Hannah guided her across the grand hall and to Lowry’s study, seemingly oblivious to the darkness that sharpened and lurched as they passed. From above the desk, the taxidermied stag’s antlers cast long, stark shadows over the floor like a tangle of briars.

Hannah flipped a switch beside the door, and the wall sconces all sputtered weakly to life. Wren squeezed her eyes shut at the sudden flood of artificial light, but when she blinked them open, a gloom still hung heavy in the air. She’d never grow accustomed to this sickly, pus-yellow glow. She’d read by firelight for the rest of her life if she could.

“Do you need anything else?” Hannah asked.

“No, I can find what I need from here.” Wren carried her candle to the shelves, letting the light spill over the gilt letters on the books’ spines.

“Did you truly need to be shown to the library?” Wren turned to see Hannah standing in the doorway, her arms crossed.

“I did,” Wren said, flustered. “Well, I suppose I wasn’t exactly lost. But I was on my way here before I got sidetracked. I … heard a noise.”

“A noise?” Hannah lifted her eyebrows. “We have our fair share of them here.”

“It sounded like someone was hurt.”

“I know the one, milady,” Hannah said after a moment, her expression unreadable. “Don’t be afraid. There are always sounds in the house; it’s old. When I was a child, my mother told me ghosts roamed the corridors at night, hungry for little girls out past their bedtime. But they’re nothing but stories, I promise.”

“That’s … reassuring,” Wren said, still not entirely convinced. “Thank you.”

Hannah nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. “Don’t thank me. Consider this my official welcome. And an apology for avoiding you since you arrived.”

“Avoiding me? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Oh. I see.” Hannah flushed. “That’s good to hear. I’m still adjusting. Before … everything happened, I was third chambermaid. I never had to deal much with guests.”

The sadness in her voice sobered Wren. “I’m sorry for taking you away from your evening tea. Consider us even.”

“It’s fine, really. I don’t mind the company.”

“Me neither.” Wren offered her a smile. As much as she longed for a friend in this miserable place, she didn’t exactly have time to make idle conversation. Hannah, however, presented her with an invaluable opportunity. A chance to talk to someone who knew just as much about this place as her employer. “So, you grew up here? What was that like?”

“Good enough. There were always lots of other children in the servants’ quarters. Sometimes even Lord Lowry and his brother played with us.”

Wren smiled, pausing to ease a few botany textbooks from the shelf. “Really?”