A MAZE OF GREED

Edwin came back to 'the great manor' late in the evening. He had to go to take care of some business, and Lester accompanied him with Rees. Edwin had to skip his lunch, and now his stomach grumbled in revolt.

He freshened up first then slumped down on the couch. His head was pounding, and the hunger did not help his condition.

"Thea? The-"

He stopped abruptly when Thea entered his chamber with a plate of food in her hands. She put it down in front of him then put a napkin beside it.

Edwin began eating in silence, but his scrutinising eyes did not miss the small scowl on her face.

Ten minutes into the tensed silence, Edwin decided to finally break it.

"You seem exceptionally silent today." He pointed.

"Hmm" Came Thea's curt reply.

Edwin was not good with the heart to heart talks. In fact, he was not good at warming towards people. The only person with whom he felt comfortable and confident enough to open his heart was Ruth.

Unfortunately, he was having trouble with her too these days.

"Would you like to talk about it? Is it Rees?" He persisted.

Thea shook her head. "If it was Rees then he would have been standing in my place right now."

There she goes! Thought Edwin.

"Then what is it?"

"Ruth was again attacked by Lady Theodora." Thea told without sugarcoating her words.

The hand that Edwin had raised to take another bite froze midair. And the dread he felt within that moment shook him to the core.

As if knowing his situation well, Thea immediately added, "She is fine though. Lady Elsie came on the right time."

Edwin put the morsel of food in his hand down and pushed the plate away as he lost his appetite.

"What happened?" His voice was dark and dangerous.

Thea described the whole incidence with Mrs Linlithgow and how Theodora and Augustus ganged up on Ruth. She did not leave out Ruth's actions. After giving the unbiased description, Thea saw the veins in Edwin's neck popping out in anger.

"And it was a delibrate move by Lady theodora."She told further.

Edwin stilled for a moment. "How do you know?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.

"When Ruth met me in the kitchen and told me that she was there to get tea for Lady Theodora and Mrs Linlithgow, I was suspicious. So I searched a little and found that Lady Theodora is not friends with Mrs Linlithgow.

They have met a few times in the tea parties, but there is not much to their relationship."

"Then what was she doing here?" Edwin's brain was waving a red flag, but his heart tried ignoring it... foolishly.

"Lady Theodora particularly invited Mrs Linlithgow for a tea. Fannie was right there hidden behind the pillar and was watching everything silently. Lady Theodora could have asked any maid or servant to get the tea.

Yet she called Ruth specifically after knowing that... that incidence in Mr Cooper's shop."

Thea was still not over that guilt. Although she did nothing, she blamed herself for not telling Ruth the truth. The only thing that soothed her guilt was the fact that her intentions were not wrong.

Edwin clenched his jaw so tightly that Thea feared he would either break it or turn his teeth into powder by grinding them.

"And considering all these along with the past experiences, I don't think the spilling of tea was a mere accident." Thea opined.

Edwin sprang up from the couch then cursed under his breath.

"This is the very reason I wanted to keep Ruth away from me. They do not even know her true identity yet and still she is already a target." Edwin muttered while pacing around in distress.

"Or perhaps they have a speculation."

Edwin paused before turning to face Thea.

"I mean, have you wondered why Lady Theodora is constantly poking Ruth, especially by always mentioning her closeness with you?!

There were many women before who were... erm... associated with you."

Thea had to choose a subtle word.

"But nobody cared then. So why now? It only means that Lady Theodora is having a suspicion and now she is trying to clear the road before the situation goes out of her hands."

Edwin understood what Thea was trying to say. And now that he think about it, it all made sense.

"I think it is time to reveal yourself to Ruth. I do not want her to get to know about it from anyone else, especially the ones who are against you."

Thea's tone changed. She was not only suggesting anymore. In fact, she was subtly warning him.

Before Edwin replied Thea, the door was knocked and then opened by Lester. The way his face was radiating uneasiness, Edwin knew that he had to deal with another thing.

