The small rowing boat was waiting for her at the dock. She knew it was Norton's idea and she felt grateful for his concern. He was the only one who cared for her whereabouts.
Once on the ship, she collected her earthly possessions. There were not so many of them after all: a couple of changes of clothes, a rifle and her notebook. Sadly, she had neglected it in the recent months, but hoped to catch up on her memoirs during their stay in Kanagawa. There would be absolutely nothing to do until the ShÅgun's negotiators arrive. And even after that the talks will be long-winded and excruciatingly boring.
Before she went back ashore, she stopped to see Norton. "Captain, thank you for the transport you left for me." She smiled with gratitude.
"Oh, I thought you might need it." He dismissed her thanks with a wave. "How was the inn?"
"Looks quite adequate for all our needs. The servants are already preparing everything. When will you be going down there?"
"Hm... There is a small disagreement regarding our accommodation. Commander Morrison thinks we should stay on board."
"Really?" It was incredulous. "Why?"
"He seems to be overly concerned with our safety and the position of the whole party if we were to surrender ourselves into their hands."
"But nothing will threaten us there!" She exclaimed. "It would be against their code of honour to attack us."
"I am inclined to agree with you, my dear. But he is a hot-headed military man. I am certainly looking forward to some luxuries we can't get hold of on board."
"Luxuries?" She smiled with a twinkle in her eye.
"Good food, bath and bed that doesn't rock. Nothing more sinister than that, My Lady." He bowed, emulating a Japanese custom. "I watched you talking just now to one of them on the dock. Who was it?"
"I had noticed him before, among the people of Lord Matsuda. Initially I took him to be just another samurai. But it appears that he is also a Lord. Certainly rich and powerful."
"During the meeting I observed he was looking at you. Very intense fellow. Is he friendly?"
She burst out laughing. "I am sorry!" She tried to placate him, seeing his face fall. "But you shouldn't attribute to me any divine powers. I don't hold all the answers. I have a little knowledge about the Japanese, but I have never claimed to know everything that is to be known. I have never even met a Lord before... And this one certainly seems to be a bit of a character."
"What I meant was, is he dangerous?"
"All Japanese are deadly dangerous!" She stressed, to make him understand. "Offend them and they won't think twice before splitting you in half! But remember that they are as curious of us as we are of them. They will be undoubtedly insisting on finding out where I learned their language. As you know, Sakoku banned foreigners from entering Japan on the pain of death. So he would be wondering who harboured me for so long, defying the official law."
"Well, if you show them the same reticence you employed with us, they have no chance." She acknowledged that statement with a curt nod. Although she was pretty sure that behind the complement there was also a bit of resentment.
"Well, I am going back anyway." She declared. "What about you and the rest of the gentlemen?"
"Let's go and find out. I would definitely prefer to go ashore in your company."
They found the others in the mess, where they were having lunch.
"The rooms are ready and I am going back on land. What are your plans?" She didn't even try to sound polite.
"We should stay on board." Commander Morrison sat there with the face of thunder. "I've sent a message to Commodore Perry, asking his advice."
"Surely, he would want us to learn as much as possible about the local situation." Ventured Mr Thomas. "I think we should go. If Ms Mitchell says it is safe, that is."
"We are here at the invitation from the ShÅgun." She explained patiently. "We were also invited to stay and be comfortable by the local Lord. What other assurances do you need? It will be against their honour to offend or attack us now."
"That settles it, I think." Mr Johnston stood up, folding his napkin. "We hired Ms Mitchell for precise that reason, to advise us on the local matters. So I am going to go ashore and have a proper rest in a proper bed."
Lottie tried to hide her grin, but they noticed anyway and looked at her without comprehension.
"Hm, about that..." She felt obliged to explain. "They do not have beds per se. They use futons, spread on the floor. But I can assure you they are very comfortable."
*
After some more hesitation, the men decided to follow Anna's example and go ashore. They gathered their belongings and were ferried across the bay to the docks. Commander Morrison decided to join them, against his better judgement. He rationalised that they needed someone with a cool head to protect them in case of an emergency.
After their arrival the servants led them to their respective rooms. To their astonishment Anna was taken to the other side of the building. "Do not worry." She tried to calm them down. "It is a normal procedure in order to preserve decency. I will check up on you after we settle in." She followed a maid, thinking only of the bath and the clean clothes.
