The Scarlet Kimono (Choc Lit) (21 page)

‘I’ve been told you wear a necklace in the shape of a cross.’

‘What of it?’ Hannah’s hand automatically went up to her throat where, underneath her clothing, the small chain with the tiny golden cross nestled.

‘Try never to show it to anyone other than your serving ladies. It could be dangerous for you.’

Hannah swallowed hard. ‘Very well. Thank you for telling me.’

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them for some time and Hannah felt her appetite desert her. She wondered if she would ever understand this man and his culture. And would he come to understand her?

‘Oh, what does it matter?’ she muttered to herself.

‘
Nani?
’

‘I’m sorry, I was speaking in English.’

‘Yes. I have been thinking about that. Please teach me some of your
igirisu
words.’

Hannah stared at him in surprise. He didn’t seem angry any longer and was back to his usual unflappable self. She, on the other hand, was thrown by his question. ‘You want to learn my language?’

‘Yes. Why not? You learned mine.’

‘But what for? I mean, what if I’m the only English person you ever meet? What would be the point in learning my language?’

He smiled. ‘I’m sure there will be others. Yanagihara-
san
tells me foreigners will start arriving in greater numbers soon. But even if I don’t meet any of them, I wouldn’t consider it wasted time to learn to speak with you in your tongue. It will stretch my mind. Any learning is good. And perhaps if I speak like you, I will understand your way of thinking better as well.’

Hannah had never thought of it that way and, as a girl, hadn’t been given the opportunity to study something just for the sake of it. His words made sense though, so she smiled back at him and nodded. ‘I’d be happy to teach you. Do you want to begin right now?’

‘Why not?’

Hannah lived a very sheltered life at the castle and hardly ever saw any of the other inhabitants. A few days later, however, she and her women rounded a corner and came face to face with another party of ladies, almost colliding with them. Hannah’s serving women immediately moved out of the way and bowed very low. Hannah followed suit even though she had no idea who they were bowing to. It wouldn’t do to antagonise anyone unnecessarily, she thought.

‘Up,’ a haughty voice ordered. Hannah and her ladies straightened out, eyeing the speaker warily.

It was the woman in the centre of the group and she was dressed in the most exquisite
kimono
of a silk so fine it shimmered whenever she moved. It was embroidered with gold and silver thread, and there were precious jewels on the lady’s hair ornaments. Her face had been powdered to make it as white as possible, and she wore a little bit of face paint to emphasise her eyes and mouth. Hannah looked into a pair of very dark eyes and only just managed to suppress a shudder.

This woman hated her.

Hannah knew it the instant she caught the lady’s gaze. There was no mistaking the hostility she read in the black depths and Hannah frowned. Why should someone hate her, when they weren’t even acquainted, she wondered.

With a last glare and without acknowledging them in any other way, the woman swept past them. Her ladies followed instantly even though moving fast in a
kimono
wasn’t easy
.
Hannah was left to stare after them in surprise.

‘Who on earth was that?’ she asked.

‘That was Reiko-
sama
, Lord Kumashiro’s sister-in-law,’ Yukiko murmured.

‘His sister-in-law? Oh, I see.’ Hannah was annoyed with herself for feeling surprised at this news. Of course the man must have a wife. He was a
daimyo
and as such would obviously need heirs. It would also be natural for some of his wife’s relatives to live in the castle. ‘Does the Lady Reiko know who I am? She didn’t seem surprised to see me.’

‘Lady Reiko keeps herself informed about everything that goes on in the castle,’ Yukiko said with a slight sniff, as if she disapproved.

Hannah shivered. It sounded sinister to her, although perhaps it was something all high-born ladies did here. It occurred to her to also ask, ‘Does Lord Kumashiro have children too?’

‘Yes, one. A son by the Lady Hasuko, Lady Reiko’s sister. Little Ichiro was born last year and he is Kumashiro-
sama
’s pride and joy. He visits him daily, I believe.’

