Chapter Twenty-two

At night, the mirror in Poole Manor glows and Sonya steps through into a vividly alive ballroom from the past. She sees bride Agatha, Owen Poole, and Owen’s pregnant sister Jane celebrating. Hester Dobbs slips in, doctors a red petit four, and Sonya struggles through the crowd as if mired in syrup. Agatha eats the cake, suffers rapid anaphylactic shock, and dies; in the chaos, Hester steals Agatha’s wedding ring and recites a rhyming curse before vanishing.

Sonya jolts awake in the present, furious at her helplessness but unafraid. She comforts Yoda, resolves to record everything, and by morning writes out the vision with sketches. With the caterer job done, she pivots to the Doyle project, enlists Corrine as photographer, and continues steady work. As evening approaches, the house cues music, and Trey arrives for dinner.

On the drive to the Lobster Cage, Sonya recounts the vision; she interprets Agatha’s death as a triggered allergic reaction, possibly aided by poison. Trey agrees the details don’t benefit Hester and suggests Astrid—present from the beginning—may be sending Sonya these eyewitness views. Over dinner they compare impressions of Agatha and Owen’s marriage, discuss the generational pattern of the curse, and share light moments about Trey’s chaotic wedding weekend and Bree’s cooking.

Back at the manor, Trey stays the night. The 3 a.m. hour passes quietly at his reassurance. Over the next two days, Sonya selects Corrine’s photos, notably a candid of Trey at work, and finalizes strong drafts for the Doyle site. Anna calls to meet. Sonya shops for Cleo’s visit, planning flowers and supplies.

Arriving a day early, Cleo finds Sonya out, lets herself in to the manor amid welcoming music, and hauls luggage inside. As she starts up the stairs, ominous banging begins and the servant’s door creaks open, accompanied by a persistent bell, signaling fresh activity in the haunted house.