The Samurai's Lady Read Free

remain here until then.
When it arrives you will be taken to Hirado and board the ship for home.” Her eyes filled with tears. “So I am your prisoner?” She asked through her sobs. “Please don‟t think of it that way.” He said gently. “You‟ll have the run of the garden, and your things; your music to occupy your time. Perhaps you would play for mesome time?” He smiled.
Vulnerable like this she was in fact quite beautiful. Her long black hair hung in soft waves to her waist, her eyes shielded by long-lashed lids.
She sensed he was trying to make her feel better and could tell by his words that it had not been his original plan to make her stay. It was not his fault; only fate had decreed she remain in this country.
“The Factor told you the ship would be back for certain in a year?” “Yes.”
“And he told you I could go back with them?”
“Yes. He told me he would send word immediately when the ship docked telling me its departure date.I must go now.” He stood. She stood with him. “But you are welcome to sit here as long as you wish. I can have Michiko call you for lunch.” He turned and walked away but stopped for a moment and came back to where she was still standing.
“I‟m very sorry, Katharine.” His voice was gentle, almost tender. He reached out a hand and brushed a tear from her cheek. Then he walked away, his back straight, as if he regretted his momentary lapse of control.
He stood on the hill above and watched her stoop down and drag a hand through the water.
He had been taken with her beauty when he had first found her three and a half months ago. Now that she had almost completely recovered, he found her also pleasing of personality, even if she was a little stubborn at times. But then, so was he. He smiled, then turned to walk toward the house. He did not know if there was such a thing as love at first sight, but the emotions that were churning within him now were a little more than mere fondness.
He could identify with how she felt. He had suffered much the same feelings when he had been elevated to Daimyo. He had not wanted the position; he would havebeen content in his apothecary‟s laboratory mixing herbs and powders for the sick. He had no desire to hold the lives of thousands of people in his hands or make daily life and death decisions that would make or break them.
As he walked back along the cobbled footpath he could not help thinking that if he‟d only gone to Hirado sooner perhaps he could have forestalled the ship‟s departure, at least until she had been strong enough to travel back with them. The Factor had told him the whole story. Katharine had hidden aboard the vessel and had not been discovered until the night of the storm that had washed her up on the beach. She had, evidently thought it was the Mary Haven she was boarding. But that ship had left that afternoon and instead she hid on the Spanish Queen bound for the Japans and Macao.
Why had she felt the need to escape her homeland? What had made staying so detestable that she would risk death to get away? He did not wish to consider what would have surely happened if he had not been on the beach when she had been washed ashore by the tide.
As he considered it now, her beauty would facilitate his plan. Although her hair was wavy it was the right color and could be styled so as not to draw attention. Her eyes were brown and almond shaped and with a little makeup could appear oriental. She was alittle on the tall side but at 5‟9, he was taller than his peers. It was not until later that evening that he told her of the rest of the plan. “You want me to what? Are you out of your mind?”
“No.” He eyed her seriously. “You look very much like us already.” He smiled. “With Michiko‟s expert hand at applying your make up you will have no problems withyour appearance.”
“And what do I do about talking? I suppose you want me to remain mute?” He laughed aloud. “I had thought of it. But I don‟t think