as if he deserved the abuse for letting her think Yoshisato was dead, for letting her suffer. It was fair retribution for what Yoshisato must be suffering at the hands of Lord Ienobu’s men.
If Yoshisato wasn’t already dead.
Lady Someko only lived in Yanagisawa’s house because she had nowhere else to go. But it wasn’t only pity or guilt that made him keep her with him; nor was it love or desire. They’d never loved each other, and he liked his sexual partners young and beautiful. Lady Someko was a connection to his son.
“Find Yoshisato,” he whispered urgently to Nakai. “Or you and I and everyone in this house are finished!”
12
SANO FOLLOWED THE guard to a room down the passage. Inside a samurai was arguing with another guard. Tomoe stood watching anxiously, her hands tucked inside the sleeves of her white robe.
“She’s my cousin.” His back to Sano, the samurai held a wicker hat in his gloved hand and gestured with it at Tomoe. His proud posture made him seem taller than his average height. His copper-colored, padded silk cloak was damp from the snow. He wore two swords with elaborate gold inlays at his waist. “I’m the head of our clan. She’s under my protection.”
“Who are you?” Sano asked.
The samurai turned. He bore a disconcerting resemblance to the shogun. If one shaved about thirty-five years off the shogun’s age, and gave him a backbone, this man would be the result. Sano recognized him. “Honorable Lord Tokugawa Yoshimune.”
“Greetings, Sano- san. ” Lord Yoshimune’s speech was confident instead of hesitant like the shogun’s, his refined features firmly set instead of slack. He wasn’t handsome, but his eyes had a hard, clear look of intelligence that made him attractive.
As they exchanged bows, Sano recalled that Yoshimune was a second cousin to the shogun and Lord Ienobu. He belonged to the Tokugawa branch clan that ruled Kii Province, a rich yet troubled agricultural region. He’d become the daimyo of it at the young age of twenty-one, after his father and elder brothers died. His clan had been in debt to the government for many years and still owed a fortune in tributes, and two years ago a tsunami had destroyed villages and killed many people in his province. Yoshimune had taken strong measures to help the survivors, trim expenses, and reduce the debt. With a growing reputation as an expert in finance and administration, he was spoken of as a new player on the political scene.
“The guards outside told me you were investigating the attack,” Yoshimune said.
“How did you get past them?” Sano asked.
“I convinced them that letting me in would cause less trouble than trying to keep me out.” Yoshimune said with a brash, youthful grin, “I brought some of my army along. That usually opens doors.”
“I didn’t know Tomoe was your cousin,” Sano said.
“Third cousin. She’s been a concubine since last year.”
Noble families, Tokugawa branch clans included, sent their girls to the palace on the off chance that the shogun would father a son on them. A son eligible to inherit the regime would make the sacrifice worthwhile.
“Would you have treated Tomoe more kindly if you’d known she was my cousin?” Hostility tightened Yoshimune’s expression. “I came as soon as I heard the news about the shogun and you’d already broken down a door and terrified her. I’m taking her home with me.” He turned to Tomoe. She smiled gratefully at him. His manner turned gentle. “Put on some warm clothes. It’s cold outside.”
Tomoe sidled to a cupboard and took out a cloak and sandals. Sano blocked the door. “She’s not leaving.”
“You can’t seriously believe she stabbed the shogun?”
“She doesn’t have an alibi, and she wouldn’t explain why she was taking a bath in the middle of the night.”
Tomoe stood on tiptoe to whisper in Yoshimune’s ear. As he listened, his hand clasped her waist in a gesture more intimate than a
If Yoshisato wasn’t already dead.
Lady Someko only lived in Yanagisawa’s house because she had nowhere else to go. But it wasn’t only pity or guilt that made him keep her with him; nor was it love or desire. They’d never loved each other, and he liked his sexual partners young and beautiful. Lady Someko was a connection to his son.
“Find Yoshisato,” he whispered urgently to Nakai. “Or you and I and everyone in this house are finished!”
12
SANO FOLLOWED THE guard to a room down the passage. Inside a samurai was arguing with another guard. Tomoe stood watching anxiously, her hands tucked inside the sleeves of her white robe.
“She’s my cousin.” His back to Sano, the samurai held a wicker hat in his gloved hand and gestured with it at Tomoe. His proud posture made him seem taller than his average height. His copper-colored, padded silk cloak was damp from the snow. He wore two swords with elaborate gold inlays at his waist. “I’m the head of our clan. She’s under my protection.”
“Who are you?” Sano asked.
The samurai turned. He bore a disconcerting resemblance to the shogun. If one shaved about thirty-five years off the shogun’s age, and gave him a backbone, this man would be the result. Sano recognized him. “Honorable Lord Tokugawa Yoshimune.”
“Greetings, Sano- san. ” Lord Yoshimune’s speech was confident instead of hesitant like the shogun’s, his refined features firmly set instead of slack. He wasn’t handsome, but his eyes had a hard, clear look of intelligence that made him attractive.
As they exchanged bows, Sano recalled that Yoshimune was a second cousin to the shogun and Lord Ienobu. He belonged to the Tokugawa branch clan that ruled Kii Province, a rich yet troubled agricultural region. He’d become the daimyo of it at the young age of twenty-one, after his father and elder brothers died. His clan had been in debt to the government for many years and still owed a fortune in tributes, and two years ago a tsunami had destroyed villages and killed many people in his province. Yoshimune had taken strong measures to help the survivors, trim expenses, and reduce the debt. With a growing reputation as an expert in finance and administration, he was spoken of as a new player on the political scene.
“The guards outside told me you were investigating the attack,” Yoshimune said.
“How did you get past them?” Sano asked.
“I convinced them that letting me in would cause less trouble than trying to keep me out.” Yoshimune said with a brash, youthful grin, “I brought some of my army along. That usually opens doors.”
“I didn’t know Tomoe was your cousin,” Sano said.
“Third cousin. She’s been a concubine since last year.”
Noble families, Tokugawa branch clans included, sent their girls to the palace on the off chance that the shogun would father a son on them. A son eligible to inherit the regime would make the sacrifice worthwhile.
“Would you have treated Tomoe more kindly if you’d known she was my cousin?” Hostility tightened Yoshimune’s expression. “I came as soon as I heard the news about the shogun and you’d already broken down a door and terrified her. I’m taking her home with me.” He turned to Tomoe. She smiled gratefully at him. His manner turned gentle. “Put on some warm clothes. It’s cold outside.”
Tomoe sidled to a cupboard and took out a cloak and sandals. Sano blocked the door. “She’s not leaving.”
“You can’t seriously believe she stabbed the shogun?”
“She doesn’t have an alibi, and she wouldn’t explain why she was taking a bath in the middle of the night.”
Tomoe stood on tiptoe to whisper in Yoshimune’s ear. As he listened, his hand clasped her waist in a gesture more intimate than a
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