Caroline opened her eyes, immediately looking out the windows to find the faintest hint of daylight breaking. She blinked her eyes, dry and sore from the night’s tears. Rolling onto her back, she sat up abruptly as she saw a woman standing at the foot of her bed.

“My apologies, Miss Destine. It wasn’t my intention to startle you, simply to wake you.”

“Huh?” was all Caroline could say, wondering if she was somehow hallucinating. The woman was younger than her aunt, ...