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

but I really must speak to my brother Edward.’
    ‘But Mistress Hannah, I hadn’t finished telling you …’
    She pretended deafness and made her way through the crowd with a half-formed idea of trying to rescue the Chinaman. She knew what it was like to be stared at – her red hair had seen to that – and felt sorry for him. She soon realised it wasn’t necessary, however. The attention he was receiving didn’t seem to be affecting him in the slightest. Hodgson stayed serene and just looked around the room with curiosity. As his gaze caught Hannah’s, she gave him what she hoped was a sympathetic smile. She thought she saw him nod slightly in acknowledgement. Then he smiled to himself and Hannah frowned. What could he possibly find to amuse him in this awkward situation?
    ‘Where did you say you found him?’
    ‘Do you keep him under lock and key?’
    ‘Tell us more about your journeys, Captain Rydon.’
    There were exclamations and questions from every quarter now, as all the guests began to talk at once. Everyone wanted to be told the story of how the captain had saved the foreigner’s life and they all wanted to hear Hodgson speak. Hannah noticed her sister pouting, no doubt put out that she wasn’t the centre of attention any longer. But even Kate seemed fascinated when the Chinaman stepped forward to oblige them.
    ‘Good eeveh-ning,’ he said and followed this with another polite bow. He added a few more halting words, most of which sounded like nonsense. There were titters and chuckles from the guests.
    ‘How quaint, to be sure.’
    ‘Well, what do you expect from a barbarian?’
    Hannah shook her head and retreated into a corner once more, making sure that Mr Hesketh was nowhere in sight. She frowned again when she saw Hodgson being touched surreptitiously several times. It was as if the guests didn’t believe him to be real, and she wondered how he put up with this without losing his temper.
    She heard snatches of the captain’s story and listened against her will. ‘Hodgson was working as a mercenary … yes, in the pay of a Portuguese merchant … ambushed in the dark … heard the cries, so of course I ran to the rescue …’ An image of the gallant captain rushing towards the robbers with his sword raised formed in Hannah’s mind and she sighed. That would be quite a sight, she was sure, and no wonder the thieves had fled.
    The guests grew bored with the subject at last and Hodgson was given permission to wander around. Hannah watched him for a while as he made a circuit of the room, his keen gaze taking everything in. He stopped to finger some of the tapestries. Hannah saw her mother’s eyes narrow in suspicion, but he replaced them all with great care. Whenever he bumped into any of the guests, however, or even came near them, they recoiled with barely contained exclamations. They looked as though his mere presence was a contamination of some sort. Hannah shook her head. He seemed just like an ordinary man to her.
    She leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. A pounding ache was battering her forehead. Desperately wanting to escape, she made her way over to her mother’s side. ‘Mama, may I retire now, please? My head hurts terribly.’
    ‘No, no, out of the question. It would be most impolite to the betrothed couple. Go to the kitchen and have Emma brew you a tisane.’ Mistress Marston shooed her daughter away. ‘Hurry, now. Dear Kate is having such a lovely time, I’m sure she won’t miss you for a few moments. And Mr Hesketh will no doubt want to claim another dance.’
    Hannah looked over towards the table where Kate sat with her future husband. She noticed that Henry had placed an arm around Kate’s shoulders, which she was trying to wriggle away from without much success. Hannah saw Kate send an imploring glance to the captain, who was now lounging against the wall just a few feet away. He didn’t seem to be in any hurry to come to Kate’s rescue though