Weather Witch: Regency Nobleman Lord Godfrey is negotiating for a wife, until Meredith literally storms into the Manor. Then all bets are off as he tries to tempt the tempestuous nymph into marrying him.

excerpt:  

Lady Cawyn flicked a wary glance in her direction, set the fork down, then dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “Tarrant is the only surviving male issue in the direct line of descent from his grandfather, my husband. He’s next in line to inherit. As head of the household, it is my duty to school him in the proper ways of a Lord of a Manor.”

“My son?” Meredith slammed her fork down. “I brought your son back to you. I thought you’d be suitably grateful and leave me and my son alone!”

“We’ll talk about this later.” Lady Cawyn held out her goblet for a refill.

“We’ll talk about this now!” She pushed to her feet. Rain hissed against the leaded glass windows.

“You’re scaring your child,” Arianna snapped, with a nod toward Tarrant.

She jerked her gaze to Tarrant. His bottom lip quivered. Her heart sunk. “I’m sorry, darling. We won’t fight anymore.”

She sat and stared at the cloth covered table. What am I going to do? Tarrant likes it here with grandma-ma spoiling him, and I want to take him home.

The rest of the meal was uneventful. She barely ate, and what she did eat of the over-seasoned food tasted like ashes.

Soon, the table was cleared and after dinner digestives were served. The butler brought her a glass of clear water, with a lemon wedge.

“You remembered.” She smiled at the butler.

Langly smiled back. “Indeed, ma’am. It’s hard to forget such an unusual request as fortified water.”

She took a sip and took note of the pinch of salt and the squeeze of lemon. “Perfect.”

“Will there be anything else?”

No. Thank you, Langly.”

The butler bowed and went to stand by Lady Cawyn.

Lord Godfrey nodded toward her water glass. “You prefer that instead of wine or liquor?”

“It’s better for digestion and I need more water than a normal human.” She took another sip.

A woman that she decided must be her son’s new governess entered the room and went to her son. She brought him over to her.

“Nighty-night, Mummy.”

“Good night, darling.” She lifted him into her lap to kiss him. “Have a good sleep.”

Tarrant slid to the floor. “You too, Mummy. Don’t let the sand fleas bite you.”

“I won’t.” She smiled at her boy as he took his governess’s hand and walked away.

She finished the water, while eyeing her mother-in-law. The old woman sat comfortably in her chair, sipping her digestive. Meredith hoped she choked on it.

“Well, that was quite the display.” Lady Cawyn sniffed.

“I told you, old woman, I mean to have my son back.” She glared at her. “And I will.”

“My grandson is the heir to this estate, and as such, needs to be here. As head of the family, I have legal authority to take custody of Tarrant.”

She slammed her hand on the table top. “That wasn’t part of our bargain!”

Lady Cawyn lifted her chin. “You didn’t protect my son!”

So, I owe you mine? I couldn’t protect Kean from war.” She fisted the napkin that still lay in her lap. “After the Prince Regent sent his message, I begged him to stay, but he went anyway.”

“My son couldn’t disobey a direct order from the Prince Regent,” Lady Cawyn said softly.

“I gave my husband fair winds and calm seas, but I couldn’t protect him from musket fire or swords.” Her tears fell. Great, I’m crying. I’m certainly showing my strength today. “I asked my grandfather to bring his body to me, then I brought him to you so you had something to entomb in your family’s crypt.”

“Excuse me for interrupting,” Lord Godfrey held up a hand, “but who is your grandfather?”

“Who do you think?” She wiped her cheek with a quick movement.

Lady Cawyn gestured. “Lord Godfrey is going to be family, Meredith. I trust him. You can tell him about your heritage.”

She cleared her throat. “My mother is a sea nymph. My father was a sea captain. I’m half human.”

Lord Godfrey rubbed his chin. “So, Poseidon’s granddaughter can control the weather?”

“Not just the weather.” Lady Cawyn nodded. “But water as well.”

“That’s interesting.” He sat straighter and clasped his hands in front of him with interest blazing in his blue eyes. “You would be formidable at the head of an armada.”

“Sailors think women on board a ship are bad luck.” She spun her glass. “My father wouldn’t let me sail with him. As a child I couldn’t protect him from afar. Had he allowed me to go that last time, I could have prevented his ship from sinking in the tempest that took his life.”

“Where’s your mother?” he asked, his voice soft.

She gestured in the direction of the ocean. “Out there somewhere.”

“You never saw her after that?”

She shook her head as heavy rain rattled the rafters. “I have the bow of my father’s boat that’s carved in my mother’s likeness to remember my parents by.”

“It’s beautiful,” Arianna said. “I got to see it.”

Meredith smiled. “Thank you.”

“You’ve lost much,” Lord Godfrey murmured.

She looked at him, surprised by his sympathetic expression. “I can’t lose my son, too.”