‘Irasshaimase.’ Several more serving women came into the room and chorused their welcome, bowing to her and trying their best not to stare, but not succeeding very well. She smiled.
‘I am called Shinju,’ she said and bowed back.
‘I am Ko, at your service,’ said the servant she had first met. ‘Would you like to change your clothing, Shinju-san?’
‘Or take some refreshment perhaps?’ added another maid.
‘Both would be nice, thank you,’ Temperance told them. ‘But I have no other clothes so could you just give me a blanket or something to wrap around me while this dries?’ She indicated her kimono.
‘We will give you dry clothes. Please, come this way.’ Ko led her into one of the smaller rooms and slid back another screen door, behind which lay a great number of rectangular wicker baskets on shelves. Ko opened the lid of each one to reveal one beautiful garment after another. ‘Please, choose a gown and we will help you put it on.’
Temperance’s eyes widened again at the sight of at least ten silk kimonos in all the colours of the rainbow. Most were embroidered with seasonal motifs – cherry blossom for spring, red acer leaves for autumn and so on – but some were plainer, perhaps for everyday use. If all these were indeed at her disposal, she was spoiled for choice. Despite the temptation of the gaudier ones, she chose one of midnight blue silk with a sprinkling of silver embroidery and a light grey lining. She didn’t feel like dressing up as if it were a special occasion. Then it occurred to her to wonder if that was precisely what she was expected to do.
‘Will I be seeing Tanaka-sama today?’ she asked.
Ko shook her head. ‘Not today. You will need to be properly prepared, that takes time. Also, our master has business to attend to. There were urgent messengers waiting for him.’
Another reprieve. Temperance sent up a swift prayer of thanks to God, then stood still while the serving women helped her out of her wet clothes and into dry ones. Despite its plainness, she felt like a princess in the blue kimono, but she knew her status was very far from that exalted state, no matter how gilded her cage.
The future looked bleak.
Chapter Eleven
Temperance ate a solitary supper and went to bed early, sleeping soundly now that she knew Tanaka was occupied elsewhere. She fell asleep listening to the rain drumming on the roof and whispering on the foliage outside her verandah, an extremely soothing noise that calmed her spirit. She’d insisted on leaving the sliding door to the garden open so that the fresh scents of rain-soaked earth and greenery from outside mingled with the soft smell of the tatami mats. It made a pleasant change from the stuffy odours of Imada’s inn and the constant noise and bustle she had experienced there.
When she woke the following day, the rain was still coming down in a steady downpour and she lay on her futon for a while, enjoying the sounds of nature. She felt supremely well-rested and delighted in the comfort afforded by such a simple bed, its softness enveloping her and moulding itself to her back. It was a far cry from the hard mattress she’d been given at Imada’s house, and a lot cleaner too.
‘O-hayo gozaimasu.’ The serving women, led by Ko once more, came bustling in with a breakfast consisting of rice, soup and pickles.
‘Good morning.’
Temperance found that she was surprisingly hungry and devoured every morsel. The meal was served on an exquisite black lacquer tray with a flower motif inlaid in gold leaf, and the dainty bowls containing the food were arranged in a pleasing pattern. They were of matching lacquer ware and so fragile Temperance was almost afraid to hold them. Yet more proof of Tanaka’s high status, if proof were needed.
‘If you have finished, lady, we will take you to the bathhouse.’ Ko deftly removed the tray and passed it to someone in the corridor outside Temperance’s room. ‘Follow me, please.’
Temperance was secretly pleased to be given this opportunity to observe the rest of Tanaka’s domain with a view to finding an escape route. She looked around with interest, although she tried to do it surreptitiously so as not to rouse suspicion. Ko and the others led her past numerous buildings and along smooth pebble paths through the most incredible gardens Temperance had ever seen in her life. Not a leaf or blade of grass appeared to be out of place, and every bush and tree had been trimmed and placed in its position for a purpose – to give maximum enjoyment to the viewer.
