The Scarlet Kimono (Choc Lit) (35 page)
Read The Scarlet Kimono (Choc Lit) Online
Authors: Christina Courtenay
Tags: #Romance, #Historical, #Fiction
‘I did try to hurry the serving women, but they wanted me to look perfect for you.’
‘You always do, Hannah-
chan
. You have no need of their ointments, trust me.’ He looked at her, suddenly serious. ‘But are you absolutely certain you wish to stay? I took it for granted when I came after you, but perhaps I was wrong?’
‘Of course I want to stay, more than anything in the world. As soon as I opened your gift, I knew it had been a mistake to leave, but I didn’t know what to do about it.’ She leaned against him, ‘I still feel bad about making Jacob believe I’m gone, but as long as you want me, it’s worth it. No one will ever know if we keep it a secret until they have sailed for home. And I could have died on the journey back in any case. Who knows what might have happened.’
‘Yes.’ He frowned slightly. ‘Hoji-
san
insisted you were right and he seems devoted to you.’
‘Hoji has been very good to me. He’s my friend, my very great friend and mentor. I’m so glad he was able to come back here to stay with us for a while. Did Jacob mind him leaving?’
‘No, apparently he said Hoji-
san
had fulfilled his vow to the captain and therefore he was free to go. Besides, he didn’t tell them he was coming here obviously.’ He smiled at her. ‘Your brother’s loss is my gain. I’ve made Hoji-
san
one of my advisors.’
‘Oh, Taro, that’s wonderful! Thank you.’
‘It will be my honour to have such a loyal man serve me. I shall have a document drawn up to appoint him formally.’
Hannah bit her lip. ‘There is something else I should probably tell you.’
‘And what is that?’ Taro could guess her next words, but he wanted to hear it from her.
‘I’m with child.’
Taro grinned. ‘Actually, I knew that already. Yanagihara-
san
told me. I just hope the babe wasn’t harmed by your recent ordeal?’
‘I don’t think so, I feel fine.’ She hesitated. ‘You’re pleased? Truly?’
‘More than I can say. Oh, I know it won’t be easy for us or our children, but we’ll manage somehow.’
She pulled herself closer to him. ‘Then I’m glad. This is where I belong.’
‘Yes, I believe it is our fate to be together. You’ll miss your own people, but I suppose it can’t be helped.’
‘I would miss you more. That’s what we call love in English and once you have experienced it, there’s nothing you can do about it. And I am most definitely in love with you.’
‘Ah, that explains it then. I must be in love too, which is why I couldn’t find my harmony after you had gone.’
‘Together, we’ll make sure we never lose it again.’
He chuckled. ‘Absolutely, my little
gai-jin
.’
About the Author
Christina lives in London and is married with two children. Although born in England she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden. In her teens, the family moved to Japan where she had the opportunity to travel extensively in the Far East.
Christina is an accomplished writer of novellas.
The Scarlet Kimono
is her second novel.
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