Heh, I was thinking, if she's the mother, then him being the Lord rather than her would either A) be because she did the equivalent of abdicating, and therefore gave up her rights and probably wouldn't be getting them back, B) had no original claim because it wasn't as hereditary as the titles are in our world, or C) be because she was dead. But I wasn't sure about his age, so I figured I'd ask. On the off chance she might still be alive. I'm not entirely against playing someone near death's door, but I'll have to think on it. Probably won't, for those reasons you mentioned. 

However, point B brings up the question of why the majority of the witches in this coven would be worried about the power vacuum more than I wonder who will become Lord and Lady next? If it's a hereditary title, then there would seem to be some acceptance of who has the right to take such a position, and if there are nobles, then anyone without a title would have a far far far lower natural right to such a position than even the lowest ranking noble among them. 

So, who would our characters be watching or paying attention to or toadying up to or making problems for? Do we have names?

And should any character with the goal of having the leadership role within their grasp be of noble heritage, or, at the very least, have a noble in their pocket?