Inheritance (The Lost Bride Trilogy, #1)

by Nora Roberts

“Die a bride, and know he’ll come to me. He will come to me, or by your blood on my tongue, bride after bride will join you in death.”

Oooo the first tease.

“Astrid, my love. Astrid. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me.” As it all fades away, I speak my last words, give him my promise with my last breath. “I never will.” And I have not.

Another clue about who is in the house.

My father, the younger of twins by seven minutes, inherited the manor and his brother’s share of the Poole family business when, in the autumn of 1806, my uncle died by his own hand soon after the tragic death—by murder—of his bride of only hours.

“He chose death rather than me. He chose death to stay with her. Be damned to them, and now to you. Walk with them, Catherine Poole. Forever a bride.”

Such a nasty “ghost”

Again and again, over and over, year by year, and bride by bride. Find the seven rings. Break the curse.

I can. I have. I will. Do you think you can stop me? Stop what I forged in fire and blood? You’re the ghost here.’

“Some of it’s more a reading into who you are and what you’re looking for. She was pretty damn accurate, but I put that down to her reading people well, and knowing me through Cleo. Then you get to meeting the tall, dark stranger or going on a long sea voyage. And…”

Cleo’s grandmother’s prediction for Sonya.

“It’s strange. I haven’t thought of any of it for years. She said I’d face a betrayal, which would hurt but provide a fortunate escape and open opportunities. I’d be wise to take both. And that I’d make my home in a house of history and secrets overlooking the sea.”

“With my blade I took the first, then by my blood this house was cursed. One by one they wed, they die, because they seek to take what’s mine. And with their rings of gold, my spell will hold and hold.” Once again, she smiled at Sonya. Then she lifted her hands, flicked her fingers. And vanished.

On this, the happiest day of my life, I become Lisbeth Anne Poole Whitmore. Today I marry my dear and darling Edward.

My dearest friend Dina, my maid of honor, looks so lovely in her gown. The robin’s-egg blue suits her so well. I do hope she and my cousin Hugh make a match! And it’s such fun to have Edward’s little niece toss rose petals down the aisle in her pink organdy.

“Light always wins. Sometimes it takes way too long, but it always wins.”