A MAZE OF GREED

"I... I apologise My lady if I have done something wrong." Ruth dared to say for she felt bad, that Elsie was getting scolded like that because of her.

"Apologise? You came here to beg for a position of a head maid when you do not even know the basic mannerisms, such as not sitting beside the elites and always standing up to pay your respect to the people of higher social status.

Have not anyone taught you these things?"

Ruth's eyes widened at the realisation. She hurriedly stood up and bowed her head in front of Eloise.

"Please forgive me, My Lady! I was not aware of these customs." Ruth felt embarrassed and upset with herself.

How could she not think about that?

Eloise scoffed, rolling her eyes. "If you do not have any previous experience then how you get here in the first place?"

Ruth was too scared to match the woman's kohl-lined sharp eyes.

"I... my friend suggested me to apply for this position as Lady Elsie was looking for a maid. But now only she told me that it is not a position for a maid but is for a head maid."

"And who is this friend of yours?" Eloise cocked her thin brow in curiosity.

Ruth's eyes shifted to Elsie, who was as intimidated by Eloise as her. Ruth did not understand if she should tell Rees's name.

Would that put him in trouble with Lady Eloise?

"I am her friend, Lady Eloise!"

The three women turned to face Rees and Lester entering the chamber.

"You?" Ruth sensed Eloise's resentful tone.

"Yes, Lady Eloise. Ruth is my best friend and when Lady Elsie told that she need a new maid, I thought of Ruth because I think she can take that responsibility very well." Rees answered, then smiled at Ruth.

Ruth noticed how Elsie relaxed, looking at Lester. Ruth waited for meeting his eyes. Their conversation near the old building replayed in her mind when she and Thea came looking for Rees.

To her disappointment, Lester did not spare a single glance, and when he finally met her eyes, they held strangeness.

He acted as if he was meeting Ruth for the first time. She felt bad but then thought perhaps that was how these elites treat common people like her.

"These low-class people can never understand how to behave and act in our society. Elsie, you can always have someone else who is more experienced and well acquainted with our ways.

Am I not right Lester?"

Eloise looked at Lester hopefully.

Lester faced Ruth, who was biting her cheek to the point she tasted the metallic taste of her blood. She was not the only one feeling her blood, but all the werewolves present in the room got aware of it.

"I think none of us born perfectly from our mother's womb. We all experienced, listened, observed, read and learned thought out the process. That is how we acquire new skills or knowledge.

And everyone deserves a fair chance of learning. Education is a natural right that can not be denied to anyone on any basis.

If Elsie thinks this woman to be fit for the position, then we should not deny her right to education. With time she will learn our ways. Do not you agree with me, Eloise?"

Lester was smart enough to make Eloise swallow her own pill. She could not disagree with him when his olive-green eyes were trained on her, and his handsome face had a warm smile on it.

But Eloise was not someone to give up that easily.

"Of course, Lester. How can I not agree with you." She said sweetly.

Ruth was grateful to Lester for presenting her case, but the coldness in his eyes bothered her. Rees smirked, then winked at Ruth, telling her silently to not worry about this.

Eloise was embarrassed. How could she accept her defeat in front of this low-class human? It was a blow to her ego.

Her patience broke when she saw her younger sister smiling widely. Was she taunting her that way?

"But Elsie, why do you need new head maid when you did not had one before? And have you asked anyone about it? Who gave you permission for this thing?" Eloise's voice raised by an octave.

Lester got angry at her senseless rant. She had no right of talking and treat Elsie like that in front of everyone.

Elsie cowered under her elder sister's burning gaze. Ruth did not know what she was supposed to do. She did not like this tense exchange between the two sisters.

"I am asking you something Elsie? Who gave you the permission?" Eloise repeated her question impatiently.

"I did!"

A strong, masculine voice that oozed authority cut through the tensed air of the chamber.

Every head snapped in that direction to see a tall man, with ripped physic and broad shoulders standing proudly with his hands crossed behind his back. His coffee-brown hair combed perfectly, and his sharp jaws set firmly on one another.

His cerulean blue eyes were focused on Eloise, challenging her to disobey him.

Ruth held her breath at his sight, and she was not the only one affected by his presence.

"B-Brother Edwin?!" Eloise's eyes widened as she stuttered nervously.

Ruth noticed a strange difference between the two sisters. Where Eloise was cowering and was scared by Edwin's presence, it somehow made Elsie sigh in relief. The previous smile had returned on Elsie's face.

She then observed Rees and Lester, who also had small smiles playing on their lips.

At last, Ruth dared to look at the blue-eyed monster who had ruined her sleep for many nights. She released a shaky breath, suddenly conscious of his presence. She peeked at him through her lashes, her body reacting strangely.

This was familiar to her. Perhaps she had felt that indescribable state of her mind and body before. Maybe the night when she was trying to peek inside the old building?

She gulped down her saliva down her dry throat.

"Do you have any objection to my descision Eloise?"

His strong voice sent ripples in her insides- excitement, happiness, fear or was it something else?- she did not know.

"Of... of course no, brother Edwin! Who can object with your descision?" Eloise smiled tightly.

Edwin then nodded and left the chamber wordlessly. Ruth was dumbstruck by his abrupt exit.

No acknowledgement, no word, not a single glance in her way, and he left. He acted as if Ruth was invisible, or was she too cheap for his liking that he did not feel the need to acknowledge her presence?

Was he the same man who always tried to get her attention? Was he the same Edwin Berrycloth who told her that she intrigued him? Was her same guide and philosopher who gave her courage to gather her broken self after Mr Payne's death?

Was he her same blue-eyed monster whose eyes never failed to run deep in her soul?

And even though he had acted like an arsehole right now, why did it bother her so much?

Eloise did not wait to hear more and marched out of the chamber in anger. As soon as she left, everyone released a sigh of relief.

"I... I am sorry Ruth for my sister's words and behaviour. She is not a bad person, trust me. She is just... erm.."

"And idiot!" Lester butted in.

Elsie threw a glare at him, to which he reacted by shrugging his shoulders.

"By the way, welcome in 'the great manor', Miss Moore!" Lester smiled brightly, his eyes warm and welcoming just the way Ruth saw them the last time they met.

She was utterly confused by the sudden change in his behaviour. Until a minute ago, he was acting like he did not know who Ruth was and how he acted the same way she liked.

"Th-thank you, Lord Wright!" Ruth said slowly.

"I liked how you respected my suggestion and used the front gate to get in instead of the other ways." The playful Lester was back, and Ruth felt at ease some more.

"I had to if I do not want to offend My Lord!" Ruth smiled.

"I am truely sorry about your loss, Miss Moore. How are you and Mrs Payne holding up?" Lester asked sincerely.

Ruth fought back the urge to cry as she recalled that someone had told her that Mr Payne's funeral was the last time that she could cry.

"Thank you for everything you did for us, Lord Wright! We have pulled ourselves together and are living our lives as happily as we can. Erm... can I ask you something?"

Lester knew what Ruth was going to ask, so he answered her directly.

"We are investigating the matter, Miss Moore. I am sure Lord Augustus will publicly announce the reason of these deaths."

Ruth found something suspicious in his words. "Does that mean you accept that it is a person and not an animal who is killing people in Vincardine?"

Ruth remembered Edwin saying something similar to that. But she was too distracted to notice it then and ask him the details.

To save the situation, Elsie jumped into the conversation.

"Seems like you both know each other well?!" Elsie marked.