‘A son, how lovely.’ Hannah sighed, feeling unaccountably depressed. She took herself to task. So he had a wife called Hasuko and a son. It was no concern of hers whether the man had a dozen children or wives. Hopefully she would soon be ransomed and away from here. Since Lord Kumashiro hadn’t touched her, she could be returned to Hirado. Then perhaps one day she would marry a man with whom she might also have children. But would anyone want her now? The thought made her feel downhearted, but she did want children. Very much so.

‘Time enough to worry about that later,’ she said quietly in English.

‘
Nan desu ka?
What did you say?’

‘Nothing, Yukiko-
san
, nothing at all.’

Chapter Twenty-Six

The meeting with Lord Kumashiro’s sister-in-law had unsettled Hannah and she found it impossible to do her writing exercises that morning. Finally she threw down her paint brush and exclaimed, ‘Enough.’

Yukiko blinked at her and sat back on her heels. ‘
Sumimasen, demo
,’ she ventured, ‘what’s the matter?’

‘I can’t concentrate today. I think I’ll go for a walk.’ Lord Kumashiro had told her the previous evening that she was welcome to walk in the garden if she wanted to.

‘Just don’t stray into the castle itself,’ he’d said.

She stood up and shook out the back of her
kimono
. The other ladies began to rise as well, but she waved them down again. ‘No, no, please, stay here. I’d like to be alone.’ They all looked startled at this, so added quickly, ‘It’s just something we foreigners do from time to time. It is necessary for our well-being.’

The lie tripped off her tongue easily, and she felt vaguely ashamed for deceiving them. Perhaps it was a social
faux pas
to wander about alone, but she didn’t care just then. She needed solitude and if anyone told her off for walking around without a chaperone, she would just pretend to be ignorant of their rules. Why would she need a chaperone anyway? She was compromised beyond belief already.

Outside, she took deep breaths of air and the stifled feeling inside her began to dissolve. Her body relaxed as she started to walk along the immaculately swept paths and she let her thoughts roam freely. After a while, she sat down on a stone that had been warmed by the sun. Shielded from view by several large bushes, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the peace.

Images of the beautiful lady she had seen that morning floated into her mind and she wondered about Lord Kumashiro’s wife. Presumably, she was just as lovely as her sister. He had never spoken of either lady to Hannah, but then their conversations mostly revolved around all things foreign, so that wasn’t surprising. Hoji had told Hannah most
samurai
marriages were arranged and both parties usually accepted this with equanimity. Was this the case with Lord Kumashiro, Hannah wondered, or had he chosen his wife because he loved her? Either way, he must enjoy being married to someone so stunning.

Hannah’s spirits plummeted and this made her angry with herself. Lord Kumashiro’s domestic arrangements were nothing to do with her. Hopefully, she would soon be leaving and then she would never see him or his family again.

‘You wished to speak to me, my lord?’

The soft, female voice brought Hannah out of her black mood and she peeked round the bushes to see who was talking. To her surprise, Lord Kumashiro was standing close by and with him was the very woman Hannah had been thinking about, his sister-in-law. There was no one else in the immediate vicinity, although several bodyguards waited nearby. The couple faced each other, oblivious to their surroundings, and Hannah wondered why he was meeting her in this way. It seemed strange. Neither showed any emotion, but Hannah detected tension in the air between them.

‘Yes, thank you for coming so swiftly.’ Lord Kumashiro acknowledged her promptness with a small nod, then came straight to the point. ‘I’ve had a reminder from the
Shogun
to say that he wishes to meet my heir. From the tone of the message, I gather he’s not happy at being kept waiting. There were threats implied. If I don’t comply with the
Shogun
’s orders, who knows what he’ll do? I don’t want to antagonise him. That wouldn’t be at all wise and could lead to trouble for your father too.’

‘Didn’t you inform him we were still in mourning and couldn’t travel, my lord?’

