Silver Lady

A powerful nobleman and a beautiful amnesiac with paranormal gifts discover they share irresistible passion, a unique legacy—and a common enemy.

A sense of duty sends Bran Tremayne to Cornwall to confront his heritage of British nobility. Discarded by his family when he was a small child, Bran wants nothing to do with the family that exiled him. But as a special agent for the Home Office, he senses trouble brewing along the coast. And he can’t turn away from the vulnerable woman he encounters in the Cornish countryside. Merryn’s amnesia makes her past a mystery to them both, but with her life in danger, the only thing Bran knows for sure is that the beautiful stranger needs his protection . . .

But would they share a future?

Bran rescued Merryn when she'd been kidnapped and blocked from all memory of herself. But can she trust the strong bond—and the powerful passion—she feels for him? As her mind heals, they discover that she is at the center of a plot between French agents and Cornish smugglers. From misty woodlands to stormy shores, the two join forces with friends and family to bring down a common enemy. Yet will their growing love survive the coming peril?

Putney (The Marriage Spell) launches an exciting new historical romance series set in 19th-century Cornwall. Bran had a rough start in life after being cast out as a young child by his birth father because of his gift of intuition; however, he found a wonderful new family when he was taken in by Lord and Lady Tremayne. Many years later, circumstances require that Bran face his birth parents, but he doesn’t expect to also encounter and rescue a compelling and beautiful lady in the woods. That lady, Merryn, struggles to overcome her mystical stupor and amnesia to escape her captors and is grateful for Bran’s assistance. Bran and Merryn are instantly drawn to each other and find that Merryn’s extraordinary gifts have put her in the middle of a plot by the French and some dangerous smugglers. They must work together using their gifts, which only makes their bond and passion stronger.

VERDICT Recommended for readers who like some fantasy in their historical romance and appreciate stories with chosen family and strong women.

~Bridgette Whitt, Publishers Weekly

Twenty-three years ago, Rhys and Gwyn Tremayne welcomed Branok into their home and hearts, and ever since then, Bran has considered them to be his family. Now, however, Lord Penhaligon of Plymouth is desperately seeking the son he cast out, and by all accounts Bran fits the bill. The last thing Bran wants to do is go to Cornwall and deal with the man who never wanted him because of Bran’s special gift, but now that same gift is telling Bran something dangerous is underway. This proves to be true when immediately upon arriving, Bran rescues a beautiful young woman. Unfortunately, the lady has no memory of her past, but she, like Bran, possesses a special gift that could prove useful in Bran’s attempts to discover what is going on. Putney (Once a Laird, 2021) creates her own form of romantic alchemy with the start to her Dangerous Gifts series, deftly blending together a superbly atmospheric Cornish setting, spot-on historical details, and a danger-riddled plot enhanced with just the right touch of the paranormal.

~John Charles

A new Regency series is always wonderful to celebrate, especially if it is written by the doyenne of Regency romances. Putney’s latest is the first in a series featuring members of a found family of siblings who have unique and wonderful paranormal talents. Bran became a member of the Tremayne family when he escaped, with another boy, from the baby farm where his birth family had sent him when they discovered he had a talent. Now an adult he works for the Home Office and feels a strange compulsion to go to Cornwall when summoned by his birth father who needs an heir, not because he wants to inherit a title but because he “knows” he needs to be there. Rescuing a beautiful, talented amnesiac and saving the British navy from disaster may play into why he needs to be there. Watch for more books featuring the talented Tremayne family.

~Diana Tixier Herald, Netgalley and Edelweiss

Chapter 1

London, 1780 

The play had been good, but an icy wind bit to the bone as Rhys and Gwyn Tremayne emerged from the Theatre Royal.  "Our carriage should be down to the left," Rhys said. "And the sooner we get into it and head for home, the better!  Shall we end the evening by sipping brandy in front of a roaring fire?"

"That sounds most appealing," Gwyn said as she took his arm.  Then she halted, feeling a powerful intuition. "But not yet.  Let's take a bit of a walk first."

"You sense something that needs to be found, Lady Tremayne?" Rhys asked mildly.  Since his wife was one of the best finders in Britain, he knew better than to argue. He merely raised an arm and gestured for their coach to follow them.

"Something, or someone."  Gwyn drew her cloak more closely around her as she purposefully started threading her way through the mass of waiting carriages and playgoers who were happily discussing the show they'd just seen.

Two turns took them from Covent Garden into a narrow lane.  Halfway down, Gwyn paused, then turned left into a dark alley barely lit by capricious moonlight.  It dead ended at a wall where a pile of rubble had accumulated against the dingy brick. Heedless of her expensive cloak, she knelt on the frozen ground by the rubble and said softly, "You can come out now, my lad.  You're safe."

There was a rustling sound but no one appeared. "How does warm food and a fire and a bath sound?" she said in her most persuasive voice. 

