The Scarlet Kimono (Choc Lit) (15 page)

‘Are you hurt?’

The question was curt, but Hannah thought she detected a hint of concern in his voice. From what she could see in the light from a nearby lantern, he was also frowning.

‘I’m fine. Thank you very much for your help, Kuma-
sama
.’

‘Are
gai-jins
really stupid enough to let their women wander around all alone in the dark?’ he asked.

Hannah realised belatedly that he’d told the drunk youth to let ‘her’ go. She stared at him. ‘W-women?’ she stammered.

He made an impatient noise. ‘I’m not blind,
Akai
. Nor am I stupid. So what are you doing out at this time of night?’

‘Uhm, I was running away,’ Hannah admitted, although now that she said it out loud, it sounded even more stupid.

‘
Nani
?’ he barked, his frown deepening into a heavy scowl. ‘What?’

Hannah shook her head. ‘I know, it was very foolish of me, and I had just reached that conclusion myself when those – those men found me. I’m going straight back now, I swear.’

‘I’ll make sure of it. Come.’

‘Really, there’s no need for you to escort me. I’ll be on my guard now.’

He snorted. ‘And what will that achieve? You’re no match for any man, are you?’ As if to demonstrate this, he swooped on her and scooped her into his arms, holding her tight to his chest so she couldn’t move her arms. Hannah gasped. Although he probably meant to frighten her a little, she felt a strange exhilaration instead. She’d only been held close by a man before when Mr Hesketh … but she refused to think about that. This was different and for some reason she wasn’t scared.

‘Lord Kuma! Please, let me go. I – I understand.’

He did, apparently satisfied that he had made his point. ‘Don’t ever go wandering around on your own again,’ he said sternly.

‘I won’t, trust me.’ She tried to keep the slight trembling out of her voice, but he had disconcerted her with his demonstration and she had to make an effort to calm herself. He began to walk in the direction of Rydon’s house and she fell into step beside him, suddenly grateful for his presence.

‘Now what were you running from?’ he asked.

‘Er, something my brother wants me to do that I don’t agree with.’

‘He is older than you,
neh
, and your father is not here?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then it is his right to decide for you, in your country as well as here?’

Hannah sighed and nodded.

‘Well then?’ he prompted. ‘It is your duty to obey. Why are you fighting against it?’

‘I don’t know.’ She gritted her teeth. Lord Kuma was right and perhaps Jacob was as well. She had behaved badly, running away in such a hoydenish manner, not to mention concealing herself among hundreds of men for so long. Anything could have happened to her and if it hadn’t been for Hoji, she would have been lost. If marrying Rydon would atone for that, then surely it
was
her duty to go through with it? Her family’s honour was at stake, not to mention her own, such as it was.

She felt her shoulders slump in defeat.
I brought this on myself. I must take the consequences.

They had reached the gate to Rydon’s house and she turned towards Lord Kuma and bowed. ‘Thank you again, my lord. You are very kind and I’m in your debt.’

‘
Dozo
. You’re very welcome. Perhaps you will be able to repay me soon.’

With that enigmatic sentence he was gone.

Chapter Twenty

The marriage ceremony took place on the verandah the following morning. A Dutch clergyman had been found to officiate, although he didn’t look too happy about it. Hannah suspected he didn’t like the English and had been coerced into performing this duty since he kept throwing malevolent glances at everyone. It made no difference to her.

He wasn’t the only one who had been forced to attend. Rydon was standing beside her, looking like a volcano about to erupt. He kept alternately glaring at her and peering at her as if he couldn’t believe she was the same person as the boy he’d employed to cook for him. For the wedding, however, she’d been dressed in a hastily purchased plain
kimono
and her hair had been washed and left loose. There could be no doubt that she was a woman.

Hoji had reported that Jacob and Rydon had had a row of epic proportions while she’d been gone the night before, and she could well believe it. Somehow Jacob seemed to have prevailed, however, since Rydon didn’t officially protest. His eyes made his feelings plain though.

The Dutch priest spoke heavily accented English, but used mostly Latin phrases to perform the service. As the
lingua franca
of Europe, this was obviously easier for him and Hannah had no difficulty in following the words. The minister back in her parish church in Plymouth insisted on using Latin for important rites, so she was used to that. Not that she was interested in hearing any of it and she could see from Rydon’s mutinous expression he was of the same mind.

Jacob was of course present, but Hannah didn’t so much as look at him. Despite having thought about it some more after Lord Kuma left, she still didn’t want to do this. She acknowledged that Jacob had the right to decide over her in their father’s absence, but she knew in her heart this marriage was wrong. She and Rydon were a match made in hell and there was absolutely no way she would co-operate or make it easy for her brother. She was sure they could have found some other solution, if only Jacob would listen to her.