‘Yes, of course, but that was ages ago now. The
Shogun
grows impatient and such excuses can’t be used indefinitely. No, we have to leave within the month. I warned you last week our departure can’t be delayed any longer. Why have you not even begun the preparations? If there should be any spies here, they will report back to their master that nothing is being done.’

Hannah thought she heard a hastily indrawn breath from Lady Reiko, but she couldn’t be sure. She wondered why the woman seemed so set against a visit to the capital. Surely it was a great honour to be presented to the country’s ruler? She ought to be happy for her nephew.

‘I was prostrate with grief. I thought …’

‘Well no more. Please begin at once.’

Hannah supposed Lady Reiko must be responsible for travel arrangements, which was why she was given these orders and not his wife. Lord Kumashiro sounded every bit the feudal despot and Hannah felt sure no one in their right mind would dare to oppose him when he spoke in that tone of voice. Reiko, however, surprised her.

‘I’m sorry, my lord, but I am still far from recovered. I really can’t travel yet.’

‘Then you will have to stay behind or go back to your father’s house. I thought you would have liked to come with us, but perhaps I was mistaken?’

‘No, of course not, but … surely you would prefer your son to stay here where you can see him every day?’ she suggested. ‘If we go to Edo, he’ll probably have to remain there.’

Hannah didn’t understand this statement, but he obviously did as a muscle tightened in his jaw. It was the only sign Hannah could see that he was agitated. She remembered Yukiko’s comments about his attachment to his son and his daily visits to the nursery. ‘I’m well aware of that and our wishes are irrelevant, as well you know,’ he growled. ‘I will spend as much time in the capital as I can.’

‘A few months is a long time for a baby. He might forget you if you’re not there all the time.’

Lord Kumashiro stiffened and Hannah gathered that this was a deliberate jibe from Reiko. How dare she? Japanese women were meant to be respectful at all times, but it seemed his sister-in-law was not afraid to be different.

‘Nonsense. My son will always know me. Now go and start packing, please. We can always travel slowly and you’ll be in a palanquin anyway, which shouldn’t be too arduous.’

‘I’m sure you know best, my lord.’ Reiko bowed slightly as if yielding to a greater force, but Hannah saw a fleeting smile cross the woman’s lips. Had Lord Kumashiro seen it too, she wondered. If he had, he showed no sign of rising to the bait.

‘We’re leaving by the end of this month,’ was all he said.

‘But of course, my lord.’ Reiko bowed, slightly lower this time. ‘I shall begin preparations immediately, although …’

‘
Nani
?’

‘It may take a bit longer, there’s so much to do. A baby has many needs, especially during a long, hard journey.’

‘Well see to it. I don’t want any more excuses.’

He stalked off and Hannah watched as the Lady Reiko stared after him with clenched fists. Hannah could understand the woman’s reluctance to leave her home, but she suspected there was more to it than that.

The look she threw after Lord Kumashiro was a curious mixture of venom and longing. Hannah didn’t understand it at all.

Still puzzled by the strange exchange she had overheard, Hannah asked Yukiko to explain why the
Shogun
had ordered Lord Kumashiro and his family to attend him. ‘And why would his son have to stay in Edo?’

‘The
sankin kotai
demands it.’

‘
Sankin kotai
? What’s that?’

‘It’s a very clever way of making sure that none of the
daimyo
conspire behind his back,’ Yukiko said. ‘To all intents and purposes, he holds the families hostage, especially the son and heir of each powerful warlord. They have to stay in the city. The lords themselves must also spend time in the capital. In this way, no one will dare to start an uprising against the
Shogun
in any of the far flung regions of the country. They know he would punish their families instantly.’

‘Now I understand. I can see why the Lady Reiko would be reluctant to go then,’ Hannah said. ‘It must be difficult to live apart from your family for months on end. She’s probably worried about her nephew,’ she added.

‘And her own prospects,’ Yukiko muttered.

