The Samurai's Lady by Gaynor Baker Read Free Book Online

the pocket of his coat.
He entered a nearby ryokan and was shown to pleasant rooms at the back of the house looking over a neatly manicured garden. As he removed his outer coat, the crumpled paper fell to the floor.
He picked it up. A name near the middle of the page caught his eye “No, it can‟t be!” He whispered. His stomach constricted. Not Katsuko. Working in the bathhouses as a—
His face contorted in disgust. He crumpled the paper and threw it across the room.
It was his fault; the envoy had been bluffing. After the one incident in Nagasaki, there had been no more killings. She‟d had no need to leave; he could have hidden her identity, he was sure of it.
He retrieved the crumpled list from where it had landed beside the chest of drawers and looked at it.
He would have to move fast. But before he could don his coat a soft knock sounded at the door.
“Come in.” He barely kept the frustration at the delay out of his voice. “Excuse me, Fujito-Sama but there is someone here to see you.” The innkeeper stepped aside to reveal an older Samurai.
“Welcome to Kanazawa Fujito-Sama.” Maeda smiled and bowed low to welcome his honored guest. If they had one thing in common, it was their hatred and distrust of the
Shogunate. “I had heard of your arrival only an hour ago.”
“Domo, Maeda-Sama.”
“You must come to dinner with my wife and me tomorrow evening. Then we‟ll be entertained by the most beautiful Geisha Company in Kanazawa after the ladies retire.”
“Domo.” Fujito said again. His displeasure did not show behind his smile. What bad luck! Now he would have to wait one more day to search for Katharine. It was time to pay Kimika a visit.
The letter had not told the worst. He was horrified to learn that upon his return, Kazu had ordered Katharine to leave the safety of the household.
“What are you talking about?”
“His dye works. He made her work there.” Kimika answered timorously. She knew Isamu would not be angry with her, but she feared what he might do to Kazu. As bad as he was, what would she do without him? Her brother was an extremely patient and gentle man, but he hated her husband; indeed, he hated anyone who would exploit another human being.
“Tell me about the Mama-San.” His voice held controlled anger. His eyes were pools of iron.
“A Mama-San of the geisha house had seen her one day and commented on her beauty and her singing ability; she sang to keep from crying.” Kimika told him. “The mama-san had made a deal with Kazu. Since her services were needed at the works—”
She stopped, glancing sideways at him, fearing his reaction.
“Go on.” He told her tightly.
“Since Katsuko worked in the day, she would rent the girl out at night for entertainment; at some point, he hoped that the entertainment would include more than song and dance.”
“At twice the price, of course.” Fujito finished harshly.
“Yes.” She said softly. She did not want to acknowledge the look that suddenly passed over his eyes. But she was certain that this woman had affected him unlike anyother. “But she hasn‟t.” She strove to reassure him.
“No.” He said bitterness mingling with his anger. “Not yet.”
The sun was just beginning to sink behind the farthest buildings when Fujito prepared to leave. He was about to bid her good night when he heard Kazu return. As he made his way down the passage, he prayed that he would not say or do anything that would hurt his sister.
The brothers-in-law stared each other down in the entryway. Watching from the hearth Kimika felt the tension that was thick enough to cut with a blade. It looked for a moment as though her husband was afraid of her brother.
Kazu removed his swords and laid his scabbard aside.
Fujito kept his eyes on the other man and reached for his swords, tying the golden cords securely at his waist.
Kazu moved aside slowly.
Fujito secured his katana in the scabbard with a sharp hiss of blade against leather. He held the older man‟s