Rocks were scattered in seemingly random arrangements which achieved a harmony with the surrounding area that could not be anything other than man-made even though it looked natural. They also passed several ponds, some with large orange fish in them, some with lotus flowers. Others had tiny waterfalls at one end and were sometimes spanned by bridges of wood or stone. There was something to delight the eye at every turn and Temperance was so entranced, she almost forgot to look for a way out.
The bathhouse was set in a corner of the gardens, and instead of the tiny tub she had been pushed into at Imada’s inn, here was a large pool with tendrils of steam hanging just above the surface. Temperance and her ladies whiled away the best part of the morning in this wonderful place and she had never felt so pampered in all her life. Every inch of her was scrubbed clean before she was allowed to enter the pool, and her hair was washed and a sweet-smelling scent added to it. Ko combed it, patiently teasing out every last knot, until it shone like polished mother-of-pearl. Although she knew it was vain, Temperance had always secretly been very proud of her thick tresses and was sorry to have had to cut them. Before going to Japan her hair had reached past her backside. Perhaps now she could let it grow again.
‘Your name suits you, lady,’ the servant ventured to say with a shy smile. ‘This is like nothing I have ever seen before, and so incredibly soft, like the hair of a baby.’ She looked up, a hand over her mouth. ‘Not that I meant …’
‘It’s all right, Ko-san, I’m not offended,’ Temperance reassured the maid. ‘It is a good thing, having hair like a baby, isn’t it?’
‘To be sure, lady. That was what I meant.’
‘You don’t find it frightening or … ugly?’ Temperance was genuinely interested in how these people saw her and took the chance to ask.
Ko shook her head vehemently. ‘Of course not, lady,’ but she didn’t look her new mistress in the eyes.
‘I don’t mind if you do, I was merely curious.’ Ko’s reaction to her words led her to ask another question. ‘Is Tanaka-sama a hard taskmaster then? You all seem loath to voice your opinions.’
‘Servants do not have opinions, unless they are specifically asked. Our lord is no harsher than any other. He has to be obeyed.’
‘Hmm, I thought so.’ Temperance stifled another sigh. Ko’s answer didn’t reassure her nor bode well for the future. Butterflies began to dance in her stomach once more. She’d managed to suppress all thoughts of her coming ordeal during the morning, but now her fears returned tenfold. If only there was a means of escape.
On the way back to her rooms, she paid more attention to her surroundings and kept an eye out for any possible way out, but to her frustration she saw guards posted everywhere. Anyone wanting to pass through a gate obviously had to explain their business. With her strange looks, there was no way she could hope to leave unnoticed, even if she managed to come up with a plausible excuse.
Tanaka’s exquisite palace was nothing but a fortress designed to keep his enemies out and his women in.
The afternoon passed pleasantly enough as the ladies taught Temperance an easy board game.
‘You have played before?’ Ko asked, when Temperance caught on quickly.
‘No, not this particular game, but something similar.’ For some reason the simple pastime made her feel terribly homesick, missing Midori and her family. She should have been content with her lot, staying in Plymouth with Daniel instead of traipsing halfway across the world only to end up in this predicament. Midori and Nico must be thinking the same thing right now and cursing themselves for allowing her to accompany them. What had happened
back on Dejima when she was found to be missing? Her relatives would be extremely worried and they had no way of tracing her. Even if they guessed that she’d gone to the cove again and were lucky enough to find it, there wouldn’t be any sign of what had happened. They might even think her dead. And they couldn’t involve the Japanese authorities for obvious reasons. Their hands were tied and Temperance had no hope of rescue whatsoever.
Dear Lord, what a mess.
She couldn’t banish the knot of nerves nestling in her stomach as she wondered when she would be sent for. There was no doubt but that she had been dressed for her master’s benefit. The kimono she wore had been selected for her this time and was one of the gaudier ones, made of bright green silk with gold, red and orange embroidery in the shape of acer leaves. It seemed fitting now that autumn was approaching. A matching obi, as the belt was called, had been tied around her. The robe’s neckline dipped low in the back, in the manner of a courtesan, which Temperance supposed was apt. It was what she would soon become after all.
