Page 59 of The Gathering Storm

Sigrid crossed one leg over the other, deliberately icy in the face of the heat underlying Wilhelmina’s words. “Your son approached me, but that isn’t the issue here.”

“The issue is the despoilment of my son.”

Sigrid threw her head back and laughed, genuinely amused in spite of the threat Will’s mother posed. “Will needed no despoiling, I assure you. He’s quite capable of handling whatever situation arises.”

Pride flashed briefly across Wilhelmina’s expression, and was abruptly shuttered. “He’s worthy of any woman he seeks.”

“Does it bother you more that he chose me, or that he failed to ask permission first?” Sigrid slashed her hand through the air. “Let’s cut to the chase. What remuneration do you want me to set aside for him?”

“Should you win against Chana,” Wilhelmina said.

“When I win,” Sigrid corrected. “And rest assured, Wilhelmina, I will win.”

“Because you don’t want to tarnish your unbroken chain of victories, or because you love him?”

Sigrid fixed her own expression into a cold, dispassionate mask. “Does it matter?”

“Perhaps not,” Wilhelmina murmured. “Why did you challenge her?”

“She had the temerity to touch my property.”

“And by property, you mean my son.” Wilhelmina’s mouth curled into a mocking sneer. “This from the woman who discards lovers so frequently, she can’t remember their names.”

“Will is the grandson of an old friend,” Sigrid said, and hated the stiffness in her voice. “If not for that, I would’ve called Chana out then and there.”

“Over such a trifling?” Wilhelmina clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “You’re getting soft in your old age, Sigrid, and over a mere mortal man.”

“That man,” Sigrid said, her words deadly soft, “is your son. I will not have you speak of him in such a manner.”

Wilhelmina’s eyebrows shot up. She sat back in the chair as a knowing smile tilted her lips. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

Sigrid barely bit back a muttered curse. That was the second time in a week she’d been accused of loving Will. Was she so transparent that anyone could notice the softening of her heart? “He’s a good man and a credit to your family.”

“Which doesn’t answer my question. Interesting.” Wilhelmina reclasped her hands in her lap and her gaze grew shrewd. “Half of your current holdings, one quarter upon a commitment, the other upon the birth of a healthy child, with a further penalty of twenty-five percent of the total should you forsake him.”

Sigrid nodded once. “I’ll consider your request.”

“I’m sure you’ll do more than consider it if you want him in your life.” Wilhelmina stood, triumph etched into her posture. “He may think he holds all the cards, but I assure you, he does not.”

With that, Wilhelmina strode out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind herself. Sigrid slumped into her chair and closed her eyes, her heart a thin flutter in her chest. By the Lady Ki, that had not gone well. And now Will, sweet Will with his soft kisses and passionate touch, Will with his wide open heart…

She was going to lose him.

Her hands trembled in her lap and sorrow rose so swiftly, she had no chance to staunch the tears it drew from her. Will gone, because she’d mishandled the initial interview with his mother, one of the few obstacles in their path. Stupid. Why had she let a single, An-cursed emotion show? Why hadn’t she found a way to counter Wilhelmina’s certainty?

Sigrid sucked in a ragged breath, snagged a tissue, and blotted her eyes, capturing the tears sliding down her cheeks before they could betray her emotions.

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