"What happened?" Edwin asked.

But Lester was silent. Edwin understood why though.

"Thea, take that plate back. I am not hungry anymore."

Thea knew that Edwin only wanted her to get out of the chamber so that they could have privacy. She nodded her head before picking up the plate and left.

"Edwin, I told you that something is not right about that woman!" Lester sounded frustrated.

"Would you first tell me what happened?" Edwin asked.

"She has disappeared!" Lester exclaimed.

Edwin sighed. "Lester Mrs Payne has not disappeared. She has just gone to visit her relative."

"Of course I know that Smartypants!" Lester glared at his friend.

"What I am saying is that she has disappeared from that village. There is no trace of her. She is gone. Wooof!" Lester danced his hands like a magician for the dramatic impact.

"You sent spies behind her?!!" Edwin exclaimed in shock.

Lester gave his friend a weird look. "What else you expected me to do?!"

Lester then explained to Edwin how Mrs Payne had gone missing after getting into that glass shop.

"And not only that, but when my men searched for her so-called relatives, they found no such person in that entire village. Can you believe it?

That woman... she... she..."

"Fooled you!" Edwin helped his friend to say the bitter truth aloud.

Lester raised his hand to punch the nearby table, but Edwin was instantly by his side using his werewolf speed. He stopped Lester before his punch landed on the wooden piece of furniture.

"DO not ruin my furniture to vent out your anger." Edwin warned.

Lester swatted his hand away. Giving him an incredulous look, he asked, "All you care is about your furniture Edwin?!!!"

Edwin only shrugged. "It is expensive."

Lester took a long breath to calm down.

"It is your fault Lester. I have already warned you to not suspect and underestimate Mrs Payne. That woman is dangerous with all her knowledge and we are lucky that she has chosen our side." Edwin tried to tell him.

"So what? Are you suggesting that we should turn blind eye to her every action? Do you know what might happen if our people get to know about a human who knows much more than she should?

She will be in grave danger, Edwin. And even though she is by our side as per your guess, it takes not much for humans to change their sides. You know it!"

Edwin knew that he could not win over Lester in arguments. Because his arguments made more sense than Edwin's blind faith in Mrs Payne's intentions.

"So what now?" Edwin asked.

"I am going to speak with Ruth."

"Lester, no!" Edwin instantly growled in warning.

Lester rolled his eyes at him. "Do not worry Mr Lover, I am not going to eat her. I can have a good friendly chat with my soon- to- be Luna, right?"

Edwin was helpless. He knew that his objection would only push Lester more. Besides, he was genuinely worried about Mrs Payne.

"Do not let Ruth know about Mrs Payne's disappearacne." Edwin warned.

*

*

*

Theodora and Augustus were in their private chamber after the dinner. Augustus was silently sitting in his armchair with two vertical lines on his forehead.

Theodora came out of the bathroom after changing into her nightgown.

She saw her husband lost in some deep thoughts.

"Augustus... Augustus?" She called his name, breaking his train of thoughts.

"yes?" He asked calmly.

Theodora raised her arched brows at him meaningfully. But when he failed to understand it, she got annoyed.

"You do not have anything to say after what happened today?"

Augustus now got the meaning behind her previous look. He sighed. "You were right Theodora. That woman has my daughter under her spell."

Theodora wanted to smack his head. She was actually pointing at something greater, but all this man could see was his daughter.

"That bitch not only has Elsie but also Edwin and others under her spell. What are you going to do about it?" She asked.

"What should I do?" He asked instead.

Those were the moments when Theodora cursed her fate for landing her into that man's life. She could have just married to any other nobleman or perhaps a knight.

But then, after her scandalous affair with Gerald, she was left with no better choice than Augustus. He was desperate, and so was she and her parents.

He did not even care to inquire about the rumours of her and Gerald. In fact, they have never discussed Gerald to this date.

"That is the problem Augustus. You cannot do anything about her.. Leave it to me. I will get her out of my house and Edwin's life soon!"