LEILA'S POV
I slowly turned, sure that I must have misheard Ruelle somehow. She was always extremely careful not to speak ill of Gale. Maybe she was referring entirely to something or someone else. But when I took a look at her face, I decided that was not the case. She was flushed and looked mortified when her eyes mine.
"Pardon? You said something just now..."
I trailed off, hoping that she would take the hint and explain.
"What?" she said. "What are you talking about?"
She got suddenly busy with her phone, and before I could say another word, got up and left the house. I stared at the closed door after she was gone. Not for the first time, I wondered at the scarcely concealed antagonism Ruelle felt against Gale. Then I recalled Gale's explanation about Ruelle's behaviour. Gale sh
