Read Online The Peony Lantern by Frances Watts - Free Book Online Page B

should see this.’
    Although he hadn’t mentioned me, I rose too.
    Shimizu called to Haru to light the lamps.
    It was the first time I had entered the side of the house reserved for Lord Shimizu’s business. This reception room was larger than any room in the private quarters, twelve mats at least, and it was furnished with a low wooden desk. Behind it was the tokonoma , in which hung a sword, gleaming in the light of the standing lantern. Shimizu beckoned us closer so that we could see the engraving.
    â€˜You see here? It was signed by a master swordsmith from the Kamakura period. It was given to our ancestor six hundred years ago by Emperor Go-Saga.’
    I thought about what Ishi had said on my first morning in Edo, that Lord Shimizu was a true samurai, and I saw that she was right. He was modest, loyal and respectful, despite the fact that he came from an old and distinguished family. And his nephew would follow in his footsteps, I knew. After all, he was so unassuming as to bother with an innkeeper’s daughter . . .
    â€˜And how are you finding Edo, Kasumi?’ Isamu asked as we returned to the private quarters.
    â€˜It’s fine,’ I murmured.
    â€˜Just “fine”?’ he asked. ‘Not interesting, not exciting? Tell me, where have you been, what have you seen? It’s not like you to be so subdued.’
    â€˜I have nothing to tell,’ I said. ‘We haven’t left the house.’
    There was silence, and as I looked over at him I could see that Isamu’s eyebrows were drawn together in a quizzical look. ‘You mean never?’
    â€˜Not once.’
    â€˜But what do you do all day?’
    â€˜Once Misaki is dressed we sit in the reception room. If it’s not raining, we walk in the garden.’
    â€˜But . . . aren’t you bored?’
    Yes! I wanted to cry. How could I answer such a question? I longed to tell him that his uncle had made a mistake, that Shimizu’s wife found my presence irritating, that it was obvious I was too far beneath her to offer companionship. Yet I didn’t want to say anything that could be implied as criticism or ingratitude. For once, I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut.

    The next morning we were back to our usual routine. Misaki served her husband breakfast, I arranged her hair and dress, then we went to the reception room to watch the rain.
    Isamu’s surprise that we were so housebound had made me wonder why we never went out. It occurred to me that Misaki too was a stranger in the city; she probably had no idea of the sights. But Isamu had said there were interesting places to visit in our own district.
    Summoning up the courage to speak, I said, ‘Isamu-san mentioned that the Kanda shrine is nearby. Perhaps we could go there one day?’
    Misaki gave me a haughty look. ‘It wouldn’t do for us to be seen out on the street alone.’
    Of course not. Once again, I had betrayed my commonness. I felt ashamed for having asked. My father had hoped my time here would teach me humility. Well, his wish was coming true, I thought bitterly. I spent every day in the company of someone who had nothing but contempt for me. To think I had hoped I’d fit in here, that I might find a life that suited me better than the one at home. How foolish I had been. The stake that sticks up gets hammered down: it was my new mantra. Father couldn’t have devised a better lesson for me if he’d tried.
    Feeling dangerously close to crying, I drew a ragged breath just as Misaki heaved a sigh.
    I turned to look at her and our eyes met. For once, she didn’t look away. ‘What did you do at home when it rained, Kasumi?’
    â€˜Much the same as when it didn’t rain,’ I replied. My own voice sounded strange in my ears, I’d used it solittle. ‘We had fewer guests during the plum rains, as there weren’t so many travellers on the highway, but we had to keep the