Her hair had been combed yet again and swept up on top of her head in an intricate creation. Jewelled and lacquered combs and ornaments adorned her hair – as many as nine or ten if she hadn’t miscounted. Her face had been powdered with rice powder and her eyes and mouth painted.
‘Must I be painted like this?’ Temperance dared to ask, but the perplexed expression on Ko’s face was all the answer she needed. ‘No, forget I asked.’ It was simply the done thing, obviously. She took one look at herself in a small hand mirror and wondered whether to laugh or cry. The face staring back at her definitely wasn’t her own. It belonged to a stranger.
She explored her little garden briefly, while there was a short break in between rain showers. Although it was lovely – a miniature version of the main garden with symmetrically arranged paths and perfectly trimmed plants and shrubs – it was surrounded by a six foot high wall and there was no gate to the outside world. The end wall had tiny slits through which one could admire the view towards Lake Biwa, but this only served to emphasise Temperance’s feeling of being locked up. Her gilded cage was in fact nothing but a glorified prison and she wasn’t allowed to go anywhere without leave.
Once she attempted to stray into the corridor, ostensibly to look at a particularly fine wall hanging which could be seen through the door, but she was gently asked to remain in her room. ‘For your own safety, lady,’ Ko said, but Temperance didn’t believe that for an instant. At the end of the corridor outside her suite of rooms she had glimpsed several guards, and although Ko told her that they were merely for her protection, Temperance doubted this very much.
‘At what time does Tanaka-sama usually eat?’ she finally asked, unable to stand the suspense any longer.
Ko and the others looked at each other with puzzled expressions, then outside into the darkness. ‘Well, he should have sent for you by now, but perhaps he has been detained. Would you like me to make enquiries?’
‘Yes, please.’ Temperance tried not to let her impatience with this cat-and-mouse game show in her voice. It wasn’t Ko’s fault after all that she found herself in this situation. The poor woman was only doing her duty. Having waited this long, however, Temperance now wanted the dreaded encounter over and done with. She’d been steeling herself all day, telling her mind to try and detach itself from what was happening to her, but it was difficult to keep up this bravado. If the wretched man didn’t request her presence soon, she would break down and that would never do. She would lose face completely.
Ko came back with a smile. ‘You may come with me now,’ she said, and held open the screen door for Temperance to pass through. She cast a critical glance over her charge then nodded to herself as if pleased with her handiwork. ‘The master is waiting.’
Kazuo ducked into a doorway when he heard voices and steps approaching. He’d been sneaking around, trying to find a way into the women’s quarters without being seen. He had to find out what had become of Temi, talk to her, make sure she was all right, but it had proved impossible so far.
There were guards everywhere, damn them.
He’d seen her being led away by a servant the day before, treated with politeness and respect the way a treasured object would be. As the concubine of a powerful lord that would be her right. Kazuo guessed that she was to be prepared for her first encounter with the man who’d bought her. Pampered, dressed in fine clothing, showered with gifts – although the latter perhaps not until she had fulfilled her part of the bargain. And fortunately his lordship had been too busy the day before to give his new plaything any thought.
Today, however, was different. The knowledge of what Tanaka would probably do to her this evening made Kazuo’s blood boil, but he took deep breaths to quell the fury. He had no right to this anger. None whatsoever.
But that didn’t make it any easier to bear.
Perhaps she wasn’t as innocent as he’d thought though? Tanaka had bought her from that vile tea house and it seemed clear she’d spent some time there. Who knew what she’d learned or been made to do while she was there?
Yet somehow Kazuo couldn’t imagine Temi tainted in such a way. And he’d sensed her desperation.
Gazing out from behind the doorjamb now, he saw two women walking along the corridor and ground his teeth. He was too late. Chikusho!
