Carina pulled the covers up around herself, handling the book carefully. "Has it always been the custom for the noble daughters in Principality to read and write?"
"It was fairly common when I was mortal," Lisette said. "I didn't know Raen, but she would have been alive close to the time I was brought across. A large manor is as complicated to run as any trade. A smart man wanted an educated wife to help keep the accounts."
Carina found herself drawn into the entries in the journal. Most were notes about the ups and downs of a young woman's life, with comments about parties and invitations and young men who caught Raen's eye. The lavender is blooming in the garden now. I'll have to take some for a fresh sachet. The ball is only a fortnight away. Carina turned the page. Another entry, dated just a few days after the first. Not feeling well. Hope, this passes by the ball. The rest of the pages were blank. Carina set the journal aside, lost in thought.
"Lord Jonmarc was right, m'lady. You must rest. Fear nothing. I'll watch until dawn."
Carina let herself sink into the mattress, warmed by the down comforter, her mind still on the journal and its sudden end. In the distance as she dreamed, she could hear Raen singing to her.
WHEN CARINA AWOKE, the first light of dawn was streaming through her windows. She lingered for a moment beneath the warm covers. Jonmarc had already left for the day's tasks, and Lisette had gone to rest. Few of the mortal servants were stirring. Dark Haven was quiet.
As Carina belted her healer's robe over her dress, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Raen stood in the shadows.
"Hello," Carina greeted the ghost girl. "Thank you for your song last night."
Raen moved toward the windows. The fire had warmed the room enough to fog the glass. As Carina watched, letters traced themselves in the fog. "Come."
Carina looked at Raen, perplexed. "Come where? Why?"
Another word formed as an invisible finger traced the letters. "Heal."
"You want me to heal someone? One of the ghosts?" Carina shook her head. "I don't know if it will work-I'm still not sure how I did what I did for you."
More letters appeared. "Hurt."
"All right. Let me gather my things- although if it's a ghost who needs my help, they won't be of much use."
Carina collected her pouches and opened the door. The corridor was empty. Raen glided out of the room and into the darkened hallway, visible as a green glow. Torches lit their way. Carina followed Raen down the back staircase to the second landing. The ghost halted at a door. "Those rooms haven't been restored," Carina said. "No one lives there now."