Dr. Lorimer was a familiar face to most girls at Pendleton. He was sent for whenever someone was ill, and his friendly face and cheerful bedside manner did a great deal to put everyone at ease, whether they suffered from the measles or the common cold. He had seen Ruby at least once a year, for winter wasn’t kind to her, and she often fell ill with little complaints that were easily remedied.

He must have thought this one such time, for he entered with a smile that quickly faded away. “What seems to be the trouble, Miss Cambridge?” he asked, sitting by her side.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping,” she said. It was what she knew she ought to say, for that was what Effie and Mlle. Bellerose had told her, but she didn’t think it entirely true. She had slept perfectly well the night before, until Mlle. Bellerose shook her awake, looking terrified. She had at first thought she must be dreaming, until she realized she would never dream of such fear on Mlle. Bellerose’s face, nor of her worry that Ruby had somehow died in the middle of the night.

She wouldn’t have dreamed of Effie coming in so suddenly either, or of the way she’d called her Rue. She couldn’t have known about the flowers Ruby had found, but it was still a terrible nickname. Ruby hadn’t thought much about it before, but now she found she almost hated it, and the fact that it meant regret.

“Trouble sleeping,” Dr. Lorimer said thoughtfully. “That’s a common enough complaint, and one easily remedied.” He smiled. Ruby couldn’t bring herself to return to expression. “Can you think of anything that might have led to your trouble?”

Her brother’s letter, but she couldn’t tell him that. She couldn’t tell anyone that.

“An illness?” Dr. Lorimer prompted. “Trouble with schoolwork? I’ve heard some things about the sorts of friendships schoolgirls get up to…”

“It’s the ghost,” Ruby said quickly, before Dr. Lorimer could begin talking about what he didn’t understand.

“The ghost?”

She nodded. “The ghost of Pendleton. Surely you’ve heard of her.”

“Bits and pieces. Perhaps you could elucidate.”

Was that a hint of a smile on his face? Surely not. He was too good a man to smile over such a serious matter. Still, he was the sort of man to humor the younger girls. Ruby had seen it often enough, and she had no doubt he had humored her often when she was younger. She had thought she had grown too old for that, but apparently not.

Still, she couldn’t change her mind now. That was for a younger girl, and she liked to think she could hold her own ground when she had to.

Besides, Mina was real. She was as good an excuse to use as any other.

“Her name’s Mina,” Ruby said. “She was a student here, years ago, until she died, and now she’s haunting the school.”

“And haunting you in particular?”

“She haunts everyone,” Ruby said, trying not to sound petulant. “It isn’t just me.”

“But you’re the only one having trouble sleeping.”

The only one having enough trouble that he needed to be sent for. “I’m peculiarly sensitive to her.”

“So I see.”

Now she was feeling petulant, but she could hardly help it. The way he looked at her would be enough to make anyone sulky. “You don’t believe me.”

“I do,” he insisted, but not very strongly. “It’s merely a story one doesn’t often encounter. Medical doctors don’t often deal with ghosts.”

“The ones in Bedlam do.”

That took him aback. He coughed into his handkerchief and looked away for a moment before he could compose himself, but even then, he seemed mildly alarmed. Good. He deserved to be. “I had meant to say that it was more a matter for spiritualists, but… yes, I suppose you are correct, Miss Cambridge?”

“And to which of them would you propose to send me?”

“To a spiritualist, of course,” Dr. Lorimer said, but Ruby didn’t entirely trust his answer. She didn’t entirely trust anything about him. It was a horrifying thought that she could no longer rely on the man who had nursed her through numerous fevers and one terrifying bout of influenza, but now that it had reached her, it settled deep within her mind. It felt oddly right there, and she wondered whether she had always been meant to mistrust him. Maybe Mina had warned her at some point and she no longer remembered.

Ruby hadn’t left her bed all morning, and now she was glad of it. She could pull her blanket up as high as she pleased, and no one would think anything of it.

Dr. Lorimer still watched her carefully. She didn’t like the look in his eyes. She didn’t like anything about this.

“I’m not ill,” she said quietly, but she doubted he believed her. She wouldn’t have believed herself. Though she couldn’t see how she looked, she could easily imagine it. Her red curls would be in disarray, looking almost shocking against the pallor of her skin. She’d been far too pale lately, and this morning wouldn’t be any different. It ought to -- she felt as though she’d slept wonderfully -- but the look on Effie’s face had told her otherwise. She must look ghastly for her friend to be so worried.

Or perhaps she really had looked nearly dead last night. Effie could exaggerate sometimes, but Ruby didn’t think she would exaggerate about this.

“You’ll be fit as a fiddle soon enough,” Dr. Lorimer said. “I’ll write up a prescription for something to help you sleep, but you’re to take it only as needed. I’d rather you not rely on it overmuch. You’ll need to be able to sleep on your own again, you know.” The look he gave her was stern but fatherly, and there was a twinkle in his eye. Ruby ached to trust that twinkle.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“Think nothing of it,” he replied. “I hope to not need to see you again until further on in winter. Perhaps a nice round of influenza?” He chuckled and got to his feet. “If there is anything further troubling you, do tell someone. A weighty conscience -- guilty or not -- isn’t healthy for anyone.”

Ruby nodded and settled back against her pillow as though to rest. She kept her eyes open, however, and watched Dr. Lorimer leave the room. As soon as he was away, she slipped out of bed and hurried after him to the door. She didn’t dare hope that he might speak to someone close by, but perhaps she would hear him muttering to himself as he went down the hall.

Or perhaps she would hear him speaking to someone. The thought sent little shivers of excitement down her spine.

There was nothing. Not a word, not a whisper. After a moment of pressing her ear to the door and waiting, Ruby opened the door a crack and peeked out.

Dr. Lorimer was gone.

She had no choice but to return to her bed and curl up under her covers. What trouble she had falling asleep now was solely due to the fact that she didn’t know what he might be saying or to whom. Perhaps he was telling everyone she was mad. Mlle. Bellerose and Effie would never believe a word she said now.