She concentrated on the priest’s words, just to have something to do. When it came to the part where she had to speak her vows, she shook her head and remained silent, her mouth firmly shut. The priest sent Jacob a bewildered glance, but was urged to continue.

‘She said yes,’ Jacob growled.

‘I did not,’ Hannah stated clearly, but Jacob ignored her.

‘Just get on with the rest of it,’ he ordered the priest, and the little man complied, looking as if he couldn’t wait to get away.

‘
In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti. Amen.
’ The Dutchman pronounced them man and wife and Hannah glared at him. She must have looked fierce because he took a step backwards, his eyes opening wide.

I am
not
Rydon’s wife
, she thought mulishly,
no matter what they say. I didn’t promise anything. As God is my witness, I wasn’t married today.
She also refused to sign the formal certificate, hastily written out by the priest to record the marriage. Jacob made a cross on her behalf. Hannah turned away after sending him a scornful glance.

As soon as the ceremony was over, Rydon took her back to the house and marched her to his room.

‘Well, I hope you’re happy now,’ he groused. ‘I can’t believe you duped me to that extent. Two years.
Two years!
Right under my very nose.’ He paced in front of her. ‘You’ve made a complete fool of me, you stupid child.’

‘I’m not a child.’ Hannah clenched her hands inside the sleeves of her
kimono
. ‘I’m nineteen now.’

‘Huh! Wouldn’t know it to look at you. No wonder I thought you a boy. Have you no shame? Parading yourself in front of my men dressed in breeches, day in and day out. Why didn’t you
say
something?’

‘You didn’t give me a chance at first and later – well, things had already gone too far.’

‘Nonsense. All you had to do was speak up.’

‘Like you did this morning? Why didn’t you just refuse to marry me? You’re a man, you have a choice.’

‘I have my honour to think of too,’ he said, his voice huffy. ‘Besides, I was doing you a favour. If I hadn’t married you, your brother would have leg-shackled you to Mr Jones. He’s next after me in rank and since I know he’s not averse to young girls, I doubt he’d have said no.’

Hannah stared at him, appalled to think her brother could have even contemplated such a thing. Rydon was right, he had acted honourably, if a trifle late, and she should be grateful she supposed. Suddenly all the fight went out of her and she sank onto a cushion.
What a mess!

‘Is there really any point discussing this?’ Hannah sighed. ‘We’re apparently married now, so perhaps we should just make the best of it? Unless you’d like to grant me an annulment?’

‘I wish! Your brother would have my innards for breakfast,’ he grumbled, but her words must have had some effect, because he calmed down slightly and sat down as well. Soon after, a knock on the door heralded the arrival of some food, artfully arranged on lacquer trays.

‘Thank you,’ Hannah said, while Rydon remained silent.

They ate in silence, although neither had much of an appetite, and then he stood up and headed for the door. ‘I have business to see to,’ he told her. ‘Stay in the house until my return, please.’

‘How long will you be?’

‘I have no idea and it doesn’t concern you.’

Time passed slowly, and Hannah became very bored. She wandered through the house, but it seemed to be deserted. No doubt everyone had been told to leave the newly married couple alone, although Hannah didn’t want to think about the implications of that. She wondered whether she would still be allowed to spend her time with Hoji now, but doubted it. Rydon probably wouldn’t consider it proper for her to be friends with a man who wasn’t her husband. It was ridiculous, of course, but that was how he would see it, she was sure. Perhaps it would be all right as long as Sakura was present though. After all, Hannah had to run the household now.

Time continued to crawl by and when Rydon didn’t return Hannah tried to occupy herself. She found a tattered copy of the Bible among Rydon’s possessions and sat down to read. There was nothing else to do, and it had been so long since she had read anything, she enjoyed every word.

Daylight faded and Hannah’s eyelids began to droop. She had slept very little the night before and the insomnia was now taking its toll. Rydon was obviously not coming back any time soon, so she decided to rest a while before he did. She knew she would be expected to share Rydon’s bed that night, and decided she might as well lie down there to wait.

His
futon
looked inviting, but when she lay down gingerly on top of the cover, the stale odour of sweat assailed her. Rydon obviously still hadn’t adopted Japanese bathing habits and Hannah wrinkled her nose. The smell bothered her at first, but not for long. She was simply too tired to care.

‘My wife are you? We’ll just have to see about that.’

The slurred words and someone pulling roughly at her hair woke Hannah. She struggled to sit up, but was pushed back down by a large hand. Her mind registered the fact that her new husband had returned. ‘Rydon? What’s the matter?’

