Read The Iris Fan for Free Online Page B

Hirata had been missing for more than four years, the army was searching for him and his comrades, and there was a warrant for their arrest and execution. Anyone who married into his family would be deemed parties to his treason and share his punishment. That was Tokugawa law. Reiko thought Sano was being too hard on Hirata at the expense of Midori, the children, and twenty years of friendship. Sano thought Reiko was too lenient toward a traitor because she, as a woman, didn’t understand duty. And now Masahiro was involved with Taeko! Reiko saw Hirata’s family bearing the brunt of her men’s actions. She grew even angrier at Sano on account of her friends.
    Midori pulled Taeko away from Masahiro. “We’re leaving.”
    “I don’t want to!”
    “You can’t stay in the same house with him.”
    Midori and her children had lived with Sano’s family since Hirata had disappeared. Back then, Sano had still had friends in the government, and he’d convinced them to make Hirata’s wife and children his wards. They’d initially been hostages kept under house arrest—bait to lure Hirata so that he could be captured. Because years had passed and Hirata hadn’t shown up, they were now free to move about as they pleased. Sano fed, sheltered, and protected them as best he could. All the more reason that Reiko thought Sano should have accepted Lord Ienobu’s deal—he might have worked out a pardon for Hirata.
    “But where will you go?” Reiko asked in alarm.
    Woe filled Midori’s expression as she remembered that her family had disowned her and Hirata’s family had disowned him. Anyone who aided them risked being named parties to treason and executed. “I don’t know. I’ll find someplace.”
    “It’s the middle of the night,” Reiko said. “Wait, we’ll work things out somehow.”
    “Wait for how long? Until Masahiro gets Taeko with child? Is that what you want?”
    “Of course not.” The last thing they needed was an illegitimate pregnancy. Reiko felt a stab of sorrow at the idea of a baby. She’d had a stillbirth four years ago. A part of her had never stopped mourning, although she tried not to let it show. Any little thing—the sight of a baby or a pregnant woman—could evoke painful memories of the circumstances of the stillbirth, which had been almost as traumatic as the baby’s death. And there had never been time to recover. Reiko was too busy, in charge at home while Sano and Masahiro were working. With fewer servants than when they’d lived at Edo Castle, she did housework, took care of Akiko, and helped Midori with her children. Now, while trying to cope with the problem of Masahiro and Taeko, she felt the empty ache inside her and fought tears.
    “How could you let your son seduce my daughter?” Midori burst out. “Why didn’t you control him?”
    “How could I?” Reiko spread her hands. “He’s a grown man.”
    When samurai boys turned fifteen, they acquired all the duties and freedom of adults. Masahiro, like other honorable young men, respected his parents’ wishes, but if Reiko had told him to leave Taeko alone, he probably wouldn’t have listened. He could be just as stubborn as Sano—or herself.
    “He lives under your roof,” Midori said. “You and your husband are responsible for what goes on here. How could you let this happen? Haven’t you hurt us enough already?” She was furious at Sano for reporting Hirata, Reiko knew. Midori had begged Sano to give Hirata another chance, even though Sano had already given Hirata many chances. “I hate you all!” Midori cried.
    Reiko also knew that although Midori blamed Sano’s family for the fact that hers was homeless and disgraced, Midori blamed and hated Hirata—the husband who’d abandoned her and her children—most of all. “I’m sorry,” was all Reiko could say.
    Midori’s anger dissolved into misery. “You’ve taken care of us when nobody else would and look how I’m acting! I don’t deserve your kindness. I