‘This way, Shinju-san,’ the servant who led the way murmured, but Kazuo’s gaze fixed on the woman behind her – Temi. It wasn’t his Temi any longer though, the naturally beautiful water sprite, but a doll-like imitation of her. Face painted, hair dressed and bedecked with fine ornaments, fancy silk clothing. A concubine worthy of a very rich man. The only difference was her lustrous pale hair and, if she’d looked up, her strange eyes.
Kazuo wanted to reach out and pull her through the door as she walked past. Spirit her away and keep her safe from the old lecher towards whose room she was heading. But he knew he couldn’t. It would achieve nothing except his own and Temi’s certain death. Gone would be any hope of revenge for the wrongs done to his father. Any hope, however slim, of ever being with Temi again.
He had to let her go. It was her fate and she wasn’t for him.
But by all the gods, it was the hardest thing he’d ever done in his life.
Temperance followed Ko reluctantly. The knot in her stomach had solidified and she found it hard to breathe, but she was determined not to let her nervousness show. At least she could hide her feelings behind the painted mask that was her face. There would be no betraying blushes to give her away with all that powder covering her skin.
They crossed several courtyards before reaching the back of the main residence, where softly lit lanterns swung slightly to and fro in the evening breeze outside a smaller, less grand, entrance.
‘Dozo onegai shimasu.’ Ko-san bowed and indicated that Temperance should now follow the lady who was waiting inside and then disappeared into the darkness. Temperance swallowed hard and took off her shoes before hurrying after the servant, who seemed somewhat impatient.
The corridors in this building were much larger than in the one where Temperance was lodged, and every surface, wall and ceiling alike, was decorated with exquisite paintings of birds, trees and animals. Gilded metal decorations adorned handles and wooden posts, and the floors in the rooms they passed were covered in the softest of tatami. The whole gave a feeling of sumptuous opulence that was at the same time beautiful and overbearing, making Temperance feel small and insignificant. The serving woman stopped before one of the screen doors, knocked, then pulled it open and prostrated herself on the floor just inside. Temperance followed suit, unsure of the correct etiquette, and surmised that she had done the right thing when the woman merely announced her presence. ‘Shinju-san, my lord.’
‘Excellent. Come over here and be seated.’
Temperance looked up into the face of Tanaka and suppressed the urge to recoil. He was sitting on a cushion, looking stiff and formal in a luxurious black robe, but there was a look of satisf
action in his glittering eyes that was far more unsettling than the thought of what he was about to do to her.
‘You speak our language very well, I have been told,’ he commented as she scurried forward and kneeled on a cushion opposite his own. There was a table in between them, laden with food, and to Temperance it seemed like a blessed safety barrier, shielding her from his onslaught for the moment.
‘Yes, my lord,’ she replied. ‘I’m still learning, but I can understand most words now.’
‘Good, good. You can tell me of your country while we eat.’
Temperance forced herself to eat whatever was put in front of her, but it all tasted like sawdust and she could never afterwards recall what it was. Nor could she remember any particulars of their conversation, which consisted mostly of Tanaka asking questions that she answered to the best of her ability. He was interested to hear about the recent civil war in England, but couldn’t understand the reasoning behind it. Temperance couldn’t either, if she was perfectly honest, but she did her best to explain that many of her countrymen had been unhappy with the way their king had been governing and had taken it upon themselves to challenge him.
‘Ah, so now you have a shogun perhaps, just like us,’ Tanaka said. ‘He is the true ruler, not the king?’
‘No, no shogun. At the moment the country is ruled by Parliament, a sort of council I suppose you could call it.’ Temperance had never thought about it and cared even less. Her disinterest must have shown in her voice, for it was at this point that Tanaka clapped his hands for the servants to remove the food, then indicated that she should proceed him into an adjoining chamber.
‘Let us not discuss any more politics, we have better things to do,’ he said with a wolfish smile that made Temperance want to disgorge the contents of her stomach then and there. She hung onto her dinner and her composure by sheer force of will and walked through the door with her head held high, determined not to show weakness.
The Jade Lioness Page 11