Free The Samurai's Lady by Gaynor Baker

in his throat. It terrified her. She rolled over and cried herself quietly to sleep.
She woke early the next morning, dressed hurriedly and went for a walk. She needed to think of what to do.
She crossed the narrow street south of the samurai district turning north she gazed at the distant mountains.
She crossed the main street; past the castle and its gate, the sun was just beginning to rise in the eastern sky. All ready the sellers at the morning market outside the Temple were setting out vegetables and homemade items for the buyers. “Good morning Lady!” Called one old woman, holding up a bunch of fresh vegetables.
“I‟m busy now. Perhaps later.”
“You have only the morning, Lady.”
“Thank you.”
She was glad the woman did not pursue it; she had too many things to think about.
Then she remembered a merchant she had met weeks ago. He traveled a lot scouring out unique goods to sell. She was sure she‟d heard him say Toyama was one of his major stops.
She quickened her pace back along the narrow path and crossed the street in front of the market. It took several moments but she found the man setting up rare pottery and household articles near the back of the market.
Yes, he said, indeed he did remember her. And yes, Toyama was to be his next stop.
“I will be leaving in a few days.” He told her. “I will be most honored to do a favor for a lady such as you.”
Kimika explained the situation without giving details and he agreed to deliver a message.
She wrote it quickly and hid it away to be retrieved the next morning to take with her to the market.
But luck was not with her. Kazu wanted to go into town himself and insisted he accompany her. She wondered if he knew something, but no, she had written the letterwhile he was out. Since Katsuko‟s move to the pleasure district, she had no servant of her own and Kazu was not overly anxious to engage another. She decided his motives were innocent and followed after him to the market stalls.
He came with her and busied himself with the daikon seller while she negotiated the price of burdock root. She looked back over her shoulder and was pleased to see him still occupied.
Surreptitiously, so as not to attract attention she moved around to the back of the makeshift stalls to find the travelling merchant.
“Ah-Lady Kotchira.” He smiled pleasantly.
“I have the letter for you to deliver to my brother.” She handed him the sealed envelope. “I‟m afraid I can‟t tell you where he‟s staying but there should be an inn neartown. You could perhaps try there first.”
“I will be happy to do that. I shall need lodging myself and it will be no problem for me to make inquiries.”
“Thank you Hataro-San you will never know how much I appreciate this.” “Don‟t mention it, lady. Just be sure to buy my yard goods when I return, hmmm?”
“I will be most happy to.”
When Kazu joined her, he had a strange look on his face. Had he overheard anything? But she consoled herself, the conversation had a purely innocent explanation;the man was a seller of cloth and she was in the market for a new kimono. That was all.
Katharine woke to the sound of singing. It was far away a flowing melody that was sung by both men and women to the accompaniment of wood blocks and flutes and an unidentifiable stringed instrument.
She lay there blissfully listening to the tune then suddenly came wide-awake. Heart pounding she glanced at the open partition. She saw Fujito‟s shadow against the screen and relaxed again
He appeared in the opening.
“Ohiyo Gozaimasu.” He smiled
“Good morning.” She stretched languidly. “What is that wonderful music?” “It‟s the fishers and pearl divers in the bay.” He told her. “Now don‟t lie there to long, your breakfast will get cold.” He smiled.
He left her to dress.
When she came out she saw that he was not dressed as a samurai but in the simple yet elegant attire of a well to do doctor. The plainness was startling compared to the