Kiyo appeared with a face as self-satisfied as I had ever seen, even behind opaque cosmetic.
“Was I not right? Did I not tell you I could arrange everything? All is well, and now you are ready to go on. However, you must not be too eager. You cannot have my pet. In the future, you’ll have to find your own.”
“I cannot think of another person as a pet, much less your gardener.”
Kiyo affected a hurt countenance. “Such ingratitude. I think I have been as generous to you as anyone could ever be, and now you are coveting my possessions, but I’ll take no offense.” She sighed, then murmured, “Better get some sleep, Fuyuko. You look as though you need some.”
* * *
I worked and slept for no more than two hours at a stretch for the succeeding seven days and nights. And it was well I didn’t take much rest, because the various products of my labor seemed to distract Kiyo from her role as tormenter.
Temporarily, she was quite overcome with pleasure because of them. I did as Ansei had asked, and worked hard to be serviceable to her, though at times her talk was almost beyond my endurance, less bearable even than Madame Ozawa’s switch.
“I will invite you for a visit in my new home and if you will make me another piece as lovely as this, I will introduce you to some very good friends—but you must promise me not to work for them. Or at least only at my say-so. It is too thrilling to think of how I shall look in this! Oh, you really are brilliant. I could lock you up in my tea house forever!”
I would have been a fool to doubt it. And I waited for her to lay her plan against me. Sometimes she spoke to me of finding me another person with whom to practice the art of manipulation, but she was in no position to execute this plan in her father’s house. Yet, I knew she plotted. No matter how hard I worked, I could not keep her satisfied. True, I tried hard to do her bidding, but I could not, and would not, do everything, and she wouldn’t feel secure until she had hooked me fast.
“You have worked so hard. I see you, weaving away day after day. No doubt you work past dark some nights. I want to reward you in some way! I want to give you my knowledge.”
“I had not much literary training,” I admitted without thinking. “There is so much I would like to learn.”
She laughed. “Practically anyone can teach you basic letters. Don’t you understand I have tools much more valuable than that?”
“Well, to me—”
“Listen to me. I can teach you what no one else can—and what you are most in need of learning.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I braced myself.
“I can teach you how to get the upper hand socially. Soon you shall know many people, sooner than you realize.”
“I don’t want the upper hand.”
“Oh you will, though. You will need it. And you had better listen closely to me now, for you will need the skill by week’s end. My father’s brother is coming to stay, and will bring his son. They will be here for the wedding, but if I know my cousin, he will make the most of his visit here. You may depend upon it.”
I hated to ask, but could not help doing so.
“What do you mean?”
“Fuyuko. You are a lovely girl. More importantly, your talents with silk will be much on display. All will wish to see my trousseau. We will all be talking of the cost involved. You will certainly have an offer. Or your mother will. But I do not think he would make you very happy. He is from a good family, certainly. But he has very rigid ideas about marriage. I think you would find him quite suffocating.”
“I will not marry.”
“You will if you must. Every girl says she will not marry at some time or other. But you will.”
These were, perhaps, the truest words she would ever speak to me.
* * *
Over the succeeding days, Kiyo tutored me in the art of escaping, or at least manipulating, a fate of matrimony. She lectured as she paced the tatami. “Give my cousin a way to save face and you will spare him and yourself so much trouble. But remember, you must be subtle, but clear enough for him to recognize you are not a suitable wife. You shouldn’t have trouble. You disqualified yourself only the other afternoon.”
My jaw fell.
“I should tell him that?”
Her eyes flew wide.
“Admit nothing! I told you to be subtle.”
I stammered, “I’m not subtle.”
She gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes.
“Do I have to do everything for you? Laugh at his vulgar jokes; let him lead you off alone; don’t let him get too far, but give him the signals. He will know.”
“And if he becomes angry and aggressive?”
“Put him off. Mollify his bad temper with vague promises.”
I wanted to speak, but I held my tongue. I had never been to court or had many associations with society. And so, I said nothing, and she went away passably convinced I actually meant to lead her cousin into the affectation of a seduction.
* * *
I summoned Madame.
“Have you received any proposals from men in my behalf?”
She stood silent, not answering for several seconds.
“Yes,” she finally admitted.
I fought to keep my composure.
“What have you answered them?”
“I have said nothing.”
“Very well. You must decline them.”
Madame raised her chin.
“I don’t believe that is in your best interest.”
“You cannot force me into an unwanted marriage!”
Now Madame fought to keep composure.
“Dear. You don’t know what you want. You have never been a wife or a mother. You don’t know the happiness of holding your own child.”
“I forbid you to accept any marriage proposal!”
“You may say that, but I don’t believe you will keep your resolve.”
“Should I change my mind, I will tell you.”
“And by then it may be too late. Daughters are never permitted to make these decisions. And for good reason!”
“I will run,” I said, betraying my desperation.
I had underestimated Madame’s determination. “I promise nothing.”
“Then we’ll both live to regret it.” My voice was even, but shoulders trembled in anger.
Madame’s eyes only hardened.
“We will see.”
It was the last we could say on the subject, and so, I was forced to confront the situation using what tools I had—some of them provided by Kiyo, but the deadliest devices were mine alone.