‘Don’t call me that. My name’s Rafael as I’m sure you know. Or you can always address me as “husband” I s’pose.’

Her heart began to beat an anxious tattoo as she realised what he was after. Her fears proved correct, when, instead of replying, he yanked her
kimono
up before she could protest and ran a hand up her thigh, pinching painfully. ‘No, Rafael, wait!’

He ignored her words and just carried on. Images of that other time with Mr Hesketh surfaced in her mind and she tried to push Rydon away. It was as if the scene was being replayed, only worse, and the fear she had felt on the previous occasion was multiplied tenfold because this time it was dark and there was no chance anyone would come to her rescue.

‘Think you can cozen me, eh?’ She could smell the sour stench of wine on his breath, and knew he must be drunk. It made her even more afraid. She was well aware that men in that state were never rational.

‘I never intended to, I swear.’

‘Be silent and do your wifely duty.’

She was pushed down again into the bed sheets, and began to struggle in earnest. ‘No, stop! You can’t just –’

‘I can do what I damn well please. Surely I should have some compensation for this miserable bargain? I need a woman and I don’t want a heathen one. You’ll have to do.’

‘Rafael, no, please don’t. Not like this.’ She could almost taste the fear in her mouth. This wasn’t at all how she had imagined her wedding night. It was a far cry from all her romantic notions, silly though they may be, and the man beside her was definitely the wrong one.

‘Be silent, I say. Don’t want to wake the whole neighbourhood.’

The belt of her
kimono
was suddenly ripped apart and the garment pushed aside. She heard him swear most foully. Although she was used to the rough language of the sailors by now, she had never thought to hear such words in relation to herself. It shocked her to the core. ‘Not quite the woman your sister is, hmm?’ he grumbled, putting his palm on one of her small breasts and kneading it painfully, just like Mr Hesketh had done. Hannah thought she might be physically sick. ‘Just my luck, I end up with the runt of the litter,’ Rydon muttered.

A red mist of fury rose up in front of Hannah’s eyes and replaced some of her terror. How dare he insult her, on top of everything else? It was just too much. Feeling angrier than she ever had before in her life, she threw a wild punch which connected with the side of his head. ‘Get off me, you goatish, rutting whoreson! Leave me be, I tell you.’

He swore again and continued his assault. Hannah screamed for help, but she knew deep down that no one would come.

She was alone.

Although she fought him all the way, a part of her was sure that it was inevitable he should win in the end. His superior strength, combined with his anger at being forced into this marriage, made him hell-bent on taking what was his. Nothing she said or did seemed to stop him. Despite this, she refused to give in without a fight, and so she tried hitting him, kicking, scratching and even sank her teeth into him several times, but he continued relentlessly.

The fact that her struggles seemed to inflame him further finally penetrated her paralysed brain. She came to the conclusion her efforts were to no avail, and she willed her body to lie still so he would hurry up and get it over with. How Kate could have wanted him to do this to her voluntarily was beyond her comprehension. It was vile.

She stretched out a hand, trying to find something to hold on to which might give her the strength to endure this ordeal. Instead, her fingers touched something unexpected inside the bundle of sheets. Fumbling slightly, she managed to extract the item, and to her utter joy and amazement, it was a pistol. She pulled it slowly towards her, making sure it was still covered by a corner of the sheet, and hoped Rydon wouldn’t notice. She needn’t have worried, he was busy undoing his breeches and muttering to himself.

‘It’s your duty … will come to appreciate that … why I should suffer for your folly, heaven knows …’

Hannah ignored him while her mind worked furiously. What should she do with the pistol? She couldn’t just shoot him, unless she wanted to be hanged for murder. That would accomplish nothing, but if she threatened him with it, would he take her seriously? There was an additional problem – the room was mostly in darkness, apart from one small lantern which didn’t give off much light. She couldn’t see well enough to determine whether the firearm was loaded or not. If it wasn’t, no doubt Rydon would know that, and therefore it would be no use for her to threaten him with it. She decided her only recourse was to use it in a different way.

Just as he had finished unbuttoning his breeches at last, Hannah grabbed the pistol by its barrel in a firm grip and clouted Rydon as hard as she could just above his left ear with the firearm’s wooden handle. There was a muffled thud as it connected with his skull, but he didn’t make any other sound. He just crumpled into a heap on top of her, dead to the world.

Hannah lay staring into the dark for a moment, her chest heaving with emotion and suppressed shock. Eventually she managed to push him aside and crawl off the
futon
. Shaking, she sat at the edge, still holding the pistol in a death grip, and tried to calm down. She swallowed hard to get rid of the nausea which rose in her throat. It had been a close call, too close.