Free The Scarlet Kimono (Choc Lit) by Christina Courtenay

look in her direction, but Hannah threw him her own treat for good measure. Then she heard whispered voices nearby and stilled.
    ‘Rafael, I shouldn’t be here. Must you really leave?’
    ‘Kate, my lovely Kate, you know I have to. And you can’t be so cruel as to send me on my way without something to remember you by. Sweetheart, I have thought of nothing but you for weeks. Your eyes, your smile … I can’t endure another minute without …’
    ‘No, really I shouldn’t … oh! Rafael …’
    The whispering turned into small whimpering noises and grunts and Hannah clamped her teeth together hard and turned away. She didn’t care what favours Kate chose to bestow on the captain. Soon her sister would be married, whereas Hannah needed to make haste.
    Quickly, she changed into Edward’s clothes. The shirt was slightly too large, but topped by a waistcoat it hid the few curves she possessed. The breeches were also a bit on the generous side, but were easily secured by a belt. The only thing that remained to be done was to cut her waist-long hair up to shoulder length and plait it. She had brought a pair of shears for this purpose and stuffed the leftover tresses into a hole in a nearby tree trunk. Then, to be on the safe side, Hannah rammed a hat down onto her head and smeared some dirt on her cheeks, although she didn’t think anyone would look twice at her in this outfit.
    She tip-toed over to the gate that led out into the little alleyway and pushed back the bolts. Fortunately, it opened a crack without the hinges squeaking too much. Hannah squeezed through and pulled it shut behind her. She couldn’t do anything about the bolts, but since the house was locked she didn’t think it mattered. With the sack in one hand, she began to run in the direction of the harbour.
    She only looked back once.

Chapter Eight
     
    Northern Japan, August 1611
     
    Taro sat cross-legged on the dais, outwardly calm and infinitely patient. Inside, however, it was a different matter.
    He should have been concentrating on what his vassals were saying. Each one was brought forward in turn with this petition or that complaint, as was the custom. Normally he would listen carefully before forming as fair an opinion as he could and passing judgement. Today, he barely heard them.
    If his people noticed that his answers were more vague than usual, no one dared to comment on it. At one point he saw his most trusted advisor, Tadashi, frown at something his lord had just said, and Taro forced himself to concentrate properly for a while.
    ‘Wait.’ He held up a hand. ‘Could you repeat that, please? You were mumbling.’ Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tadashi’s shoulders relax as the petition was dealt with efficiently. When this was done, Taro rose abruptly signalling the end of the session. ‘You will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to this morning. The rest of you return tomorrow, if you please.’ He gave a small nod and everyone in the room bowed low.
    Although his words had been polite, everyone knew they were a command, not a request. No one argued with a daimyo , that was unheard of. As a feudal lord, Taro’s power was absolute. If he had told Tadashi to cut off the last petitioner’s head, it would have been done instantly, without hesitation. For that matter, had he ordered Tadashi to commit suicide, seppuku , the man would have obeyed just as readily.
    Being a daimyo wasn’t easy, but it was something which had been bred into him for as long as he could remember. A daimyo could in theory do whatever he pleased, but with this freedom came the burdens of justice, benevolence, courtesy and honour. Taro’s father had believed that benevolence and wisdom were the most important requirements for a ruler and he had impressed this upon his son. Taro therefore always tried his best to be magnanimous and fair in his dealings with his clan and vassals.
    As everyone filed out of the long, high-ceilinged room, Taro stayed