The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy #2)

“A wedding portrait again. Even if it wasn’t obviously a wedding dress, I’d have recognized it. Since you and I, Owen, both saw her wearing it.”

“We hung it in the music room with the others.”

Owen shifted slightly to Cleo. “Good. That’s where it belongs.” He flicked a glance at Trey. “There’ll be three more. Maybe four if they don’t count the one of Astrid in the entrance.”

“Is it like the other two?” Trey asked. “Size, frame?”

“Exactly,” Sonya told him.

“Four more then, in my opinion. Neither Collin nor your father painted the one of Astrid, and it’s much bigger, different style frame. This is going to be a set.”

“Or a series,” Sonya agreed. “From the last bride to the first.”

Ian returned with the wine. Once Trey had tasted and approved, he told them the night’s specials as he poured all four glasses.

Before he could step away to give them time, both Sonya and Cleo opted for specials. Trey and Owen went for old favorites.

“That’s what I like,” Owen decided. “Four different meals. You’re never going to eat all that lobster Cantonese,” he said to Cleo.

“I’m going to give it a serious try.”

“Trade him a sample for one of his lobster potpie,” Trey advised. “You won’t regret it. Now, there’s more after the portrait. How did Dobbs take it?”

“Not well.” With a shrug, Sonya lifted her wine. “A lot of banging, slamming, wind blowing, lights flickering. But she ran out of steam.”

“Mostly,” Cleo added.

“Mostly.”

Sonya told them about the events at three a.m.

Trey’s eyes narrowed. “Facing the house?”

“Yes, at first. She wasn’t when you saw her.”

He shook his head at Sonya. “No, her back to the house, then the jump. And no banging or blowing the doors open.”

“No CCR warning from Clover?”

Now Trey shook his head at Owen. “The clock, the piano music, and something that pulled me to the window to watch her jump. Nothing else.”

“You’re about to say I should’ve called or texted you, but there wasn’t any need.” Sonya gave Trey’s arm a squeeze. “We got the doors closed, and she jumped. And it was done for the night. I worked out in the gym this morning.”

“Rubbed her face in it,” Owen said, and got a smile from Sonya.

“Maybe. She rang the Gold Room bell a lot, but that was it. Cleo thinks she ran low on power after the night. I agree with her there. Dobbs stayed quiet the rest of the day. She stayed quiet. So quiet Cleo finished the mermaid painting.”

“Wait a minute. It’s done? When can I have it?”

“I’m not sure it’s done. I’ll be sure tomorrow. Then it needs to dry, then it needs to be framed.”

“I can make the frame. I’ll make the frame.”

“Nothing ornate, and it shouldn’t look shiny and new. I can—”

“I’ll make the frame,” Owen repeated. “I just want another look at her first. How long before I can have her?”

Cleo picked up her wine, smiled sweetly. “Where’s my boat?”