A MAZE OF GREED

"Ida... can I have a minute of yours please?" Ida stopped in her tracks when she heard Fannie calling her from behind.

"Yes, of course. Do you need something?"

Fannie walked towards her, stopped in front of her.

"Not me, but Lady Eloise needs some help."

Ida frowned. What did Lady Eloise need? And why she would ask Fannie for it?

"What is it?"

"Actually, Lady Eloise had asked for some oils and herbs for her hair. You know how obseesed she is with her long hair and how she takes care of them with efforts."

"Hmm," Ida nodded.

Eloise's love for her hair and her appearance, in general, was well known. So it was not a surprise for Ida that she had asked for special products to use on her hair.

"The physician gave her a list of some herbs. He was supposed to get them for her, but he is out of town for a few days. And you know how Lady Eloise can not wait for things to be done.

So do you know someone who has a piece of good knowledge on medicinal plants and herbs? If yes, then please tell me, or she would make me search every nook and crook of Vincardine to get someone with that knowledge."

Fannie's acting was so immaculate that Ida fell for it easily.

"A person with good knowledge of medicines and herbs.... oh yes! I know one such person and you do not need to go look for her in the town."

"Really Ida? Who is her? Please tell me. I am not even supposed to do this for Lady Eloise. She could have asked her head maid for it, but then she might know that this was a difficult task. And also a good chance of troubling me." Fannie grumbled as if she was indeed bothered.

Ida knew Eloise's habit of troubling the maids and the people in general who she did not like. Naturally, she sympathised with Fannie as she had also gone through the same situation a couple of times before.

Since then, Ida had learned to keep a safe distance from Eloise and never come on her radar.

"Do you know Mrs Payne?" She asked.

Fannie feigned puzzlement. "Mrs Payne? You mean, Ruth's aunt?"

"Yes. She is the perfect person for this job!"

Fannie looked troubled. "Erm... but Ida... after everything that happened between me and Ruth... do you think Mrs Payne will help? And will Ruth let her?"

Ida smiled. "Whatever happened, it is a good chance to throw it in the past. They both are nice women and they will not hesitate to offer their help. Trust me!"

"But Ida..." Fannie still hesitated.

"If you want I can ask Mrs Payne to meet Lady Eloise in her chamber."

Fannie smiled as if Ida had freed her from a century-old curse. "Oh, Ida thank you so much for your help! You are such a kind woman!"

Ida was a little surprised at Fannie's words. Hearing words like thank you and sorry from Fannie's mouth was a rare phenomenon.

"It is alright. I am glad I came to help. See you around!"

Fannie smirked victoriously. The first step of Eloise's plan was successfully accomplished. Now it was time for the second step.

*

*

*

Edwin wanted to meet Ruth before he left. So he waited for her in Elsie's chamber to not get others suspicious. Ruth had no idea of his presence when she entered the chamber with Elsie's favourite flowers in her hands.

"Lady Elsie look how beautiful they look-" Her words died in her throat when her eyes met the cerulean blue ones.

Instinctively, her eyes searched around for Elsie, but she was not there.

"Yes, they indeed look beautiful!" Edwin said, rising up from the chair in which he sat. His eyes were trained on her face.

Ruth blushed as for some weird reason, her brain thought that his words were directed towards her and not those flowers.

"Wh-what are you doing in Lady Elsie's chamber?"

She was aware of his presence and how he stopped at a hand's distance from her.

"This is my little sister's chamber and more than that this is my house. I think I have every right be in any part of it whenever I want."

Huh, his cockiness! It always managed to get on her nerves.

"You could have only said that you are here to meet your little sister." Ruth retorted back.

That amused Edwin.

Taking another short step in her way, Edwin said, "Do you know that you are the only person who has a problem with every word I say?!"

Ruth could not decide if he was being playful or was offended. Predictions were a fool's game when it came to this man!

With furrowed brows, she replied. "That is not true! And if only you open your eyes and ears to the world, you would know that many people have a problem with everything you say and do!"

Yes, now take that blue-eyed monster!

Ruth mentally high-fived in joy to herself. But her joy did not last long when she felt him very close to her. He was invading her private space, and Ruth found herself unable to resist him.

"Is that so Miss Moore? In that case, would you like to tell me who those people are and why they have a problem with me?" He raised his straight brows that had a little arch.

Ruth defensively took a step back. His intimidating aura made her feel the fear she did not want, yet she enjoyed it.

"I know what you are doing?" She tried sounding strong.

"And what I am doing?" Edwin took another step ahead.

"You... you are trapping in the words. You will pick one word I say and then... p-punish me saying I... I insulted you."

Edwin loved this game. Watching his little mate putting up a brave face when he could hear her loudly thudding heart was way more fun than he ever thought.

"Are you afraid of the punishments Miss Moore?" He took one more step ahead, and Ruth took one back.

He saw her mask cracking, but she glued it fast. "No! If I am wrong then I am ready to take any punishment but if I am right then I will not take the punishment at any cost." She told him with conviction.

That impressed Edwin. "Do not worry. I will not punish you... not this time at least." He quickly added, making Ruth more confused. "Now answer my previous question. Who are those people and why do they have a problem with me?"

Ruth gulped down her saliva nervously. What game the blue-eyed monster was playing?

"If you do not tell me then how I am suppose to improvise myself? Be kind and help me, Miss Moore."

Although his words seemed polite and requesting, Ruth could hear him laughing at her.

Fine! If he really wanted to know, then Ruth was ready to tell him. That self-righteous man needed an eye opener anyway.

"There are m-many people. I am not going to give you any names!" She told him clearly.

"Alright. Then answer the next part of my question."

Ruth's heart beat hard as Edwin stalked towards her like a hungry predator. He looked deadly yet very much handsome as he kept reducing the distance between them.

"You... you are an s-selfish man." Ruth blurted out. Her head spun, her senses were clouded by his presence, and his scent was weakening her knees.

"Hmm.. that I know. Next?"

One step ahead by him, one step back by her.

"You... you are cruel."

"I do not disagree with that. Next?"

One step ahead, one step back.

"You are disrespectful towards others. You do not listen to people and impose your thoughts on them." Feeling a little confident, Ruth said.

"Well... is not what I am supposed to do as an heir of the O'Dells? I am going to be a de-facto ruler of this town. People must listen to me. Next?"

His careless answers made Ruth more agitated.

"Just because of your family title you are saved by every law and never face any punishment for your wrong doings!"

"That is my priilege. What can I say.. I am just lucky that way! Next?"

One step ahead of him, but this time, there was no step back by Ruth. She felt the coldness of the wall behind seeping through her uniform. And Edwin's body warmth tingled her front.

"Next, Miss Moore." He stopped with only a few inches of distance between them.

His gaze was intense and, a playful smile on the corners of his lips made Ruth's heart uncontrollably flutter in her chest.

"I hate you!" She glared up at him.

Their breaths mixed together as their faces were too close to each other.

"But I have opposite feelings for you."

His words made Ruth's heart race against time.

What did he mean by that?

"You are a danger that I should stay away from." Ruth whispered. Her breaths kept missing the rhythm.

Edwin did not say anything for a moment. Then learning some more about her, he said looking straight into her eyes.

"You are right! I am a danger that you should stay away from. Unfortunately for you..." He leaned close to her ear while hearing her alarmingly thudding heart.

"You can not!" He whispered dangerously in her ear.

Ruth clenched her eyes shut as her body and mind began losing control. And when she opened them.... she was alone in the chamber still leaning back on the wall.