The Lost Bride Trilogy, #3
The Seven Rings
by Nora Roberts
Contents
Chapter Three
Overview
Ghostly guidance leads Sonya to a cache containing portraits of all seven Poole brides, galvanizing plans for a healing photo gallery. Dobbs escalates poltergeist tactics during Sonya’s workout and a crucial client call, but Sonya holds firm and advances a new campaign. After a storm and girls’ night, a phantom wolf confronts Sonya and Cleo; Yoda and Pye charge it, dispersing the illusion and proving Dobbs can be outlasted and outmaneuvered.
Summary
Over lemon bars, Sonya, Trey, Owen, and Cleo sort family photos, planning a gallery. A set-aside box—seemingly placed by a benign presence—holds Johanna and Collin images, tintypes, and miniatures of all seven cursed brides. They resolve to frame and exhibit them, including an unflattering Patricia Poole to tell the full history. Dobbs answers with slamming doors and a swaying chandelier; Sonya vows to reclaim the manor.
That night, Sonya and Trey witness Hester Dobbs on the seawall, endlessly re-enacting her fatal leap to feed the curse. Trey argues Dobbs’s nightly pain sustains her power; Sonya counters with determination that Dobbs will not be mistress of the manor.
In the morning, Sonya pushes through an intense workout while Dobbs rings the Gold Room bell; Sonya outlasts it. During a Ryder Sports video call, Dobbs escalates with banging and doorbell chimes, but Sonya maintains composure, sells an expanded “real people” visual concept, and recruits Eddie, Cleo, Trey, and Owen—bribing the cousins with a Saturday cookout.
Cleo spends the day sailing and running errands as storms build. Sonya advances client work, tends flowers as “Clover” cues music, and revels in the thunder’s power. That evening, she and Cleo enjoy a quiet girls’ night with photos and a rom-com.
On a moonlit walk, a red-eyed wolf apparition blocks their path. Yoda charges and Pyewacket joins, and the beast dissolves into smoke. Shaken but steady, Sonya and Cleo recognize Dobbs wanted fear and flight—and failed—affirming their allies and momentum.
Who Appears
- Sonya MacTavishHeir to the manor; discovers all seven brides’ images, drives the gallery plan, withstands Dobbs during workout and work call, and faces a phantom wolf.
- CleoSonya’s friend and housemate; helps sort photos, sails, runs errands, plans girls’ night, and stands firm during the wolf illusion.
- Hester DobbsMalevolent witch spirit; re-enacts her fatal leap, disrupts with bells, banging, and a phantom wolf to provoke fear.
- TreySonya’s partner; identifies photos, offers insight into Dobbs’s madness, and reluctantly agrees to model for the Ryder campaign.
- OwenCousin; helps categorize photos, suggests mapping the gallery, and is drafted for the campaign with food bribery.
- CloverProtective presence in the manor; cues songs, seemingly guides Sonya to the crucial photo box and bolsters resolve.
- Collin PooleSonya’s late uncle; appears in found photos and is believed to help guide the sorting for the gallery.
- JohannaCollin’s bride; featured prominently in the guided photo box, anchoring the gallery’s personal history.
- YodaSonya’s dog; stays close during disturbances and helps dispel the phantom wolf.
- Pyewacket (Pye)Cleo’s cat; joins Yoda in attacking the wolf illusion, breaking Dobbs’s scare tactic.
- Miranda RyderRyder Sports head; backs expansion of Sonya’s real-people campaign.
- Burt SpringerRyder contact; coordinates campaign expansion and logistics.