‘I beg your pardon? In what way?’ She was itching to ask Yukiko outright why Lord Kumashiro and his sister-in-law seemed to be at loggerheads, but didn’t dare be so impolite. Reiko had hinted at a bereavement, and perhaps she and her sister were both still suffering from grief, but that hadn’t seemed to be the only cause of friction.

Yukiko, however, was a very discreet lady, who refused to be drawn. ‘It was nothing,’ was all she replied.

Several days passed and Hannah saw no one except her serving women. She wondered whether Lord Kumashiro had forgotten her existence now that she had satisfied most of his curiosity about her country. The last time she’d seen him he had said he would send for her again soon, but so far she hadn’t been summoned.

Naturally the man must have things to do other than sit and talk with her every night, she reasoned. Spend time with his wife, for instance. No wonder Reiko had glared malevolently at her if he had neglected her sister for several weeks and she’d found out Hannah was the cause. She would have reacted in the same way, although she’d been told Japanese men also had formal mistresses called consorts who were tolerated by their wives.

Of the Lady Reiko and her sister there was no sign either.

‘Preparations for the journey to Edo have been set in motion,’ Yukiko reported, ‘but it’s slow going.’ Hannah wasn’t surprised, given what she’d seen of Reiko’s attitude. No one seemed keen to discuss these matters though and Hannah felt increasingly isolated. Despite her relative freedom, she felt like a prisoner, not a guest.

On the morning of the fourth day she couldn’t stand to be confined any longer. The weather was fine, with the sun shining brightly, and it was not a day for languishing indoors or moping. ‘Can we go outside for a walk, please?’ she asked Yukiko. ‘I need some fresh air.’

‘Yes, of course. Shall I ask the others?’

‘If they want to come, they’re welcome, but let them choose for themselves.’

It seemed the other ladies felt the same, because no one wanted to be left behind. It was a happy, chattering group that set off along the garden paths. Hannah was determined to banish her dark thoughts and even went so far as to sing a little, to the amazement of her companions.

‘What a very strange song,’ Sakura commented. ‘But nice, very nice of course.’

Hannah giggled at the polite lie. ‘Having heard your songs, I doubt if it sounds very good to you, but I’ve been told my voice is quite good. You’ll just have to take my word for it that I sang it well. Teach me a Japanese song, somebody. Please?’

With much laughter, the ladies succeeded in teaching Hannah a simple tune, but she found it very hard to sing it the way they did. It sounded more like complaining to her than singing, but naturally she couldn’t tell them so.

Eventually they found themselves near a large pond, almost a miniature lake, where they sat down on large boulders basking in the sun. The ladies continued to chatter among themselves, discussing Hannah’s efforts at singing, while Hannah wandered off towards the edge of the pond. The water was clear and she could see the dark shapes of some kind of brown fish moving slowly under the surface. She thought they must be carp, since they resembled a dish she had been served a few days previously. This pond obviously wasn’t just for ornamentation then, she thought.

She sank down onto a flat stone near the water’s edge, and trailed her hand in the soft waves. It was cold, but not bone-chillingly so, and she stayed there lost in thought for ages. All around her were trees that would no doubt turn into glorious autumn colours later in the year, reflected in the water. She leaned over the shining surface of the pond to look at her own image and smiled. Yukiko had told her that when that time came, her hair would match the trees perfectly, as they turned a deeper red here than in England.

‘Idiot,’ she muttered to herself. Lord Kumashiro must have addled her wits with all his comments about her red tresses. She’d never cared much about her appearance before, so why should it matter now?

After a while she became aware of noise coming from a clump of bushes further along the pond. She watched as another group of women emerged into the sunlight not far from a small ornamental jetty. Hannah had no trouble spotting the Lady Reiko in the centre. Dressed regally as before, she had a queenly presence that couldn’t be mistaken. Hannah shivered and hoped the woman wouldn’t catch sight of her. She studied the others, wondering which one was Lady Hasuko. Although several of them were pretty, no one was as lovely as Lady Reiko, nor wearing such costly clothing. Hannah concluded Taro’s wife must have chosen to stay behind.