Page 28 of The Seven Rings
With the snow falling all around us, he kissed me. Oh, my heart, Dina, my heart!
I love him so very much.
Edward had already gotten Papa’s permission, of course. When we got home, Mama and Papa had champagne waiting to toast us. They love Edward, too. I am the luckiest girl in the world!
They’re going to throw us an engagement bash of bashes here at the manor. You must come. Say you’ll be in my wedding party, won’t you? Oh, I don’t know how I’ll wait to be Edward’s bride.
Do come for the party, Dina, my dearest friend, and stay a few days at least.
The party’s in three weeks, and you must come! Write back soon.
Your happy friend and bride-to-be,
Lissy
Taking an envelope, she wrote out a name, an address, and humming to herself, folded the letter into it.
Smiling, she held up her left hand to admire the sparkle of her engagement ring.
“Oh, Edward.” She sighed and pressed her right hand to her heart. “We’ll be so happy, forever and ever.”
Then she shifted in her chair, looked around, looked at Sonya.
“Who’s there? Is someone there?”
And shivering, she rubbed her arms as if chilled.
She doesn’t see me, Sonya realized—not like the night in the music room. But she senses me, feels me.
And something else.
Something cold, something dark, like a shadow suddenly blanketing the room.
Dobbs, somehow here, watching, Sonya thought, as she, too, watched.
“You can’t scare me today! Not one bit.”
But she got up quickly and, taking the letter, hurried from the room.
The shadow stayed, and the cold with it. Then seemed to drift out the door.
Sonya stepped over, laid a hand on the desk.
Then she turned and went back through the mirror.
Everything tilted and went gray.
Arms grabbed her, pulled her in.
“Sonya, oh God. You weren’t here, but the mirror was. You’re cold, and Jesus, so pale.”
“I’m okay, almost. Need to sit.”
She braced a hand on the chair, sat. And Cleo knelt in front of her.
“It wasn’t like it’s been before, exactly. It didn’t take me here. I mean, I didn’t go back and stay in the attic. Maybe that’s why I feel more off.”
“Let me help you downstairs. You can lie down. I’ll get you some water.”
