asked around for another job and …’
Tora’s stared at her in profound shock. ‘B-but I thought you were done with all that,’ he stammered.
The ‘quarter’ was the pleasure quarter, where men could hire entertainers and prostitutes. Hanae was not only much in demand as a dancer at private parties, but she sang, too. Tora was afraid that she would become a great success and leave him. He still marveled that she had been willing to forego fame and fortune to share his humble life. No woman had ever made that sort of sacrifice for him, and he was both shamed and dizzy with pride. But now he might lose her after all. He clenched his fists in helpless misery.
She said gently, ‘It’s not that kind of job, Tora. I’m hoping to work as a nursemaid in a noble house. They have many servants so there won’t be any heavy work. My debts arealmost paid, and when the time comes that I get too big and clumsy to dance, I’ll have somewhere to go to earn the rest of the money. And when Master Ohiya hears that I’m working for Lord Sadanori, he will be patient.’
Tora stared at her unhappily. It had taken all of his money and Genba’s savings to pay for most of their little house. He had hoped to pay off the rest by the end of the year. If he could have taken Hanae home with him, the money they saved could have paid off her debts. But that was impossible. Akitada had always disliked Tora’s affairs with women from the quarter. He would not understand that this time it was different. And now that there was to be a child, Tora was doubly afraid because it might stir up fresh grief and more anger.
Hanae eyed him nervously. ‘It will be all right, Tora. You’ll see,’ she said in a small voice. ‘We’re young. Many people started life with less.’
‘We won’t be together. How will I see you? Who is this Sadanori? What do you know about him?’
‘He’s Fujiwara Sadanori. Very important in the government. And it will only be for a few months, and you can visit any time. I shall be back in the capital before you know it,’ she added softly.
‘Back in the capital? What do you mean? You aren’t going away?’
‘Not very far. Just over the eastern mountains. Near Uji. The roads are good, and it’s very pretty countryside. Very healthy, too. Much better than this great, dirty city.’ She was babbling, but she broke off when she saw Tora’s face.
‘No,’ he roared. ‘I forbid it. I’ll find the money. Somehow.’ It was an empty promise, and they both knew it.
Hanae turned away and occupied herself with their supper. Tora stormed outside and split wood so furiously that even Trouble kept his distance.
They ate their meal in silence. Tora could not stay the night. Even with Akitada’s indifference to household matters it was risky to be absent for too many nights. So when they were done, he said, ‘Tell me more about this job.’
She knew that this amounted to a surrender, but it saddenedher to see the pain in his eyes. ‘Lord Sadanori,’ she said, ‘is an imperial counselor and used to be steward to the empress’s household. He’s very rich and powerful and has big houses here and in the country. One of his wives will give birth soon. Someone from the quarter recommended me to him.’
Tora stared at her. ‘What? He found out about you in the quarter? And you want to go to live in his house?’
She flushed. ‘I tell you, it’s not like that. He knows I’m married and expecting your child. That’s why he offered me the job. He sent a very respectable woman to talk to me. She came in a sedan chair with a servant and wanted to know if I had taken care of children before and how far along I was. Besides, who would take a pregnant girl for a concubine?’
Tora grumbled, ‘He may be odd. Some men have strange fancies when it comes to lovemaking.’
She stifled a snort. After a moment, his mouth quirked and he leered at her. They burst into laughter.
‘How soon will you know if you have the
Tora’s stared at her in profound shock. ‘B-but I thought you were done with all that,’ he stammered.
The ‘quarter’ was the pleasure quarter, where men could hire entertainers and prostitutes. Hanae was not only much in demand as a dancer at private parties, but she sang, too. Tora was afraid that she would become a great success and leave him. He still marveled that she had been willing to forego fame and fortune to share his humble life. No woman had ever made that sort of sacrifice for him, and he was both shamed and dizzy with pride. But now he might lose her after all. He clenched his fists in helpless misery.
She said gently, ‘It’s not that kind of job, Tora. I’m hoping to work as a nursemaid in a noble house. They have many servants so there won’t be any heavy work. My debts arealmost paid, and when the time comes that I get too big and clumsy to dance, I’ll have somewhere to go to earn the rest of the money. And when Master Ohiya hears that I’m working for Lord Sadanori, he will be patient.’
Tora stared at her unhappily. It had taken all of his money and Genba’s savings to pay for most of their little house. He had hoped to pay off the rest by the end of the year. If he could have taken Hanae home with him, the money they saved could have paid off her debts. But that was impossible. Akitada had always disliked Tora’s affairs with women from the quarter. He would not understand that this time it was different. And now that there was to be a child, Tora was doubly afraid because it might stir up fresh grief and more anger.
Hanae eyed him nervously. ‘It will be all right, Tora. You’ll see,’ she said in a small voice. ‘We’re young. Many people started life with less.’
‘We won’t be together. How will I see you? Who is this Sadanori? What do you know about him?’
‘He’s Fujiwara Sadanori. Very important in the government. And it will only be for a few months, and you can visit any time. I shall be back in the capital before you know it,’ she added softly.
‘Back in the capital? What do you mean? You aren’t going away?’
‘Not very far. Just over the eastern mountains. Near Uji. The roads are good, and it’s very pretty countryside. Very healthy, too. Much better than this great, dirty city.’ She was babbling, but she broke off when she saw Tora’s face.
‘No,’ he roared. ‘I forbid it. I’ll find the money. Somehow.’ It was an empty promise, and they both knew it.
Hanae turned away and occupied herself with their supper. Tora stormed outside and split wood so furiously that even Trouble kept his distance.
They ate their meal in silence. Tora could not stay the night. Even with Akitada’s indifference to household matters it was risky to be absent for too many nights. So when they were done, he said, ‘Tell me more about this job.’
She knew that this amounted to a surrender, but it saddenedher to see the pain in his eyes. ‘Lord Sadanori,’ she said, ‘is an imperial counselor and used to be steward to the empress’s household. He’s very rich and powerful and has big houses here and in the country. One of his wives will give birth soon. Someone from the quarter recommended me to him.’
Tora stared at her. ‘What? He found out about you in the quarter? And you want to go to live in his house?’
She flushed. ‘I tell you, it’s not like that. He knows I’m married and expecting your child. That’s why he offered me the job. He sent a very respectable woman to talk to me. She came in a sedan chair with a servant and wanted to know if I had taken care of children before and how far along I was. Besides, who would take a pregnant girl for a concubine?’
Tora grumbled, ‘He may be odd. Some men have strange fancies when it comes to lovemaking.’
She stifled a snort. After a moment, his mouth quirked and he leered at her. They burst into laughter.
‘How soon will you know if you have the
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