A MAZE OF GREED

Mr Green had called a carriage that waited in front of their house. To escape from her mother, Thea pulled Ruth out of the house and towards the carriage.

The coachman opened the door for them.

"Good evening, My Lady!" He bowed at her.

"Good evening!" Thea smiled at the man politely.

"Let me help you get in there." The man said and extended his hand for Thea to take.

"Thank you!" She said, then put her hand in his.

She gathered her flowy dress and put her feet on the step to enter the carriage. Ruth had her mind elsewhere. She looked up at the dark clouds in the sky. Furrowing her brows, she wondered what was wrong with the weather.

It was not rainy days in Vincardine, then how these dark clouds gathered in the sky?

"My Lady?" The coachman called to gain her attention.

"Huh?"

"Come on, Ruth. What are you waiting for?" Thea called her to get inside.

Nodding her head, Ruth adjusted her dress in her hand, and with the help of the coachman, she stepped inside the carriage.

In no time, Mr and Mrs Green joined them. The horse neighed, and they felt their bodies moving along with the moving carriage.

The journey was not too long. Rees lived at the intersection of the Eastern and Western parts of Vincardine. With his occupational status and his parents' savings, he could have afforded a decent sized house in the Western part.

But his father was a proud man and wanted to stick to their roots, to the grounds from where they began. He came from a farmer's family, and it took him years of relentless hard work to reach where he was today.

He taught his son to dedicate his life to achieving what his heart desired. But he declined the opportunity of moving to the Western part of Vincardine by saying his home was here where the two worlds-rich and poor- met.

"Ruth, do you know Rees's father had a collection of swords and blades. Rees said he will show that to us." Thea said excitedly.

"That is good!" Ruth smiled.

No wonder Rees's father- Mr Webley- had such a collection of weapons as he wanted to be a soldier, but life carried him to a job at the royal arsenal.

But he showed his dream to his son, and when Rees got appointed as Edwin O'Dell's bodyguard, Mr Webley was the happiest man that day.

Ruth looked out of the window to see the world passing by in a blur. She enjoyed the way air hit her face. But then her eyes again moved towards the sky.

"Thea, the sky is covered with the dark clouds. Isn't it strange?"

Thea also moved to see at the sky.

"Yes, it is." She agreed.

"Why I have this weird feeling suddenly rise in my pit?" Ruth finally revealed the words.

"Ruth! Stop worrying and live for once. We are going to have a fun night. Think about only that!" Thea said.

Ruth nodded her head, but she could not erase that strange feeling in her pit.

After some more minutes, the carriage stopped in front of the row of two-storeyed houses. The coachman opened the door, and everyone stepped outside the carriage.

Mr Green instructed the coachman to come back after two hours to pick them up.

Ruth observed her surroundings in awe. She had never been to this part of town. It was nothing like the Eastern part, but one could see the similarities it shared with the Western part.

The houses were built well planned in rows with each house having a garden around it. The white walls and mahogany doors of the houses gave them a modern touch. The well-fenced garden was well maintained.

The place had a happening vibe, but it was calming and welcoming.

The door of one of the houses opened, and Rees came in view with a white coloured shirt and dark pants. His styled hair added to his charm. He descended the steps and strode towards the gate to welcome the guests.

"Good evening, Mr and Mrs Green!" He greeted the elders first.

"Welcome! We wre waiting for you all."

"Good eveing, Rees! Apologies that we are a bit late. But your dear fiancee does not understand the meaning of the word punctuality." Mrs Green took a friendly jab at her daughter.

Rees laughed wholeheartedly, and at that moment, Thea fell for him even all over again.

Mr And Mrs Green walked ahead towards the house, while Rees lingered behind to welcome Ruth and Thea.

"Oh, look two gorgeous angels have descended down on earth!" Rees complimented them both that made Thea blush furiously while Ruth smiled brightly.

"Isn't this dress beautiful, Rees?" Ruth showed her dress twirling in a circle.

"Of course, it is, Ruth! You look stunning!"

"What about me?" Thea cleared her throat.

Threading his fingers with hers, Rees gazed at her with admiration. "And you look more beautiful than a queen, my mate!"

Ruth watched their romantic exchange with a dreamy look in her eyes. She had always appreciated how special Rees made Thea feel.

That man never failed to amaze her with his action and words.

"Awww.... are not you two love birds look cute together?!" Ruth cooed, clapping her hands with a dazzling smile on her face.

"That we do!" Thea raised her chin in pride. Rees winked at Ruth.

"Are you kids coming in or not?" Mr Green called them.

The three of them walked towards where he stood. Rees closed the door behind them after everyone was inside his house.

"Ruth, welcome to Welby's humble paradise!" Rees stretched his hand in a way to welcome her with a bowing head.

Ruth giggled at his action. She looked around the simple yet beautiful home with cream coloured walls that had paintings of flowers mostly and windows with light blue curtains.

Rees's house was larger than Thea's. 'This house can not be called as humble.' She wanted to say, for her it was her dream house that she wished to buy one day for her family.

'If only I find a good man!' She added mentally with a sigh.

Thea left her side and went to meet her soon to be in-laws.

"Thea! My dear daughter! Welcome... welcome. How have you been, dear?" A short woman dressed nicely wrapped her hands around Thea.

"Come on!" Rees tilted his head for Ruth to walk.

"Mother..."

Mrs Welby's eyes left Thea's face to settle on a new face.

She took her in from head to toe. Ruth waited nervously for her reaction as she fidgeted with a bracelet that she wore on her left wrist.

"Rees, Thea... she is more beautiful than you both have described!" Mrs Welby exclaimed loudly that made everyone laugh, but they agreed with her nonetheless.

Ruth shifted uncomfortably on her feet. Her eyes widened in surprise when Mrs Welby pulled her in for a tight hug.

"Welcome to our home, dear!"

Ruth slowly relaxed. "Thank you for inviting me, Mrs Welby!"

"Hello, Ruth!" Ruth pulled away from Mrs Welby to see a tall and bulky man with a moustache standing with Mr and Mrs Green.

He had a serious face, and his domineering aura intimidated her a little.

"H-Hello, Mr Welby!" Ruth was surprised again when he forwarded his hand for her to shake.

She accepted it and put her hand in his. It was an odd gesture to greet a woman. But for some reason, she liked it. It made her feel that she was honoured, and felt equal to him.

Her hand was so small against his rough and large one. His shake was short and firm. She did not mind men greeting women with a peck on the back of their hands or bowing at them.

But shaking hands had instantly become the preferred gesture.

The more she observed Mr Welby, she noticed the similarities between him and Rees.

Rees was also tall and muscular like his father, but his warm aura was a trait he had picked from his mother.

"Come on, I will show you around the house." Rees suggested.

Thea was relieved that now she did not need to get stuck with the elders to listen to their fathers' political talks and their mothers' endless gossips.

Ruth listened to everything that Rees told her carefully. He showed her the ground floor then took them to the first floor where their bedrooms were.

While walking in the house, he filled the ladies with his childhood memories and the funny bickerings between his parents.

"Mrs Welby must love flowers!" Ruth commented.

"Yes, she does. A lot actually! But how do you know?" Rees asked.

"There are more paintings of flowers than your family photos." Ruth pointed out.

They walked ahead in the corridor while Rees and Thea chatted amongst themselves. Ruth walked behind them to let them have some privacy.

She ran her fingers gently on the hard walls, while her eyes hungrily took in all the paintings and the decorative items that Mrs Welby liked to collect.

Ruth's steps faltered as she stood in front of one painting that looked odd amongst every other.

"Ruth?"