At the door to her room she noticed a kneeling woman, waiting patiently. Dressed in an expensive silk kimono and with delicate white hands, she was definitely not a servant. Lottie stopped, not sure what to expect. In front of the woman there was a big parcel, wrapped in a delicately patterned material.
Seeing Lottie, the woman bowed to the floor. "My Lady, I am Reiko." She introduced herself. "Lord Takeda sent me, anticipating that you do not have an appropriate companion." Lottie wanted to decline the offer and send her away, but Reiko forestalled any protestations. "My Lady, it is my honour to be useful to you in any way you find fitting."
"ArigatÅ, Reiko-San." Lottie knelt and bowed ceremonially.
Her assumption that Reiko must be someone more than a simple servant was confirmed a moment later, with the arrival of three other women, who looked much more like maids.
"Takeda-Sama also sends this small gift and asks that you accept it as a welcome present." Reiko delicately pushed the package towards Lottie.
"But..." The foreigner started protesting.
But Reiko continued almost without a pause. "It is just a small token of friendship. There is nothing inappropriate in that."
Lottie sighed. "Please, let us go inside." She indicated her room.
They went in and sat down on the cushions arranged in the middle of the floor. The servants remained at their places, kneeling just outside the screen door. Reiko carried the parcel inside and now again pushed it towards Lottie, who delicately peeled the wrapping away.
On the top she saw a plain under-kimono, which in Japan was usually worn as a first layer of clothing, closest to the body. Lying underneath was a beautiful, pale-blue outer kimono. When she lifted it out, she realised it wasn't especially richly decorated, but it only added charm to its simplicity. After she spread it out she saw that on the back it had a great tree embroidered with a silver thread.
She gasped with awe. For a long time she was just looking at it, not believing she had been offered something so... expensive. "It is quite impossible for me to accept such a precious gift!" She finally exclaimed with embarrassment.
"Lord Takeda anticipated that you may have scruples regarding that and refuse his offering. Therefore he further asks you to wear it tonight for the occasion of his visit."
"Visit?! Tonight?!" Lottie tensed visibly.
"To satisfy any demands of the etiquette, Hoji-San and I will also be present." Reiko reassured calmly.
"Am I to understand that Lord Takeda does not wish to meet with my companions?"
"This is strictly a curtesy visit." Reiko bowed slightly. "It would be considered quite rude if My Lord met with them before Lord Matsuda."
But I am nobody and so nobody will care, Lottie thought. She was sorely tempted to refuse such an outlandish request. What could he possibly want from her? However, she was also acutely aware that her obstinacy might cost them all dearly. "Reiko-San, please assure Lord Takeda that I am greatly honoured by his undeserved attention." She stressed the word 'undeserved'. "I am also very grateful for such an exquisite gift." She bowed low. "I only hope that I will have enough time to bathe and arrange something to eat before the Lord's arrival."
"Please, do not trouble yourself with the trivial preparations. All is already being arranged, as Takeda-Sama had foreseen all difficulties. The maids and I will be happy to assist you in dressing."
Apparently she had no other choice, but to accept. "Thank you, Reiko-San."
The women took her to a well-appointed bathing house, where they helped her to undress and later washed her long hair. Afterwards they led her to a pool of hot water. With relief she lowered herself in and laid there submerged up to her neck. It had been a long time since she felt so relaxed and peaceful.
The attending women were talking in loud whispers, giggling from time to time. Lottie wasn't in the mood to follow their idle chitchat, but she caught a few words which indicated that the subject of their interest was her white skin and the scars on her back. She just shrugged and returned to her own meditation.
It was unorthodox for a Japanese of the status of Lord Takeda to visit a new acquaintance in her place of residence, without her companions being present or even aware of the visit. Men obviously visited Geisha without such restrictions, but this was not the case here. She wasn't afraid of any attempts on her person. It wasn't the first time she found herself travelling alone and surrounded by men. She could handle them. Besides, one cry for help would cause a great commotion. She was also very capable of defending herself, if necessary. Guns were not the only weapon she could use expertly.
It was quite natural that he was curious about her. But was it reason enough to explain his strange behaviour? What else he could have wanted with her? Lottie decided to be alert, but at the same time to enjoy the evening. After all it was the first time she would be entertained by a Japanese lord. She smiled at that thought.
After the bath, the maids helped her to dress in both kimonos. She was also given white tabi, socks that were customary worn indoors. After that they pinned her hair up, in the Japanese fashion.
