The Lost Bride Trilogy, #3
The Seven Rings
by Nora Roberts
Contents
Chapter Fifteen
Overview
Dobbs springs a full assault in the ballroom, but Sonya resists with unexpected, corporeal help from Clover, who saves her and leaves a keepsake. Cleo, alerted by Jack, breaks in after the attack. Debriefing with Trey and Owen clarifies stakes: Dobbs likely can’t kill Sonya unless she’s a bride. The next day, normalcy returns as Sonya shops in town and arranges lunch with Ace.
Summary
In the dim, unnatural cold of the ballroom, Dobbs animates shrouded furniture to block Sonya, slams doors, and cuts the lights, whispering threats to make Sonya flee. A heavy display cabinet tips toward Sonya; bracing for injury, she pushes back but begins to lose ground.
Clover manifests corporeally beside Sonya, urging her to push. Together they right the cabinet. Clover warns Dobbs will return, embraces Sonya, professes love, then fades. Lights snap on and terrace doors blow open as Cleo, alerted by Jack’s message, forces her way in and finds Sonya bruised but unbroken.
Defiant, Sonya resumes clearing the room and immediately finds Clover’s hand-strung “love beads,” which she believes Clover saved for her. After work, a double rainbow appears. Trey, Mookie, Owen, and Jones arrive with dinner; Sonya recounts the attack and Clover’s appearance. Discussion suggests Dobbs cannot fully kill Sonya because she isn’t a bride, so Dobbs seeks to terrorize her into leaving. Sonya declares the “Battle of the Ballroom” a win.
That night, Sonya and Trey balance courage with caution, agreeing Sonya isn’t alone—Clover and friends stand with her—while acknowledging Dobbs’s instability. In the morning, Molly lays out a summery outfit that Sonya wears with Clover’s beads. Sonya heads to the village, shops at Gigi’s, A Bookstore, and chats with locals Carrie and Hogan about web work. Sadie calls to arrange lunch with Ace at the hotel, aligning with Sonya’s plan to meet Cleo.
Who Appears
- Sonya MacTavishProtagonist; trapped by Dobbs in the ballroom, saved with Clover’s help; finds Clover’s beaded necklace; asserts Dobbs can’t kill her unless she’s a bride; resumes normal life and plans lunch with Ace.
- CleoBest friend; breaks into the ballroom after Jack’s warning, comforts Sonya, helps sort the room, and later debriefs with Trey and Owen.
- Clover (Lilian Crest)Beloved ghost; manifests physically to help Sonya right a falling cabinet, gives encouragement and love, and leaves her beaded necklace.
- DobbsMalevolent spirit; engineers the ballroom attack—darkness, moving furniture, threats—to drive Sonya out rather than kill her.
- TreySonya’s partner; arrives after the incident, analyzes Dobbs’s limits, comforts Sonya, and weighs caution versus support.
- OwenFriend and Cleo’s love interest; responds to the incident, asks keen questions about Clover’s appearance, supports the team.
- JackChild ghost; alerts Cleo that Sonya needs help, enabling the rescue.
- MollyHouse presence/organizer; lays out Sonya’s summery outfit the next morning.
- SadieDeuce’s admin; arranges a hotel lunch with Ace for Sonya (and Cleo).
- AceAttorney ally; schedules lunch with Sonya and Cleo at the hotel to meet and discuss matters.
- GigiBookstore owner client; sells to Sonya and discusses display ideas.
- CarrieLocal maker of soaps/lotions; meets Sonya at Gigi’s and discusses products and web presence.
- HoganCarrie’s teen son; eager for a modern website, takes Sonya’s card.
- DianaBookseller; helps Sonya at checkout amid a busy morning.
- AnitaBookseller; notes online sales boost from Sonya’s work and handles a large series order.