know where we stand. And he says our finances have improved since I have been following them and making suggestions. Father doesn’t need to know.” She smiled proudly.
“Well, it isn’t expected of a woman, you know, even here in Nada. Women don’t handle the cash. It’s always been that way. And Father and Jihei could do it, with Kin.” She paused and held up her work to examine the fine embroidery with a crane pattern, symbol of longevity.
Rie rested her hands on the ledger and looked at her mother.
The Scent of Sake 43
“You didn’t have an adopted husband, Mother. And I’m not actually handling cash. Kin does that. And Father. So no need to object if I’m helping the house.”
Hana said nothing further, no doubt glad that Rie had begun to take an interest in the house, after her tragic miscarriage.
They were interrupted by a high-pitched voice beyond the shoji.
“Excuse me!”
The shoji opened and O-Natsu entered, bowing. For a moment she said nothing as she glanced at Rie and her mother. Then she acknowledged Hana’s gesture and sat on her haunches, smooth-ing her kimono under her.
“Yes, O-Natsu, what is it?” Hana asked.
“I have some news, Oku-san,” she said, using the title befitting the female head of the household.
“So you’ve been gossiping again?”
O-Natsu’s apple cheeks grew redder. “Well, I thought you should know. . . .” She glanced at Rie, then back at Hana and looked down.
“I was talking with a maid in the market today, who knows one of the Sawaraya maids.”
“Tell us!” Hana said, speaking sharply.
O-Natsu looked at the floor and took a deep breath. “They say Rie’s husband is friendly with a geisha, O-Toki, and that she is going to have a child.” On the verge of tears, O-Natsu put her hands to her face.
Rie and Hana both looked at O-Natsu. Rie’s mouth opened and she frowned.
Hana gasped. “Are you certain, O-Natsu?”
“I’m told there is no doubt. She is due in a few weeks.” O-Natsu looked down again and bowed apologetically.
“Thank you, O-Natsu,” Hana said, more gently. “You may be excused now.”
44oyce Lebra
O-Natsu bowed and left the room, glancing at Rie as she left. With a sharp intake of breath, Rie looked down at her clenched fists and avoided her mother’s gaze for several minutes. Shame burned her cheeks as she thought of her husband with the geisha and a child together, so soon after her own miscarriage! Anger
quickly suffused shame.
“Well, Rie, I’m afraid this may be the result of your constant involvement in the affairs of the house. Maybe you are intimidating Jihei. As I’ve said, a mukoyoshi often feels a stranger in his new home. You know, his position is not so different from a bride’s.”
The rebuke sent a flush of warmth through Rie, but she was silent, stealing a glance at her mother to try to detect any sign of emotion. She pressed her clenched fists against the edge of the table and rocked back and forth.
“Yes, Mother . . . but he is from a brewing house too. What we do is no mystery to him.” Her voice rose slightly. “And I know our family traditions better than he does, so I’ve tried to help him ever since we were married. This is what you and Father trained me to do, isn’t it?”
Her mother’s tone softened. “Maybe you should leave any advice to Father and Kin. It may be difficult for Jihei to accept suggestions from a woman.”
Rie was silent. Her mother was often right when it came to understanding human beings and why they behave as they do. But Rie had a sense of foreboding, and the gloom that had blanketed her since first hearing about Jihei’s indiscretion returned. If she couldn’t bear a child, it meant the geisha’s son or daughter might be the successor to the house. The thought sent a chill racing through her.
“Try to be more gentle, Rie.”
Rie leaned back from the table and frowned. “I’ll try, Mother . . .”
Then, as if to reaffirm her own thoughts, her
“Well, it isn’t expected of a woman, you know, even here in Nada. Women don’t handle the cash. It’s always been that way. And Father and Jihei could do it, with Kin.” She paused and held up her work to examine the fine embroidery with a crane pattern, symbol of longevity.
Rie rested her hands on the ledger and looked at her mother.
The Scent of Sake 43
“You didn’t have an adopted husband, Mother. And I’m not actually handling cash. Kin does that. And Father. So no need to object if I’m helping the house.”
Hana said nothing further, no doubt glad that Rie had begun to take an interest in the house, after her tragic miscarriage.
They were interrupted by a high-pitched voice beyond the shoji.
“Excuse me!”
The shoji opened and O-Natsu entered, bowing. For a moment she said nothing as she glanced at Rie and her mother. Then she acknowledged Hana’s gesture and sat on her haunches, smooth-ing her kimono under her.
“Yes, O-Natsu, what is it?” Hana asked.
“I have some news, Oku-san,” she said, using the title befitting the female head of the household.
“So you’ve been gossiping again?”
O-Natsu’s apple cheeks grew redder. “Well, I thought you should know. . . .” She glanced at Rie, then back at Hana and looked down.
“I was talking with a maid in the market today, who knows one of the Sawaraya maids.”
“Tell us!” Hana said, speaking sharply.
O-Natsu looked at the floor and took a deep breath. “They say Rie’s husband is friendly with a geisha, O-Toki, and that she is going to have a child.” On the verge of tears, O-Natsu put her hands to her face.
Rie and Hana both looked at O-Natsu. Rie’s mouth opened and she frowned.
Hana gasped. “Are you certain, O-Natsu?”
“I’m told there is no doubt. She is due in a few weeks.” O-Natsu looked down again and bowed apologetically.
“Thank you, O-Natsu,” Hana said, more gently. “You may be excused now.”
44oyce Lebra
O-Natsu bowed and left the room, glancing at Rie as she left. With a sharp intake of breath, Rie looked down at her clenched fists and avoided her mother’s gaze for several minutes. Shame burned her cheeks as she thought of her husband with the geisha and a child together, so soon after her own miscarriage! Anger
quickly suffused shame.
“Well, Rie, I’m afraid this may be the result of your constant involvement in the affairs of the house. Maybe you are intimidating Jihei. As I’ve said, a mukoyoshi often feels a stranger in his new home. You know, his position is not so different from a bride’s.”
The rebuke sent a flush of warmth through Rie, but she was silent, stealing a glance at her mother to try to detect any sign of emotion. She pressed her clenched fists against the edge of the table and rocked back and forth.
“Yes, Mother . . . but he is from a brewing house too. What we do is no mystery to him.” Her voice rose slightly. “And I know our family traditions better than he does, so I’ve tried to help him ever since we were married. This is what you and Father trained me to do, isn’t it?”
Her mother’s tone softened. “Maybe you should leave any advice to Father and Kin. It may be difficult for Jihei to accept suggestions from a woman.”
Rie was silent. Her mother was often right when it came to understanding human beings and why they behave as they do. But Rie had a sense of foreboding, and the gloom that had blanketed her since first hearing about Jihei’s indiscretion returned. If she couldn’t bear a child, it meant the geisha’s son or daughter might be the successor to the house. The thought sent a chill racing through her.
“Try to be more gentle, Rie.”
Rie leaned back from the table and frowned. “I’ll try, Mother . . .”
Then, as if to reaffirm her own thoughts, her
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