The Gilded Fan (Choc Lit)

by Courtenay, Christina

  ‘Not precisely, but I’m afraid it will be the other way round.’

  ‘What will?’ His words brought her back to the discussion and she tried to focus on what he was saying rather than anything else.

  ‘About religion. They will certainly try to interfere with yours.’ His smile was contagious, so she returned it. His eyes were still shining with suppressed merriment as he shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Your way of looking at it was just a little unexpected.’

  ‘I thought England was a free country? I was told no one is burned at the stake there for their beliefs any longer. The good Queen Elizabeth put an end to such practices.’

  ‘Not entirely, from what I’ve heard, although she was certainly more lenient than the rulers before her. But even if people are not actually killed for their beliefs, it’s still an offence to be a heretic. And you can be punished severely in other ways, not to mention ostracised.’

  Midori sighed. ‘So in England it’s a crime not to be a Christian, whereas in my country they are persecuted. That makes very little sense.’

  ‘Indeed. If you want to avoid trouble, however, you’d do well to at least learn more about the Christian faith. You might have to pretend to adhere to it. Do you remember anything you were taught?’

  ‘Some.’ Midori was reluctant to disclose just how inattentive she’d been. Although Hannah had never tried to force her daughter into listening, she’d done her best to explain about Christianity. But the stories she told Midori of Jesus and his disciples had seemed strange and unreal in the surroundings of Castle Shiroi and Midori had found it hard to relate to them.

  Far easier to believe her father’s tales of spirits and deities in all the natural things around them, of benevolent kamis and ancestors watching over them. His teachings went hand-in-glove with the code of the samurai and made much more sense. With hindsight, Midori understood that her father had encouraged her not to listen to Hannah because he was afraid for her. Much as he loved Hannah, he’d never allowed any priests to visit the castle except in the utmost secrecy and Midori had unconsciously followed his wishes by having her mother buried according to Japanese custom and not as a Christian.

  ‘But I don’t see what difference it makes to my relatives,’ Midori insisted. ‘As long as I behave well and perform any duties they require of me, surely that should be enough? I will accept the authority over me of whoever is head of the household.’

  ‘It may not be sufficient. In England, and indeed other parts of Europe, there are several kinds of Christianity. The people who champion each one are rather, shall we say, forceful in their views and tend to be intolerant of each other. Why, in Holland, there’s been a civil war going on for a long time, which is partly to do with differences in religion.’ He was looking serious now and Midori listened with a sinking heart as he continued. ‘Most of England’s population is Protestant and that probably includes your relatives. That means they’ll be anxious to ascertain you’re not a Papist; that is someone who belongs to the Catholic contingent. If they were to discover you’re not even a Papist, but worse, a heathen, they might be horrified.’ He shrugged. ‘You’ll just have to wait and see, though. I may be doing them an injustice.’

  ‘What’s a heathen?’

  ‘A non-believer.’

  ‘But I do have beliefs.’

  He smiled again, distracting her from the seriousness of their discussion. ‘Yes, the wrong ones, in their eyes. I’m sorry, I realise this is difficult for you to comprehend.’

  ‘It’s definitely more complicated than I’d been led to believe. I wonder what else I was told that will turn out not to be true?’ Midori felt let down, since she’d always taken her mother at her word. She saw now that perhaps Hannah had embellished the stories about her homeland slightly. Or maybe her memories of what it was really like had dimmed with time and to her, England had become a perfect place. ‘Captain Noordholt …’

  ‘Please call me Nico when there’s no one else about.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Midori had a vague feeling she shouldn’t, but she wasn’t sure why.

  ‘Of course. As long as you remember to call me Captain when there are others present.’

  ‘Very well, Nico.’ She liked the sound of his name. With its short, sharp syllables it could have been Japanese and a sudden longing for her own homeland swept through her. She sighed, and as if he was attuned to her every mood, his expression immediately became one of concern.

