Read Online Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal - Free Book Online

please, do not tell me anything more.”
    And that was why her aunt avoided the staff meetings. The same thing that made her such a success in society and so able to recruit mediums was also her greatest liability. Ginger sat forward and set the cheese and bread aside. “I’m afraid I need to tell you one more thing, because there is a matter I need your help with.”
    Her eyes brightened. “Ooh! Do tell.”
    â€œI took a report from an officer who was murdered while in Le Havre by someone who appeared to be a British officer. I stepped into the man’s soul and experienced his death, so I’m absolutely certain it was murder.”
    â€œMy God.”
    Ginger took a breath. “My problem is that I told Brigadier-General Davies about it and he believes I’m making it up. Could you speak with him? I think he might take your title more seriously. He’s always annoyed when I come to meetings instead of you.”
    Snorting, Lady Penfold sat back in her chair. “I will do one better than that. I will speak to his wife. We will get this sorted out, posthaste.”
    *   *   *
    The chime sounded, ending their second shift. Ginger settled back into her body, and the entire circle groaned in unison. Joanne giggled. “Lord. Don’t we sound like the worst choir in the world?”
    Lt. Plumber shook his head and gave a weary grin. “Not near as bad as some of the singing in the trenches.”
    These were good people, and she was fortunate to have them. Aches ran through her limbs with half a dozen phantom memories. Maybe she would take Helen’s advice and have a stroll by the shore, just to get some air untainted by death. Then, too … she finally had a letter back from Ben. With the uncertainty of the post coming to the front, it could sometimes take only a day for a letter to reach her, and sometimes two weeks. This looked to have been a week in transit. She’d had to fight the urge to open it immediately when she received it, but she was so tired she hadn’t been sure she would be able to make sense of it.
    Ginger scrubbed her face, trying to chafe some feeling back into her form. When she lowered her hands, the entire circle was staring at her. “What?”
    Across the circle, Helen stood, stretching. “What are your plans this evening?”
    â€œI was thinking about a walk to the shore.”
    â€œBother.” Joanne clapped her hands over her mouth and looked around at the group.
    Ginger’s soul was still unsettled enough that the sudden flashes of brown annoyance from the group were as plain as text on a page. “Again, I ask, what?”
    Joanne lowered her hands and gave a sheepish shrug. “We had a pool about how long it would take you to read Capt. Harford’s letter.”
    Ginger glanced around the group in disbelief. “A pool…”
    Mr. Haden nodded. “Aye. ’Twas my idea, and I was out of the running first thing.”
    Helen said, “Well, we all knew you got it. It was written all over you during the first shift.”
    â€œFigured you’d open it straightaway, I did.” Mr. Haden shrugged. “It’s what I would have done with a letter from my sweetheart.”
    Helen smirked. “And I said you would wait until right before bed tonight, so you had no other distractions.”
    â€œI see … and Joanne thought I would go straight back to my room, I take it. If I open it right now? Who wins?”
    Mrs. Richardson raised her hand and waggled her fingers. “I said that you’d think about waiting, but you wouldn’t be able to stand it.”
    Mr. Haden frowned at Joanne. “Although now that someone let you know there was a pool, it won’t count.”
    â€œIn that case, I shan’t worry about playing favourites.” Ginger pulled the letter out of her pocket and waved it at them. “I am going back to my room straightaway and