The Scarlet Kimono (Choc Lit)

by Christina Courtenay

  ‘Who?’ Hannah was still staring at his smile and had forgotten what they were discussing.

  ‘Yanagihara-san. He lives in the castle grounds. Perhaps tomorrow if I have the time.’

  Lord Kumashiro stretched out a hand and lifted all of Hannah’s hair so that her neck was bare. She half turned away. ‘You have a graceful neck and very white skin,’ he said and caressed the nape of her neck slowly. ‘You’re definitely not as ugly as I expected you to be.’

  Hannah came down to earth and moved away from him so that he had to let her hair fall. ‘Ugly?’ She frowned at him. ‘I may not be a great beauty like my sister, but I’ll have you know I’m not ugly.’

  ‘But that’s what I just said.’ He crossed powerful arms over his chest. ‘Do you find me repulsive? I’m told your people usually do.’

  ‘Well, no. No, I don’t.’ Hannah didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t possibly tell him she had just been thinking how handsome he was when he smiled. That wouldn’t do at all.

  She had never given a thought to Hoji’s looks one way or another, because she thought of him only as a benign older uncle. Now, however, she had to acknowledge that a Japanese man could be very attractive indeed, disturbingly so. Hannah turned her gaze towards the floor in confusion. Had she been among the Japanese for so long they didn’t seem strange to her any more? Was it just the fact that she had become used to them? Somehow, she didn’t think so. It was he, Lord Kumashiro, who had this effect on her. Only him.

  ‘Good,’ he said, breaking off her thoughts. ‘Then let us eat.’

  Taro ate mechanically, without registering what he put in his mouth. His attention was focused entirely on the woman sitting opposite him, a woman who occupied his thoughts to the exclusion of everything else at the moment.

  When he had first met her in Hirado, he’d been intrigued by her intelligence and forthright way of speaking, but she had been nothing more than an object of curiosity to him. He’d had her brought to his castle because he wanted to learn more about her and the country she came from, but he’d never expected to feel drawn to her. Fascinated by her odd looks until the novelty wore off, certainly, but nothing else. He realised with surprise that he’d become so used to her see-through eyes and swirling red hair he barely gave them a second thought now. Instead, he was becoming very aware of her as a woman.

  The blue eyes were stunning, no doubt about it, but so was her face. It was perfectly proportioned, the eyes wide apart, the nose small and dainty and her mouth, although perhaps a bit on the generous side, beautifully shaped. Her skin was clear and unblemished and looked as soft as dew on a leaf in the morning. He had to resist the urge to reach out and stroke her cheek whenever she was near.

  The disturbing truth was that he found her extremely attractive.

  His fellow countrymen would think him mad.

  She had hardly any manners, didn’t know how to conduct herself while in his presence and her every emotion showed clearly on her face. There was nothing hidden and he doubted she could keep a secret if she tried. He should have deplored such poor self-control, but after what had happened with Hasuko, he couldn’t help but welcome it.

  With Hannah-san there wouldn’t be any play acting. If he tried to bed her and she didn’t like it, he would know. On the other hand, he had a feeling that if he pleased her, she wouldn’t hesitate to show him. She’d never hold back. If he won her trust and affection, she would give it to him with all her heart.

  But was that what he wanted?

  He’d noticed she was getting used to him and was less nervous in his presence. The tell-tale shivers when he touched her neck, her hair, had confirmed that she was speaking the truth. She didn’t find him repulsive, far from it. And he wanted her, there was no doubt about it now.

  It was madness.

  There was no future for them. It was a fact that he’d had her abducted and no one knew where she was at the moment, but he had planned to take her back as soon as he’d satisfied his curiosity. Should he take advantage of her? How would her fellow countrymen react to such an outrage? It might create a furore within the foreign trading community and even be the beginning of warfare. The Shogun would have his head, his lands, his entire clan probably.

  Surely no woman was worth taking such a risk for?

  And what if, having had her, he decided he didn’t want to let her go? Taro frowned at the thought. It had to be better to leave her alone now, send her back straight away. Remove the temptation.

  He sighed. He needed to think about this some more, perhaps discuss it with Yanagihara-san.

  Not yet though, he thought. I can’t part with her yet. There was so much left to learn.

  ‘Tell me about the god you worship and his son, the carpenter.’

  Hannah looked up from her rice dish and blinked at Lord Kumashiro. ‘You know about Christianity?’

  ‘Of course. I keep myself well informed about everything that’s going on and I’ve listened to the black-haired foreigners who preach about their god. They claim he’s the only one and all-powerful.’

  By ‘black-haired foreigners’, Hannah gathered he meant the Portuguese priests who were trying to convert the heathen Japanese to their faith. ‘What exactly do you want to know, my lord? I mean, if you’ve heard them speak, you must know the story of Jesus. In my country we believe in him and the one true God as well, although there are some differences in our, er, approach.’

  She wasn’t sure how to explain about Catholics and Protestants. To him, the two would no doubt sound the same.

  ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I’ve heard the story and I suppose it could be true. Many men have become deities here too. Why do you think there is only one god though? We prefer to believe there are many. Here, we also have spirits, kami, who help us with our daily lives. They live in places like rivers, lakes and trees for instance. We give them offerings, pray to them. Don’t you have spirits?’

  ‘Well, there’s the Holy Ghost. I suppose he’s a spirit. And some people believe in ghosts that are dead people who for some reason stay among the living instead of going to heaven. But that’s not what you mean, is it?’

  ‘No. We have ghosts too. They’re a different thing entirely.’

  ‘I don’t really know how to explain it. People in Europe used to believe in lots of gods too, but when Jesus came along he convinced everyone they were wrong. His God was so powerful, you see, there was no need for any others. And he proved it to the people alive at the time.’

  ‘I’m not sure I like the sound of that. That much power concentrated in one being would be dangerous. Far better to have it divided.’

  Hannah thought about this for a moment, then challenged him. ‘So you don’t think your Shogun should have all the power in your country?’

  ‘I didn’t say that.’ He frowned at her. ‘That’s different.’

  Hannah shook her head. ‘No, it isn’t. He’s all-powerful in Japan and there’s nothing you can do about it from what I’ve heard.’

  Lord Kumashiro’s scowl became ferocious. ‘Never say such a thing again,’ he commanded. ‘There are spies everywhere and you could die for less. Not to mention the fact that you could get me into serious trouble.’

  Her heart thudded uncomfortably, but Hannah glared back anyway. ‘Very well, I won’t speak of it, but I don’t see how you can have such double standards. Perhaps if you gave our God a chance, he would help you.’

  ‘I doubt it. I could add him to the others perhaps, but not pray to him exclusively. In any case I’m quite happy with the gods and spirits I have. One other thing, while we’re on this subject.’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘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 w
ouldn’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.’