of his master’s death, took him to the main reception hall and indicated a single silk cushion placed before an empty dais at the end of the large, dim room.
The dais was new since Soga’s days and suggested aspirations beyond Kiyowara’s recent rank – that or the expectation of an imperial visit. The coffered ceiling was lacquered dark brown, the heavy beams had gilded mounts, and the squares between were painted in a red and white design – probably the Kiyowara crest. The dais was covered with thick tatami mats edged in red brocade, and on the wall behind it was a large painting of flowering branches and birds. Someone had set up a lacquered curtain stand with costly brocade hangings and had placed three silk pillows, one in front of the others, on the tatami mats before it.
It was to be an official reception, something resembling an audience. In a way it was reassuring – the Kiyowaras did not intend to have him cut down by their soldiers. But Akitada’s placement below the splendor of the dais was also insulting. He considered his own descent far more ancient and noble than that of a Kiyowara.
At least they did not make him wait. A door slid open in the painted panel, and three people slipped in. Lady Kiyowara and her companion were gorgeously robed in scented silk, but wore short hemp jackets over their many- hued gowns. They were followed by a young male. Akitada guessed that this was the son and heir. He also wore expensive silks under his hemp jacket and looked pale and nervous.
Lady Kiyowara seated herself in the center of the dais, while her son and companion took their places behind. The arrangement meant that Lady Kiyowara intended to conduct the interview. It also implied that she would speak for the heir because of his youth.
Akitada was curious about the son, but could not get a good look at him, except to note a high forehead over slanted brows that met above his nose. He seemed to be fifteen or sixteen and was subdued for a young male who had just succeeded to his father’s title.
He had a slightly better view of the elderly companion, who held a small box. Neither woman had applied the thick white paste and heavy black and red paint common among upper-class women. Though this, too, was meant to signify mourning, Akitada preferred it. He disliked the custom, and Tamako rarely painted her face.
Both women held up fans, but these did not always hide the face and never the eyes. Lady Kiyowara appeared to be a few years older than Tamako, perhaps by five or ten, but she had fine features. Her elderly attendant was extremely plain. Neither looked particularly distraught.
Akitada hoped the son, at least, grieved for his father.
They exchanged bows. Lady Kiyowara studied him carefully over her fan. The fan was plain paper with a faint dusting of gold – very proper. Her eyes were thinly outlined in black, so subtly that they looked natural. It was very attractive. He must tell Tamako about this, he thought, then became impatient with the formalities.
‘You asked to see me, madam?’ he asked without preamble.
She blinked at his abruptness and shot a glance at her companion before saying softly, ‘Thank you for coming so promptly, sir, and at such an inauspicious time. Allow me to introduce my son and my lady-in-waiting. I sent for you because I have need of your advice. You are said to have a certain expertise in matters of this sort.’
Akitada made her another slight bow. ‘If Your Ladyship refers to Lord Kiyowara’s murder, I must tell you that I have been warned away from the case. It seems people have seen fit to suggest I might have had a hand in it myself.’ There, that was blunt speaking and should cut through other circumlocutions.
She raised her fan a fraction higher, but he could see her eyes flashing. She was surely an intelligent woman. He must be on his guard.
After a moment, she said, ‘Yes, it is best to speak plainly. The police have assured me that you are not considered a suspect. Perhaps you would explain your previous visit more fully yourself?’
He had been right about her intelligence. And Kobe had protected him. He kept the explanation short. ‘I was recently passed over for a position I held for more than a year. An incompetent man was put in my place. When I discovered that this was done on your husband’s order, and since Lord Kiyowara and I were strangers, I came here to see if some mistake had been made. Now I am thought to have come for revenge. I did not, of course, though I would have been angry to find out that Lord Kiyowara had ruined me simply because it suited him to do so.’
She looked at him silently, as if weighing his words. Then she said, ‘I am sorry. My husband’s affairs were not mine.’
That was surely a bald-faced lie. Her brother-in-law was Chancellor and Regent Yorimichi. Akitada said coldly, ‘Many would say that your husband owed his career to you.’
She stiffened. ‘He owed his career to his ability and his past service to the emperor.’
‘My case exactly, but that did not prevent Lord Kiyowara from replacing me with an inferior.’ Akitada bit his lip. He would gain nothing by further antagonizing the lady. ‘Perhaps you had better tell me why you called on me under these circumstances.’
Her eyes narrowed, and he realized that she was smiling. ‘You are still angry, and yet you are here,’ she said.
He said nothing.
‘I asked you to come because the policeman speaks highly of you, and because I want a separate investigation into my husband’s murder.’ She gestured to her companion, who got to her knees and shuffled over, setting the small box down in front of her. Lady Kiyowara flipped open the lid and turned the box towards Akitada. It was filled to the brim with gold. ‘This should replace your lost income for the year. Allow me to offer this gold for your services. When you have completed the investigation, you will receive another box just like this. Together, I believe, they equal two years of your salary as senior secretary in your ministry.’
Akitada’s face burned with shame. It was one thing to be paid a salary for his service to the emperor, and quite another to be bribed by this woman to protect her family. Worse, most likely he was here because he was Kobe’s friend. He wanted to reject the offer disdainfully, but his circumstances did not permit empty gestures. Still, he was very angry.
‘I am flattered, but Superintendent Kobe is well able to handle this.’
She frowned. ‘Nevertheless, I would like you to act for me.’
‘It is impossible to say where a murder investigation leads. If you think I can avert an arrest of yourself or a member of your family, you give me too much credit.’ He saw that she was offended and pressed on. ‘Besides, it is too early to say what I may find, or if what I find out is going to please you. For example, it may be that your son quarreled with his father -’ that had been Tora’s opinion, but one that had surely been correct – ‘or that you yourself preferred another man to your husband.’
The elderly lady gasped, and Lady Kiyowara dropped her fan and stared at him in shock. ‘W-what?’
‘Your son’s anger was observed by others. He rode down an old woman in the street outside. And as I waited in the anteroom on the day of the murder, I overheard shouting in your husband’s room. As for Your Ladyship: Lord Ono and I met the afternoon of your husband’s murder. Ono was coming from your quarters. I assume he has informed you of my visit. He did not hide his close relationship with you.’
‘Then he lied about me,’ she snapped. ‘And so did the people who accused my son. He was not here at the time of his father’s death. Who told you those things? If they are servants of mine, they will be dismissed.’
He liked her less for that outburst and said, ‘That will hardly stop the rumors. I expect Superintendent Kobe is already aware of them.’
Her shoulders sagged abruptly, and she bowed her head. ‘What shall I do?’ she said softly. ‘Oh, what can I do? I hoped you would help me, but what good are you if you believe those tales?’
That disconcerted him. ‘Neither your relationship with Ono nor your son’s anger necessarily prove guilt,’ he said, ‘but I will not be bought.’
She looked up, startled. ‘Bought? Oh… Oh, I did not… That was not… I beg your pardon.’ She quickly closed the lid on the box as if to remove the offensive sight from his eyes. That almost made him smile. ‘But if you thought that,’ she said more calmly, taking up her fan again, ‘then you must think us guilty, my son and me. Individually or together.’
‘Again, no. But if I am to undertake the work you propose, then it must be on the condition that I shall find out the truth no matter who is hurt by it.’
She quickly pushed the box towards him. ‘Of course. It shall be as you wish. I must trust that you are infallible, sir,’ she said. ‘Now, what do you wish to know?’
He did not touch the box and glanced at her companion. The woman looked frightened.
Lady Kiyowara said quickly, ‘My lady-in-waiting is in my confidence. She knows we have nothing to fear. Ask whatever you wish.’
