When she woke again, it was to the feeling of nausea. For a while she thought that she was on a ship again, returning to England. But after a moment she realised she was lying in a litter, with blankets as walls, and the rolling motion was a result of the bearers' gait.
"Yameru..." She tried to speak, but her parched throat managed only a pathetic croak.
But luckily someone heard and the litter stopped. The covers parted and she saw the physician looking in.
"Help me up!" She whispered with urgency.
The look of Anna's face told him she would be sick. He took her hand and helped her to get up. He led her behind a bush, to allow her a little privacy, with a gesture preventing Lord Takeda from following.
"Is she all right? Is it a poison?!" The Lord demanded assurances.
"My Lord." Mushiso bowed slightly. "Ana-San is weakened by the blood loss, but besides that she is fine."
"So what is that?" Lord Takeda pointed in the general direction of the bush.
His physician had already started to guess what might be the reason for Anna's sickness, but decided to keep that to himself for the moment. "Perhaps the movement of the litter is too much for her, My Lord." He ventured.
Anna reappeared after some time. She was very pale and she was swaying slightly.
Mindless of his position, the Lord rushed to her side and supporting her with his arm, he led her back towards the improvised palanquin.
"My Lord, please forgive me." She spoke as loud as she could manage, for the benefit of his men. "My weakness shames me. It is only a small indisposition...."
"My Lady." He stopped the torrent of words coming from her mouth. "His Highness the Emperor ordered me to take a good care of you. You should not suffer any discomfort during this trip. If you allow, we will stop for a short break. Perhaps tea will restore you?"
Still supporting her, he turned his head and gave orders.
Some blankets were set in the shade of the trees and Anna fell on them with relief.
"My Lord." She whispered with a warning. "You should not publicly show me so much..." She hesitated. "...care."
He hushed her with a raised hand.
They sat silent for a while. Lord Takeda was looking at her with strange intensity. "Ana-San." Finally he spoke. "Please, I must know first that you are all right."
"My Lord..."
Again he stopped her. "Lottie, I must know!" He repeated with tension in his voice. His face was grave.
"Takeda-Sama." She bowed low. "I am a little weak, but that's all."
He sighed with relief and his face relaxed. He smiled happily. "You have no idea how worried I was. And how I missed you." He added quietly.
"My Lord, you honour me, but please consider your position." She repeated.
"Could the care I have for an injured woman be in any way inappropriate?" He shrugged her worry.
Soon tea was served and after a few moments some colour returned to Anna's face.
She was looking at Hikaru from behind her lowered eyelids. His face was gaunt and drawn, as if he had lost weight recently. The vertical wrinkle between his brows seemed to be much deeper than she remembered, as if he had been troubled a lot. But his eyes shone with joy and relief and his lips were curling in barely suppressed smile of happiness.
He was so handsome.
Looking at him now she couldn't understand how she had imagined that she would be able to leave him behind.
But leave him she must!
Immediately!
Forever!...
Her heart contracted painfully in her chest, but she couldn't afford to be weak now! Revealing that she was carrying his child could prove fatal to his delicate political standing.
"My Lord, how is Kazuki-San?" She asked again to distract herself from the painful thoughts.
"He is still unconscious, but will receive the best care, when we get back home." He shrugged, discounting these questions about Kazuki as a result of her recent ordeal.
"That's good. He was a good companion to me." She whispered.
"You have no idea how I missed you." Takeda said again, quietly, but with emotion in his voice. "When I didn't find you in Kanagawa, I thought my heart would stop beating."
"Kanagawa?" She didn't understand.
"After we parted, I was summoned by the Emperor. Later I returned to Kanagawa, but you had left by then. There is so much I need to tell you..." He stopped, noticing the approaching Nabutada.
"My Lord." The samurai bowed. "Shall I send a man to the closest village and order rooms to be prepared?"
"No. Give orders to move out. I want to get back home as soon as possible." Lord Takeda waited for his retainer to leave and turned again to Anna. "Will you be able to travel again?"
"My Lord, I must return to Edo immediately." She gathered her whole courage and determination.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"No, but... I must go!"
"Why do you insist so?" He looked at her with taxing eyes.
She was silent for a moment, not sure what to say. "I must find a way to return home." She managed eventually.
His heart skipped a beat and he wasn't able to hide the twitch on his face. "We will discuss it, when we reach my castle." He stated, trying to control himself.
"But I need to go now!" She raised her voice.
A few heads turned towards them, but the men quickly averted their eyes.
"My Lady, you are wounded and cannot travel such a distance at this time." He regained his composure and his voice took again that authoritative tone. "Why are you so desperate to leave?" She was silent, so he continued. "You can't go now. When you feel better I will escort you myself to KyÅto, where you can stand in front of the Emperor."
From his tone she understood that he would not change his mind.
"My Lady." He rose and helped her to get up. "Are you able to ride? It would spare you the discomfort of travelling in the litter."
"I will be fine, My Lord." She bowed.
He helped her mount a horse and they moved out.
They travelled slowly, to spare Anna unnecessary pain, but they were still moving faster than before, with the litter.
They stopped for a rest in the middle of nowhere, as the Lord didn't want to advertise Anna's presence in his domain.
Anna got her own tent and soon the doctor arrived to change the dressing. He studied the wound itself for a long time and finally announced that it should heal quickly. "But I am afraid, it will leave a nasty scar, My Lady."
She just smiled, amused. He must have seen her scarred back.
Lord Takeda joined her for the evening meal. She didn't eat much. She couldn't force herself to swallow anything, knowing it would only make her sick again.
Throughout the whole time she felt Hikaru's questioning gaze. He seemed to sense that something was amiss, but couldn't understand what.
She didn't sleep at all that night, wondering what excuse would allow her to part from his company and return south as soon as possible. But she couldn't find any.
After a sleepless night Anna looked even worse than the previous day, drawing concerned looks from the Lord. What made matters even worse was that even though she had hardly touched the meal the previous evening, she still felt nauseous. Only with great difficulty and willpower did she manage to control the heaving of her empty stomach.
Watching her behaviour and her symptoms, the doctor unequivocally confirmed to himself his initial diagnosis: the woman was expecting a child... and she knew it!
It was no secret to anybody from Lord Takeda's entourage that these two shared passion. The Lord's behaviour confirmed that he had feelings for her. But why would she conceal her condition from him? And should Mushiso find a tactfull way to inform his Lord about it? He hesitated...
Perhaps she was waiting until they reached the safety of the castle? If she kept silent still, Mushiso would let the Lord know. Until then he would keep it to himself.