A child's voice snarled, "Don't want no bath!"

"Then we'll start with the food and the fire," she said peaceably.  "Will you show yourself?  We won't hurt you."

Rhys stood silently behind her, knowing a frightened child would fear a rather large grown man more than a soft-voiced woman.  The rubble shifted and a small, filthy face became visible. A boy child perhaps five or six years old.             

Gwyn brushed back a lock of fair hair, then peeled the kidskin glove from her right hand and offered it to the little boy.  He hesitantly took it.  As she clasped his freezing fingers with her warm hand, his eyes widened and he sighed with relief.

"You can tell I'm safe, can't you?" Gwyn said.

The boy frowned up at Rhys. "You may be, but not sure about him!"  

"I'm safe, too," Rhys said in his most reassuring voice.  "I'm very good at protecting others."

Unconvinced, the boy narrowed his eyes warily.  As Rhys stood very still, Gwyn said soothingly, "I'm Gwyn Tremayne.  What's your name?"

The boy hesitated, as if his name was too precious to share.  After a long moment, he said, "Caden."

"Caden.  That's a good Cornish or Welsh name.  My husband and I come from Cornish families."  Knowing there was more to find, her gaze moved back to the rubble pile.  "Your friend can come out, too."

Caden gasped and jerked away from her.  For a moment she feared he'd try to bolt, but a thin, childish voice emerged from the rubble.  "It's all right, Cade.  These are the people we came to find." 

An even smaller boy emerged from the rubble, his ragged garments almost indistinguishable from the trash around him.  His gaze on Gwyn, he said, "I'm Bran."

"For Branok?" Again Gwyn offered her hand and Bran took it without hesitation.  His small fingers felt as if they were carved from ice.  In the darkness it was hard to see the boys clearly.  Though both were dark haired, there was little other resemblance.  Bran's eyes were light, Caden's were dark, but the color wasn't visible in shadows. "Are you brothers?"

The boys exchanged a glance.  "We are now!" Caden said fiercely, challenging anyone who might deny that.

They both had soft West Country accents, and she wondered what their story was. How had they made their way to London?  Bran seemed to have the ability to read people's nature and to decide what must be done.  Caden surely was gifted as well, perhaps in other ways.

Learning more about them could wait.  What mattered now was getting the boys out of this vicious cold. "Come with us now and we'll take you to our home where you'll be warm and well fed." 

Bran stood shakily and almost fell over from weakness and cold.  Her heart hurting at the sight, Gwyn said, "I'll start warming you now."  She leaned forward and scooped Bran into her arms, then rose to her feet.  The child weighed almost nothing, and his torn shirt revealed something on his right shoulder blade. If she had to guess, Gwyn would have said it looked like a tattoo of a dragon. 

It was a question for another day,  She pulled him inside her cloak, covering everything but his head.  His thin body was cold against her.  "Is that better?"

He peered out of the folds of her cloak with a smile of great sweetness.  "Much better, ma'am."

"No!  You won't take him away!" Caden exclaimed as he lurched to his feet. 

"Don't worry, Caden, we won't separate you," Rhys said as he lifted the larger boy in his arms and tucked his own cloak around him as Gwyn had done with Bran.  Caden struggled some, but the warmth seemed to soften him. 

They carried the children back to the wider street where the carriage waited. Their driver, Jones, gave them an expressive glance but didn't speak.  This was not the first time he'd seen them rescue children. 

Rhys opened the carriage door.  Knowing Caden wasn't comfortable being carried, he set the boy in the vehicle.  "There are carriage robes on the seats to warm you."  The child scrambled inside and there was a rustle of fabric as he pulled a robe around him. 

Rhys then helped Gwyn into the carriage.  She continued holding Bran as she settled on the forward facing seat.  Before climbing in and closing the door, Rhys called up to the driver, "Home now, Jones."

As the carriage rattled westward over the cobblestones, Gwyn asked, "How did you boys come to be here in London?" 

The silence stretched so long that she wondered if either of them would answer. Then Caden said warily, "What's it mean to be gifted?  My Da called me that before he threw me out of the house."

Gwyn's heart constricted at the thought of such a young boy being treated in such a beastly manner, but his question confirmed what she already knew.  "Gifted people are just better at some things than most others are.  Better at sensing emotions, perhaps.  Better at persuasion, or maybe better at finding lost objects. Perhaps good at telling if someone is lying or telling the truth.  Small gifts, but often useful."

Bran asked, his small voice hard, "Why do people hate the gifted?"

As Gwyn wondered how to explain bigotry, Rhys said in his deep, calming voice, "Sometimes it's from fear.  Sometimes from envy.  Some people just need to hate anyone who is different." 

It was a good explanation.  Gwyn said softly as she cuddled Bran against her, "Some people hate, but there are also those who love you exactly as you are."