Sano pursed his mouth, aware that Hirata meant they should follow Hoshina’s example and fabricate evidence against Fujio, Momoko, or the treasury minister to save Sano.
Understanding flashed in Reiko’s eyes. “False incrimination is less harmful to a dead person than to a live one,” she said with cautious hope.
That Hirata and Reiko would even consider such dishonesty meant they were at a loss for what else to do. “It’s already occurred to me,” Sano admitted. “But I’m not desperate enough to frame someone who might be innocent, whether the person is alive or dead. Especially since there’s a whole area of inquiry that we haven’t yet explored.”
“What’s left?” Reiko said, puzzled.
“Lord Mitsuyoshi himself,” Sano said.
Hirata frowned. “The shogun forbade you to investigate his background.”
“And I would hate to disobey.” At the very thought of defying his lord, Sano tasted nauseating disgrace. “But Mitsuyoshi represents a direct connection to the killer. Investigating him and his associates should produce new clues. And what are the alternatives?
“We can keep on investigating Fujio, Momoko, and Nitta, and maybe find new evidence on territory we’ve already covered. We can hope for new suspects to emerge, and Wisteria’s lover from Hokkaido to turn up, or Police Commissioner Hoshina to drop dead.” Sano watched Reiko and Hirata shake their heads, doubting the likelihood of these events. “We can pray for a miracle.”
“Investigating Lord Mitsuyoshi does seem the most promising course of action,” Reiko said.
“The shogun will punish you for insubordination,” Hirata reminded Sano.
“I’ll risk that because he’ll put me to death unless I prove my innocence,” Sano said.
“Maybe he’ll forgive you when he realizes you’re not a traitor,” Hirata suggested hopefully.
The odds against Sano outweighed those in his favor. He said, “Maybe we can solve the case without the shogun finding out I’ve disobeyed him-and before Hoshina or our other enemies can cause us any more trouble.”
Lady Yanagisawa stood alone in her chamber, waiting for the only guest she’d ever invited to visit her.
She wrung her cold, perspiring hands and breathed deeply to loosen the knot of anxiety in her stomach. She dreaded receiving a virtual stranger, and the thought of anyone breaching the sanctuary of her room. But the visit must take place here, in the privacy she needed.
Her chief attendant appeared in the doorway. “There’s a girl here to see you.”
Lady Yanagisawa’s heart lurched as she fought the urge to run and hide. “Bring her here,” she said.
Determination fostered courage. She’d already taken a step against Reiko, but the consequences were too uncertain. If Lady Yanagisawa expected to sway the balance of fortune in her favor, she must persevere, despite her regret over her malice toward her friend.
Reiko’s nursemaid O-hana entered the room. She wore a fashionable red kimono printed with a design of snow on black tree branches. Avid curiosity shone through her modest demeanor, belied her hesitant step.
“Welcome,” Lady Yanagisawa murmured. She clasped her trembling hands under her sleeves, intimidated by O-hana’s bold, pretty face.
O-hana knelt and bowed. “It’s a privilege for this insignificant person to be summoned to your presence, Honorable Lady.” Her voice brimmed with eagerness to ingratiate herself with her hostess. “A million thanks for inviting me.”
Lady Yanagisawa had recognized O-hana as a good prospective accomplice the moment she’d laid eyes on the girl at Reiko’s house; yet she needed another chance to judge O-hana’s character. Kneeling opposite her guest, Lady Yanagisawa forced herself to look at O-hana. The girl’s eyes sparkled with a verve and cunning that repelled, yet gratified Lady Yanagisawa.
“May I offer you some refreshment?” Lady Yanagisawa asked.
While they waited for a servant to bring tea and food, O-hana said, “Your chamber is nicer than Lady Reiko’s.” Her sharp gaze took in the gilded murals, the shelf of antique porcelain ware, the lacquer tables, cabinets, and chests inlaid with gold and mother-of-pearl. “And this estate is much bigger than the sosakan-sama’s.”
She liked expensive things and aspired to a higher station than her job as a nursemaid, Lady Yanagisawa noted with satisfaction. Whatever loyalty O-hana had to her mistress would likely matter less to her than the chance for a connection with someone who could give her things that Reiko couldn’t.
“Please enjoy my home during your time here,” Lady Yanagisawa said, her self-confidence rising.
“You’re so kind. Many thanks.” Smiling vividly, O-hana said, “When I got your message, I couldn’t imagine what you could want with me.”
It wasn’t her place to turn the conversation toward the reason for the invitation. O-hana was a little too forward for her own good, but that suited Lady Yanagisawa. Her aims would benefit from the girl’s bold initiative.
“We shall discuss that soon enough,” Lady Yanagisawa said.
The refreshments arrived. Too tense to eat, Lady Yanagisawa watched O-hana consume trout roe served in an orange rind, sashimi, shrimp stuffed with quail eggs, roasted gingko nuts, and sweet cakes. The nursemaid ate very fast, as if the food might be snatched from her before she got enough. Lady Yanagisawa liked O-hana’s insecurity as well as her greed.
“That was delicious,” O-hana said, licking her lips. “How I regret that I, a poor nursemaid, am not in a position to give you something in return.”
Lady Yanagisawa smiled. Her shyness ebbed as she felt herself gaining mastery over the girl. “You could tell me about yourself,” she said.
O-hana’s eyebrows rose in surprise that a lady of high rank should care to know about a servant, but she gladly complied. 'My father is a clerk at the Hinokiya Drapery Store. One of the sosakan-sama’s soldiers is a customer. He befriended my father and arranged for me to be a nurse to Masahiro-chan. I didn’t really want to be a servant because I’d rather get married. But the work isn’t too hard, and I love Edo Castle. Here I get to meet better kinds of men than I can meet at home. I’m hoping I’ll find a husband who can give me a nice house and pretty clothes and I won’t have to earn my own living anymore.”
And if she snared a Tokugawa samurai retainer, she would move far up the social scale. Lady Yanagisawa was glad to find that O-hana wanted something so ordinary and easily granted. “I can arrange that,” Lady Yanagisawa said.
“What?” O-hana said, startled.
“A good match for you, with a Tokugawa samurai.” Lady Yanagisawa’s money and her husband’s position would be enough to entice someone to marry a pretty commoner.
O-hana looked amazed by her good fortune, yet puzzled. “You would do that for me?” She touched her chest. Then suspicion sharpened her eyes: She wasn’t a fool; she knew favors didn’t come free. “Why?”
“Because there’s something I want you to do for me,” Lady Yanagisawa said. Her heart began to pound with her urgent need to engage O-hana’s cooperation and her fear that she would fail.
“What is it?” Though her voice was cautious, O-hana leaned forward, as if to jump at her heart’s desire.
“First I want you to tell me everything Lady Reiko does. Second… I can’t tell you just yet,” Lady Yanagisawa said.
“You want me to do something to Lady Reiko?” O-hana wilted; her face took on a queasy expression. “I wouldn’t want to hurt her.” The girl was ambitious, but not evil, Lady Yanagisawa realized. “And I don’t want to get in trouble.”
She had an instinct for self-preservation that was stronger than any affection she felt for Reiko. This discovery heartened Lady Yanagisawa. She understood that O-hana might be persuaded if she knew she would escape blame.
“I promise you won’t have to lay a hand on Lady Reiko, and you won’t get in trouble,” Lady Yanagisawa said. “Let us strike a bargain. In the near future I shall give you instructions about what to do. You shall follow them. Afterward, I shall arrange your marriage to a rich, handsome Tokugawa samurai, and you shall want for nothing.”
