The Scarlet Kimono (Choc Lit) by Christina Courtenay Read Free Book Online

wrong, you have no cause to repudiate her.’ Yanagihara slowly shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, my lord, but you will have to make the best of this situation. As I said, it’s your fate. As long as you are aware of the pitfalls, that may be enough to protect you.’
    ‘From what? You think she’ll harm me?’
    ‘No. Not unless … no. I don’t think so. You must pretend that nothing is wrong and always treat her as is her due. Never slight her or her sister. Please remember that.’
    ‘Very well, I’ll do my best.’ Taro sighed again, feeling deeply disillusioned already after such a short time. ‘It’s not the way I had hoped it would be.’
    ‘Nothing in life ever is.’

Chapter Five
     
    Plymouth, Devon, 4th June 1611
     
    It was the longest dance of her life.
    Hannah went through the motions with a fake smile pasted onto her face, but she couldn’t suppress a shiver each time her hands came into contact with those of Mr Hesketh. He seemed oblivious to her plight and continued to smile at her with that peculiar look of triumph still lurking in his eyes. At every opportunity, his fingers lingered longer than necessary. Hannah had to bite back a sharp rebuke.
    At long last the music came to an end. Mr Hesketh put a proprietorial hand on the small of Hannah’s back which, in the throng of people, she couldn’t escape straight away. She glanced around once more, trying to find some reason for leaving him, but couldn’t see anything.
    ‘I have been meaning to visit, Mistress Hannah, as I had something I particularly wanted to speak to you about,’ Mr Hesketh was saying, ‘but unfortunately business matters have kept me away.’
    ‘Really?’ Hannah hardly paid attention to his words and continued to scan the room for Jacob or some other acquaintance to use as an excuse.
    ‘Yes, I was going to …’
    An expectant hush suddenly descended on the assembled company, followed by a collective gasp. Mr Hesketh fell silent too. His mouth opened wide in astonishment. He, like everyone else, was staring towards the door to the hall. Hannah turned to look.
    ‘There he is,’ someone whispered. ‘Ooohh, isn’t he strange looking?’
    ‘Very odd, to be sure.’
    ‘Mother, why is he so dark?’
    ‘Look at those evil little eyes. Pure malice, if you ask me.’ The speaker muttered a quick prayer.
    Hannah craned her neck to see this mysterious ‘he’. Instead she caught sight of Captain Rydon standing by the door, his golden hair shining in a sunbeam. At first she thought he was alone, but then she noticed that he was towering over a small, dark man. The stranger was dressed in some kind of baggy breeches and a threadbare, belted silk jacket. Hannah had never seen clothes like that before.
    ‘Here he is, good people. This is Hodgson, the little Chinaman I brought back with me from my last voyage. I saved his life, so he’s sworn to serve me until he saves mine.’ The captain beamed proudly at the guests, most of whom were now staring rudely at the man, as if he were a freak of nature. The foreigner himself only bowed politely.
    ‘Hodgson? What kind of name is that for a Chinaman?’ someone muttered.
    ‘It’s not his real name, of course, that would be far too difficult for us to pronounce.’ Rydon laughed, while the foreigner remained impassive.
    Hannah stared along with the rest of the guests. She had to admit the man had a strange look about him. He had unusual eyes and a tiny snub nose, but she didn’t find him ugly precisely. Different, yes, but not ugly.
    ‘I wouldn’t want to meet him in the dark,’ someone whispered behind her. ‘Would frighten me to death, that it would.’
    Hannah frowned in the general direction of the speaker, a large woman of ample proportions. The man wasn’t that scary, in fact he was tiny compared to the lady. Hannah was tempted to speak up in his defence, but she managed to hold her tongue. Instead she shook off Mr Hesketh’s hand at last with a curt, ‘Excuse me,