A MAZE OF GREED

Ruth was fuming in anger. She was trying to understand Edwin's reasons, but nothing seemed justiciable to her that he chose to stay silent at an attempt on his life.

"Ruth, wait!"

She was heading towards the garden as she wanted some time for herself when Lester called her from some distance.

She stopped, trying her best to not let her frustration display on her face. But the alpha werewolf guessed it right by the speed of her heartbeat.

"Lord Lester, good afternoon." She bowed respectfully.

"Good afternoon! Do you have some time right now? I was getting bored and after what happened in 'the great manor' recently has put me in confusion and lot of stress. Elsie is again out to meet her mentor, so I thought perhaps you would not mind giving me company for a while?!"

Ruth furrowed her brows at him.

"You can always go to your best friend, can't you?" She tilted her head in the direction of Edwin's office.

Lester sighed. "You know... Edwin is not very approachable person in tensed situations like this. But does that mean you do mind giving me company? That is brutal just for you to know!!"

Ruth always found it amusing how Lester managed to always maintain his cool and try to ease out the situation with his humour. She found it hard to believe that he was like a prince in a way.

Ruth had seen how respectfully he was treated at the Bluemoon pack. His aura was different there, as if he was basically their ruler, like a king.

And that made her appreciate that he had always been friendly and comfortable with her, even though she was just a servant for the O'Dells.

"No Lord Lester! I won't mind keeping you company at all. Instead, I myself need someone to talk to."

Lester caught the hint of aloneness she felt and understood that it must be because of Mrs Payne's absence. Besides her, Thea was also busy with Edwin and Rees. That left Ruth with no one in particular to share her deepest feelings.

"So shall we?" He asked with a welcoming smile.

Ruth nodded her head with her own smile. "We shall!"

Ruth took Lester to her favourite corner of the garden, and they sat under a tree, under its shadow.

The initial few minutes were filled with silence as they both had their respective thoughts on their mind.

"Are you alright? You seemed pretty shaken up after finding physician's dead body." Lester decided to break the silence.

Ruth wrapped her hands around her abdomen in an attempt to comfort herself.

"I guess. That was the third dead body I have ever seen in my life." She said in a low voice.

Lester understood from where she came. "I know. It is quite disturbing to see a person who you have spoken some time ago lay immobile in front of you." He shared her feelings as he had also seen many deaths in his life as a warrior.

"You must be missing Mrs Payne." He added.

"Yes, I do. She knows how to comfort me in such situations." Ruth agreed.

Lester had a long look on his face. "Yes, she indeed knows many things." He mumbled.

"Saying about her, aren't you worried that she has gone alone to her relatives? I mean even though you are not blood related, she could have taken you along and introduce you to her relatives." Lester studied Ruth's expressions, but all he got was only worry.

"Yes, I told her that, but she said that it was an emergency. Besides, she got the message about her relative at the last minute, and I could not get a chance to ask Lady Elsie for permission to accompany Mrs Payne.

She is facing a knee problem. I just hope that she is safe and will return back soon."

"Hmm... lets hope so. By the way what happened to her relative? I did not know that she has any relatives." Lester asked.

Ruth looked thoughtful. "He is Mr Payne's distant cousin as far as I remember. I haven't met any of their relatives so I do not know much about them. But yes, some of them send her pickles and medicnes periodically." Ruth told.

Lester had many doubts regarding Mrs Payne. And Ruth was the only source who could clear most of them.

He was sure by now that she did not go to see her relatives. His men had searched every nook and corner of that village and also of the neighbouring villages, but they did not find any trail of Mrs Payne.

Then where did she go, and why did she lie to Ruth too? Or was it Ruth lying this all time?

"It is a really good thing that you two found each other. Especially Mrs Payne after her husband's death. She needed someone to take care of her." Lester commented wholeheartedly.

Ruth smiled at that. "Yes. Let's say I was lucky with that. She and Mr Payne has done so much for me, I can... I can never repay them for it."

