mate. But Theodora knew the real reason.

His ambition was his greatest strength that kept him going.

"Edwin!"

That single word soured Theodora's mood. "What has he done now?" she asked a bit irritatingly even though she had no idea what wrong he had done.

"He is into something, Theodora. He and Lester are acting suspicious. I am trying to figure out what it is but..."

Augustus clearly looked and sounded frustrated.

"Hmm... I have found the same. His sudden trip to Bluemoon pack was also sspsicious. And do you know what else was shady?" She asked.

Augustus listened to her carefully.

"He took that maid with them."

"Who? Ruth? That is her name right?!"

Theodora nodded.

"Isn't it obvious Theodora?!! Elsie also accompanied them." Augustus reminded her.

"That is my question Augustus. Why? Our Elsie who had never bothered to step out of her chamber except when you asked her is now accompanying Edwin in his job? Don't you find it strange?" She raised her brow sceptically.

Augustus looked lost for a moment before he said, "She has changed Theodora. Our Elsie has changed a lot!" He recalled their previous fight and how she stood up against him.

One more person whom he trusted had changed against his expectations.

"Whatever it is! But I find that maid's closeness with our children very strange. And, I do not like it!" She confessed.

Augustus's brows pulled together as he faced her. "Aren't you obssessed with that woman? She do not deserve your this much attention. You are the only eliviating her importance."

"You are not getting it Augustus! Do you think that I am a fool to pay so much attention to that worthless beggar?! I do not know why but I find something is odd about her." Theodora said thoughtfully.

Augustus knew she would not say such a thing without any evidence.

"What are you indicating then?" He asked.

"I think... I think this woman will be helpful in taking down Edwin." She finally told him.

Augustus gave her an incredulous look. "A maid?"

"Yes. A maid who seems very close to Edwin."

Augustus had no idea of what was going on in her mind.

"If she bothers you so much then I can take care of her." He offered.

But Theodora shook her head. "No darling. You do not need to. I will see what I can do about it!"

The smirk on her face assured Augustus that the time of that maid was nearing fast.

*

*

*

Ruth was staring into nowhere. Her hands were moving out of habit, but her mind was distracted. Elsie was observing her for quite a long and wondered if it was because of Edwin.

"Ruth" She called her name but got no response.

"Ruth!" She then shook her shoulders.

Startled, Ruth looked at Elsie. "Yes Lady Elsie? Do you need anything?"

"Yes. Your attention!"

"Erm.. pardon?"

"Ruth, you seem lost. Is it because of what happened between you and brother Edwin?" Elsie dared to ask. Although, she thought it was their personal matter and she should not be interfering in it.

Ruth bit her cheek. "No... it is not about that."

Well, that was only a partial lie.

"Then what is it? Tell me." Elsie tried.

Ruth looked hesitant at first, but then her curiosity won over it.

"Actually I was thinking about something else."

Elsie nodded her head in encouragement.

"I saw this one book in the library yesterday. I cannot stop thinking about it since then."

"Really? Which one is that?" Elsie was also curious to know.

She did not remember a book that would catch Ruth's attention.

"It has no title on it." Ruth told.

"What? How is this possible? Have you looked for it inside the book. It might be an old one and thus its title must have faded over the years."

Ruth shook her head. "Yes, it is an old book but I could not touch it."

"Why?" Now Elsie was more confused than curious.

"Because it is locked in a shelf that has a glass surface."

Elsie suddenly tensed hearing that.

"I am talking about a large black coloured book that is placed at the end of the library. What is that book about Lady Elsie?" Ruth asked genuinely.

But Elsie looked troubled. She did not know how to tell Ruth about the black book.

"Have you read it?" Ruth then asked.

"Erm... no. I... i haven't."

That took Ruth by surprise. As far as she knew Elsie, she found it strange that Elsie had not read that book yet.

"Then do you know anything about it?"

Elsie was quiet at first, but then she thought of giving Ruth a fair idea about that book. It might help in her acceptance of Edwin and his world, she thought.

"It is a family heritage, about seven to eight centuries old, if i am not mistaken."

Ruth's eyes widened, and her lips formed around in awe. "That old?"

"Yes. Our family has preserved it well until now. And thus no one is allowed to touch it." Elsie explained.

"Do you have the key of its lock?"

Ruth expected that Edwin had the key, and if he did, then she would find a way or two to get her hands on it.

"No. Only father has its key and he has kept it securely somehwere. He does not want any one to touch or stain the family gem." Elsie told.

There went Ruth's hope into vain.

"What is written in that book?" Ruth asked further.

Now that was a tricky question for Elsie, although it sounded simple.

"I do not know what is exactly given in it. But I think it must be related to our family and its history." She played safe.

She could see wheels running in Ruth's head.

"Has anyone else read it in the family?"

Elsie nodded her head. "Father and brother Edwin has read it."

Ruth cursed her father that when she needed Edwin's help in knowing what is written in that black book, they were still not on speaking terms with each other.

Edwin was trying to communicate with her, but as expected one thing or another held him back. Ruth was tired and frustrated with this back and forth game between them.

She wanted Edwin to take a step ahead and apologise to her. She wanted him to tell her what he was hiding. But the way things were going, she doubted it was going to happen anytime soon.

"Lady Elsie can you ask your brother to show that book to us once?" Ruth knew she was asking for too much.

But she could not calm down her temptation of reading that book. She had never seen such a large book in her life. And every time she went to the library, her feet automatically took her to it.

"I am sorry Ruth. But I do not think it is possible. Because brother Edwin also do not have keys to that lock and I am sure father would never allow anyone to touch it even if it is a family member." Elsie said apologetically.

Perhaps Ruth needed to accept the defeat.

"It is alright Lady Elsie, I understand."