  ‘Is something wrong?’

  ‘No, I was just thinking about my country and how everything was much simpler there.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll help you to prepare yourself. Can you read?’

  Midori nodded. ‘Both Japanese and English.’

  ‘Good. Then how about if you read parts of the Bible and I try to explain things to you more fully? There’s an English Bible in my cabin. It was Casper’s, I mean, Captain de Leuw’s; he liked to practise his English by reading it. I’ll lend it to you.’

  Midori looked into his indigo eyes and felt his strength flow into her. She relaxed. Of course she could do this, there was nothing wrong with her brain and she was quick to learn, always had been. Ichiro had told her she must try to adapt to foreign ways if she was to survive. Now Nico was telling her the same thing. She knew they were right.

  ‘Thank you, I would like that. The sooner the better, don’t you think?’ She smiled at him again and watched in amazement when his eyes darkened, as if with some deep emotion. All the noises of the ship faded into the background, making her feel they were in a magical cocoon where only the two of them existed. She sat immobile while his eyes devoured her and she couldn’t even blink. He held her prisoner with his gaze and although he never touched her, her skin tingled as though he was stroking it.

  ‘Midori …’

  The sound of Harding’s voice and loud footsteps in the corridor outside Midori’s cabin broke the spell and Nico jumped to his feet in one lithe movement. His eyes held hers for a moment longer, then he bowed and moved towards the door.

  ‘Thank you for the meal, it was excellent. I shall send Jochem to fetch the Bible now.’

  Midori was left standing in her cabin with an uneven pulse rate and feeling slightly giddy. Something had stirred inside her when Nico had looked into her eyes, something she had never felt before but knew for what it was – desire. She tried to tell herself it was only because this was the first time an attractive man had actually paid her any attention. But somehow she knew that wasn’t the whole truth.

  Nico was special and she was looking forward to becoming better acquainted with him.

  Nico had marked the parts of the Bible he wanted Midori to read with scraps of torn-off paper, and he went back the next day to see how she was getting on. He ignored the little voice inside his head that whispered it was just a convenient excuse for him to spend time with her. And he was very aware how close he’d come to doing more than just looking at her the previous day, so it was madness to return again.

  He went anyway.

  Midori invited him in to sit on her bunk, carefully leaving the door open, he noticed, so they were both within view of Harding. The big man was sitting on the steps leading down to her cabin, whittling a piece of wood. She seated herself next to Nico, but with a respectable distance between them.

  ‘I started immediately with the Gospel of St John as you suggested. Since I’m not used to reading in English, it took me a while to get going, but compared to Japanese kanji, it’s almost ludicrously simple, isn’t it? I’m not finding it difficult at all now. In fact, maybe I’ll read the entire book from cover to cover.’

  ‘Book?’ he queried with a smile. ‘It’s not just any old book, this one is special so you shouldn’t refer to it like that. The Bible with a capital, reverential B.’

  ‘Really? If you say so.
’

  ‘I do. And what do you make of it so far?’

  ‘Well, this Genesis bit is very interesting.’

  Nico stared at her. ‘You’re reading Genesis? But I only marked two gospels for you to begin with.’

  ‘I finished those, so I thought I would read some more and I like this better. It’s quite a story, isn’t it?’

  Nico shook his head at her, but couldn’t help another smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ‘It’s not a story, it’s supposed to be accepted as truth. A true Christian would believe that.’

  ‘Honto? I suppose it could be true, but …’

  ‘Whether it is or not isn’t the point. Believing is key.’ And unless things had changed drastically in England in the last thirteen years, her relatives were probably devout Christians. ‘So even if you don’t think so yourself, you have to respect the fact that others view this as the truth.’

  ‘Yes, I see.’ She nodded. ‘You know, we have a very similar tale in Japan. It makes me wonder if not all countries have them? My teacher read to me from the Kojiki – ‘the Records of Ancient Matters’ – about the birth of the islands of Japan. I don’t know how old your book … sorry, Bible, is, but the Kojiki was written more than a thousand years ago, or so I was told.’