The way Ruth said that made Lester wonder what the old and poor couple would have done for Ruth other than giving her emotional support and love.

He did not realise that he was silent for long while thinking about what Ruth said.

"I am sorry!" Her abrupt apology made him look at her questioningly.

"For opening my mouth in front of everyone. I should not have said that I went to see the physician in front of all. I should have told you that in private." Ruth explained.

Lester sighed, kicking a small pebble near him.

"Yes, you should have talked to one of us directly." He did not sugar-coat his words, and Ruth liked that part of him.

Ruth thought of asking Lester about the poison thing, but then she did not know if he was aware of it. What if Edwin had not told him about it just like he did not mention it to her?

"Can I ask you something Lord Lester?" She asked.

"Of course." Lester leaned behind, resting his palms on the grass.

Ruth constructed the sentence, but nothing felt subtle, so she asked directly.

"What do you think of Lady Theodora and Lord Augsutus?"

Ruth also wanted to tell Edwin about Theodora and Douglas's affair, but after getting such an unexpected reaction from Edwin, she was not sure if it was the right time to reveal it.

Lester looked taken aback by her question.

"Why do you ask that?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

"I just... I am just curious." She said.

Lester raised his brow at her challengingly. "It does not sound like mere curiosity to my ears. Is there something more that I should know?"

Now Ruth was in dilemma. She did not know how to handle this situation. Perhaps Lester picked on her state and decided to be lenient.

"I do not particularly like them but nor I hate them if that is what you are looking for." He told.

"And Edwin?"

Now Lester was sure that something had transpired between the two of them, and only Edwin would tell him about that.

"Ruth... Edwin is a complicated man, yet if one tries pushing their limits to a great extent, he was the easiest person to understand.

We all share different dynamics with our family, and there is no one fits all rule when it came to relationships. He is a little sensitive and... you can say possessive about his family. But you have to understand that there is a difference between care and blind love." Lester did not know how to explain it to her.

He also understood that his every word was going to be a guide for Ruth regarding Edwin and his family. So he had to be very careful with what he said.

"But it looks like a blind love to me." She said.

Lester paused for a moment before he continued. "There is more than we see Ruth. You have to keep your mind open and see beyond the display."

Wasn't it the same thing that Mr Payne and Mrs Payne always told her?

"You mean it is my shortcoming?" She asked genuinely.

Lester shook his head. "No, it is not. It is not anyone's mistake but it is all a game of fate."

Ruth had no idea of what Lester was trying to tell, but she chose to not comment on it.

His words confused her even more, so she decided to ask him about something else.

"Have you found any clue about that kidnapping case?" She asked.

Lester sighed dejectedly. "Actually we have found something but that is not making any sense at this moment."

"Perhaps it will after some time." She suggested.

Lester nodded his head. "Hope so!"

"You must be thinking that I am a wierd woman who saw that kidnapping place in my dreams, right?"

Ruth and Lester did not get a chance to talk about it. Ruth herself find her weird for that, so she thought others might think that too. She had asked that question to everyone, but they always kept denying it.

But Lester was an exception. He was that unbiased friend who would not hesitate to point out your mistakes and would stand beside you against the whole world.

He was the ideal best friend one could ever ask for!

"It is strange but that does not mean you are weird. There is a difference!"

Ruth smiled as she expected only truth from him, and he gave her just that.

"Have you got any more such dreams after that?" Lester asked as he had to confirm his one doubt.

Ruth hesitated but then nodded her head. "Yes, I have. I am having this terrifying dream where Edwin..."

She narrated her dream that kept her awake since the night of the physician's death.

Lester was trying to make sense of it but failed.

~"Lester stop interrogating my mate and come to my office. NOW!"~

Edwin's authoritative voice ringed in his mind, and he had to take a rushed leave, although he was enjoying conversing with Ruth.

"We will continue this conversation later!" Lester promised before heading towards Edwin's office.