Gabrielle lowers her head and her face is flushed with embarrassment. The rest of the women start sniggering.
“Of course she didn’t,” they laugh, “You can see it in the way she blushes. She’s far too innocent.”
Ruby lifts her foot. Gabrielle picks up the teapot and scurries toward the door. As she reaches the door, she hears Ruby sigh dramatically.
“I want to go shopping on the weekend, but Mr. Clifford hasn’t called me in, so I can’t ask him to leave,” Ruby complains.
Gabrielle deliberately slows and turns to look at Ruby.
“Why don’t you just leave on your own?” she asks.
“You’re clearly new here,” Ruby scoffs, “The forest here is like a maze. If you get trapped in it, you may never find your way. People get lost and starve to death all the time—they just wander in circles until the