  ‘Hmm, well I think the Bible is older than that, but it doesn’t matter. You’ll need to just accept our ways without questioning them at every turn. Let’s see what you’ve learned so far, shall we? I’ll explain as we go along.’

  Nico knew this was going to be a challenge, but he was determined to succeed. He had to teach Midori about Christianity or he might as well dump her over the railing right now. Thinking about it, he couldn’t help but be amused at the irony of him being her religious mentor. Me, the most un-Christian member of my own family! Perhaps she was right and there really was a fate, and at the moment, it was laughing at him.

  Chapter Twelve

  November 1641

  Their lessons progressed, and Nico came to her cabin most afternoons for an hour or so. Midori enjoyed his company immensely, and found the things he was teaching her fascinating. Sparring with Nico was also a pleasure and she delighted in making him smile at her ‘foreign’ ideas.

  ‘I think I’d better watch myself, or you’ll soon convert me instead of the other way round,’ he laughed one afternoon, after she had explained to him in more detail about her beliefs in the spirits of her ancestors. ‘Christians would be scandalised to hear me say so, but some of your theories make as much sense as anything in the Bible.’

  Midori pretended horror. ‘How can you say that? You’ll be struck down by lightning instantly.’

  He looked upwards as if waiting for God to smite him, then shook his head, the blue eyes twinkling with amusement. ‘No, in that case your entire nation would be extinct, wouldn’t you say?’

  ‘My point precisely. Personally, I would prefer my spirit to live on in this world for a while so I can watch over my children, if I have any. Why would I want to go to Heaven?’

  ‘Because your children will join you there?’

  ‘That might take a long time, and I couldn’t help them.’

  Nico shook his head. ‘I think you’d best read some more and try to think about it from our perspective. You’re going to have to be very careful, Midori. You can’t afford to antagonise people if you really want to stay in England.’

  She sighed. ‘I know you’re right. I will try, really I will, but … Do you truly believe in this? All of it?’ She indicated the Bible, which was lying open between them on the bunk.

  ‘Well …’ He shrugged. ‘I have to admit I was never a very attentive pupil, only learning things by rote when I had to. As I told you before, I’m strongly of the opinion that if a person does his best and works hard, they will reap the rewards they deserve come Judgement Day.’

  Midori thought about his words and after a lengthy silence she added, ‘Do you think my relatives will mind that I’m different?’

  Nico gazed out of the tiny window. ‘I don’t know. They’d probably welcome you out of Christian duty, but I can’t say whether they’ll be pleased to see you. I think you have to be prepared to be considered something of an … oddity, perhaps.’

  Midori’s heart sank. ‘Am I so very different, then?’

  Nico didn’t answer immediately, and then he turned and put out a hand to run his rough fingers down her cheek while looking deep into her eyes. ‘I would say so, yes.’ He smiled, taking the sting out of his words by adding, ‘But in a good way.’

  His smile and the touch of his fingers made her feel all warm inside and sent a spark shooting through her veins. He was so close. If she leaned forward she could … No, what am I thinking? His nearness confused her, but his words weren’t exactly comforting and she concentrated on them.

  ‘It would seem I’m doomed to be forever the odd one out.’ Midori sighed, despair creeping over her like an insidious poison. All she’d ever wanted was to belong somewhere, to be liked for who she was. Now she was yet again attempting to fit in where she was destined to stand out. Was there nowhere in the world where she would be considered normal?

  Nico got to his feet, as if he was restless. ‘Your relatives might be overjoyed to see you, who knows?’ he said gently.

  Midori stood up as well since his height felt intimidating from her sitting position. He was very close to her in the confined space and she had to look up to catch the sympathy in his eyes. She restrained herself from leaning her head on his shoulder. It was so broad, so near and so tempting, but her problems were not his. She sighed again. ‘Yes, you’re right, I do hope so.’