She had always known that blue was her colour. It went very well with her blue eyes and highlighted her golden hair. She was quite sure of the good impression she was going to make.
Reiko appraised her and smiled with visible pleasure. "Ana-San, you were born to wear a kimono."
"Thank you."
When the time came, they were led to a room at the top floor, where Hoji and Lord Takeda were already seated, chatting pleasantly. It briefly crossed Lottie's mind that the Lord obviously did not consider it beneath him to talk to a clerk.
Takeda was once again dressed in a black kimono, but infinitely more elegant and decorated with his crest of four diamonds. Seeing her approach, he smiled mischievously, but he didn't say anything.
The women came inside, knelt and bowed deeply.
"My Lord." Reiko waited for his permission to get up, but Lottie straightened up after a moment and waited with dignity for the invitation to join the men. She tried to compose her face into an expression of a pleasant indifference. But it wasn't at all easy under his gaze.
"Reiko-San." The Lord spoke finally. "Ana-San. Please, join us and let's eat."
Both women rose simultaneously and walked to the low table and cushions scattered around it. They knelt elegantly and Lottie made sure that the layers of her kimono were appropriately arranged. Lifting her eyes she noticed the appreciation in Takeda's gaze. She smiled inwardly, pleased that she had surprised him again.
It was only with great difficulty that she was able to keep an inscrutable expression, but throughout the whole meal she behaved with the utmost curtesy.
They didn't talk a lot. They exchanged only some unimportant comments regarding the weather and her ocean travel. Using all her conversational skills she managed to keep the attention from turning towards her person.
Only after the main meal, when the table was cleared and set up with some candied fruit, Reiko and Hoji moved away, under the pretence that they wanted to look at the garden, in order to give the Lord some privacy and allow him a chance for a less restricted conversation.
Lottie was aware that etiquette demanded from her to thank him now for the present. "My Lord Takeda, please allow me to express my deep gratitude for your generous gift." She indicated the kimono she was wearing.
"It is a true and rare pleasure to admire it on someone who was born to wear this colour." He smiled with gallantry.
"Unfortunately, I have nothing I could offer you in return."
"It is not expected." He shook his head. "I only hoped for a pleasant conversation."
She bowed slightly, acknowledging his good manners. She still wasn't sure what to make of him. The whole time his behaviour was without reproach. He also looked infinitely more relaxed than in the morning, at the dock. His dark brown eyes shone with intelligence and self-assurance, his full lips signified character and strong will and his expression had an unexpectedly pleasing appeal.
"Ana-San, I feel unable to curb my curiosity with regards to your person. You are the first foreigner I have ever met, who can speak Japanese. And the first woman..." He added a little quieter.
Lottie only bowed again, fully realising how it must frustrate him.
"How is it possible that you know our customs and our language?" He eventually decided to ask a direct question, realising she wasn't going to be forthcoming with information.
"I spent some time in Japan." She answered in a clipped tone.
His eyebrows shot up in an expression of complete astonishment. He stayed silent for a few moments. Finally he spoke quietly. "Ana-San, please believe me when I say I fully understand your reticence. You don't know me. And I have no right or reason to demand the answers... Let me assure you that it is only my admiration for your accomplishments and... my private curiosity. In a couple of days I will return to my lands up north and we will probably never meet again..." He fell silent.
With some surprise she thought that she heard a hint of sadness in his measured tone. And then a new thought struck her: He is interrogating me! And he is very good at it! Both his tone and his voice were designed to entice her to share with him her secrets and to trust him completely. She actually thought there was no harm in telling him some truth...
Now she understood the reasons behind that unorthodox visit. She was absolutely confident that Lord Takeda was greatly appreciated for his interrogation skills, but now, that she saw right through him, she was ready for his tricks. "Takeda-Sama." She bowed very low. "Your attention truly unnerves me, because I don't feel in any way worthy of your interest."
He couldn't find anything to reply to her sly comment. But she noticed that he wasn't angry. She had the impression that only with a great effort did he manage to stop himself from laughing.
Soon after, when they were saying their farewells, she noticed he afforded her much more respect than was due to her position.
"Ana-San." He bowed politely. "It was a true pleasure."
"My Lord, the pleasure was entirely on my side."
Both women bowed low and the men quietly left the room.
Reiko was gazing at Anna with renewed curiosity. And with a new respect. But she didn't comment on the events of this evening. Instead, she offered Anna her company and attendance for the rest of the evening and the following day. Anna accepted gratefully.