  ‘You’ll just have to wait and see and in the meantime I’ll prepare you as best I can. Your appearance can’t be altered, of course, but I think your behaviour will be of more importance.’

  Midori resolved to behave impeccably and to that end, took a step back and turned away from temptation.

  December 1641

  Six weeks after leaving Dejima, the Zwarte Zwaan dropped anchor in the placid, muddy green waters of the Java Sea, just outside a walled town. The coast was an almost straight line here and a massive fortress dominated the view along the shore.

  ‘What is this place?’

  It was early evening and Nico had brought Midori up on deck himself so she wouldn’t miss all the excitement of their arrival. The two of them stood by the ship’s railing, slightly apart from everyone else, watching the shore come nearer as the sun went down and the moon swiftly rose in its place.

  ‘It is called Batavia and it belongs to the Dutch nation. It’s a sort of general rendezvous for all our ships going to and from the Spice Islands beyond the Straits of Sunda and on the way to India, the China Sea and Japan.’

  ‘I see. And the Dutch conquered it?’

  ‘Yes. It was necessary to acquire a strategic position between the Indian and Pacific oceans, otherwise trade would have floundered. This is ideal as it commands the western end of the Java Sea through which all spice trade has to pass.’

  ‘And the fortress, I assume that’s for defence, then?’ Midori gazed at the imposing edifice, which was surrounded by a sturdy wall and a moat. Nico nodded. ‘Against whom?’

  He smiled. ‘Everyone, I should think. As I said, this port is needed for the success of the Dutch East India Company, but they’re not alone in wanting a foothold in these parts. The Company’s governor-general is housed in that fortress, as well as all the senior officials, and of course there’s a garrison to defend them. Never fear, we won’t be attacked by natives if that’s what worries you, although it has happened in the past.’

  ‘I’m not worried …’ Midori began, then stopped as she realised he was staring at her in a strange way. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Your eyes,’ he said, looking into their depths, then nodding towards the water w
here a moonbeam now lit the murky green of the sea. It made the surface shimmer as if by magic in the half-light. ‘They look just the same. Like the moon over green water.’ He laughed suddenly and shook his head. ‘Sorry, I think your penchant for writing poetry is rubbing off on me. Lord help us.’

  Midori opened her mouth to reply, but before she could think of anything suitable to say, he’d already sauntered off to give more orders, beckoning for Harding to take his place beside her. She followed Nico with her eyes for a moment, admiring his tall, broad-shouldered frame and the graceful way he walked, despite his size. Although he was so different from the men she’d been raised with, she didn’t find his height and looks strange. After only a few weeks in his company she’d become used to them. In fact, if she was completely honest, she would have to admit to more than that – she found him extremely attractive. His intensely blue eyes in a tanned face, the little crow’s feet at the edge of them from squinting at the horizon, the golden hairs on his muscular forearms … all these things drew her gaze, even though she tried not to notice them.

  And what did he think of her? He was taken with her eyes, that much was clear, since this was the second time he’d commented on them. Did he like anything else about her? She thought perhaps he did, but he was an enigmatic man who kept his thoughts to himself, so she couldn’t be sure. And what if he does? A shiver slithered up her spine and she acknowledged to herself that the possibility tantalised her. More than it ought to.

  She stood by the railing for quite a long time, thinking about Nico and how far she had come already. Japan seemed so distant, yet sometimes it felt as if this journey was all a dream and she would soon wake up in her own familiar surroundings at Castle Shiroi. The sights, sounds and smells around her were all too real, however, and she was brought back to reality. There was no turning back now, and if she was perfectly honest, would she want to?

  The first few days in port were busy ones for the crew, as some of the cargo had to be unloaded in order to be traded for goods that could more readily be sold in Europe. Midori stood on deck with Jochem for hours on end, watching as the men toiled. Harding, with his immense strength, was needed elsewhere.