Akitada made her another slight bow. ‘If Your Ladyship refers to Lord Kiyowara’s murder, I must tell you that I have been warned away from the case. It seems people have seen fit to suggest I might have had a hand in it myself.’ There, that was blunt speaking and should cut through other circumlocutions.

She raised her fan a fraction higher, but he could see her eyes flashing. She was surely an intelligent woman. He must be on his guard.

After a moment, she said, ‘Yes, it is best to speak plainly. The police have assured me that you are not considered a suspect. Perhaps you would explain your previous visit more fully yourself?’

He had been right about her intelligence. And Kobe had protected him. He kept the explanation short. ‘I was recently passed over for a position I held for more than a year. An incompetent man was put in my place. When I discovered that this was done on your husband’s order, and since Lord Kiyowara and I were strangers, I came here to see if some mistake had been made. Now I am thought to have come for revenge. I did not, of course, though I would have been angry to find out that Lord Kiyowara had ruined me simply because it suited him to do so.’

She looked at him silently, as if weighing his words. Then she said, ‘I am sorry. My husband’s affairs were not mine.’

That was surely a bald-faced lie. Her brother-in-law was Chancellor and Regent Yorimichi. Akitada said coldly, ‘Many would say that your husband owed his career to you.’

She stiffened. ‘He owed his career to his ability and his past service to the emperor.’

‘My case exactly, but that did not prevent Lord Kiyowara from replacing me with an inferior.’ Akitada bit his lip. He would gain nothing by further antagonizing the lady. ‘Perhaps you had better tell me why you called on me under these circumstances.’

Her eyes narrowed, and he realized that she was smiling. ‘You are still angry, and yet you are here,’ she said.

He said nothing.

‘I asked you to come because the policeman speaks highly of you, and because I want a separate investigation into my husband’s murder.’ She gestured to her companion, who got to her knees and shuffled over, setting the small box down in front of her. Lady Kiyowara flipped open the lid and turned the box towards Akitada. It was filled to the brim with gold. ‘This should replace your lost income for the year. Allow me to offer this gold for your services. When you have completed the investigation, you will receive another box just like this. Together, I believe, they equal two years of your salary as senior secretary in your ministry.’

Akitada’s face burned with shame. It was one thing to be paid a salary for his service to the emperor, and quite another to be bribed by this woman to protect her family. Worse, most likely he was here because he was Kobe’s friend. He wanted to reject the offer disdainfully, but his circumstances did not permit empty gestures. Still, he was very angry.

‘I am flattered, but Superintendent Kobe is well able to handle this.’

She frowned. ‘Nevertheless, I would like you to act for me.’

‘It is impossible to say where a murder investigation leads. If you think I can avert an arrest of yourself or a member of your family, you give me too much credit.’ He saw that she was offended and pressed on. ‘Besides, it is too early to say what I may find, or if what I find out is going to please you. For example, it may be that your son quarreled with his father –’ that had been Tora’s opinion, but one that had surely been correct – ‘or that you yourself preferred another man to your husband.’

The elderly lady gasped, and Lady Kiyowara dropped her fan and stared at him in shock. ‘W-what?’

‘Your son’s anger was observed by others. He rode down an old woman in the street outside. And as I waited in the anteroom on the day of the murder, I overheard shouting in your husband’s room. As for Your Ladyship: Lord Ono and I met the afternoon of your husband’s murder. Ono was coming from your quarters. I assume he has informed you of my visit. He did not hide his close relationship with you.’

‘Then he lied about me,’ she snapped. ‘And so did the people who accused my son. He was not here at the time of his father’s death. Who told you those things? If they are servants of mine, they will be dismissed.’

He liked her less for that outburst and said, ‘That will hardly stop the rumors. I expect Superintendent Kobe is already aware of them.’

Her shoulders sagged abruptly, and she bowed her head. ‘What shall I do?’ she said softly. ‘Oh, what can I do? I hoped you would help me, but what good are you if you believe those tales?’

That disconcerted him. ‘Neither your relationship with Ono nor your son’s anger necessarily prove guilt,’ he said, ‘but I will not be bought.’

She looked up, startled. ‘Bought? Oh… Oh, I did not… That was not… I beg your pardon.’ She quickly closed the lid on the box as if to remove the offensive sight from his eyes. That almost made him smile. ‘But if you thought that,’ she said more calmly, taking up her fan again, ‘then you must think us guilty, my son and me. Individually or together.’

‘Again, no. But if I am to undertake the work you propose, then it must be on the condition that I shall find out the truth no matter who is hurt by it.’

She quickly pushed the box towards him. ‘Of course. It shall be as you wish. I must trust that you are infallible, sir,’ she said. ‘Now, what do you wish to know?’

He did not touch the box and glanced at her companion. The woman looked frightened.

Lady Kiyowara said quickly, ‘My lady-in-waiting is in my confidence. She knows we have nothing to fear. Ask whatever you wish.’

He wondered if that also meant that the attendant approved of Lady Kiyowara’s relationship with Lord Ono and asked, ‘Lord Ono has expressed his complete devotion to you. Do you know of anything that might have caused him to kill your husband?’

‘As you have spoken to Ono Takamura, you must know that nothing would cause him to commit an act of violence. He is a poet.’

‘Poets express powerful emotions quite frequently,’ Akitada pointed out.

‘In poems, yes. But poetry is an exercise of the mind, not of passion. Do you write poetry?’

‘No, My Lady.’

‘Ah.’

Akitada blushed at that and asked quickly, ‘Did you know that your son quarreled with his father?’

‘No, but it is likely. Katsumi wished to join the guards. His father forbade it because he is only fifteen and our only son. He did not kill his father. You must believe that. I know my son.’

The young lord said nothing and remained hidden behind his mother. Perhaps, thought Akitada, but mother love could be as blind as romantic love. That thought caused him to ask, ‘Were you and your husband happy together?’

She did not blink, but the hand holding the fan tightened. She said tonelessly, ‘Of course.’

That was her second lie, but it was too soon to press her. Akitada asked, ‘Do you know of anyone who might have wished your husband dead?’

She frowned. ‘My husband rose quickly in the government and was a rich man. Surely that makes enemies.’

‘Anyone in particular?’

This time she hesitated. ‘Wives are rarely in a position to know their husbands’ associates.’

In general, this was very true, but perhaps her answer had hinted at something she did not want to mention. He let it go. Earning his fee would not be easy. He suppressed a sigh. ‘Very well, My Lady. I accept your offer with the conditions I made. Can I be given ready access to everyone in this house?’

‘Certainly.’ Nodding to her companion, she made him a slight bow, rose, and left by the door she had entered. The companion hurried after her. They left behind the memory of a swishing of silks and the scent of orange blossoms and sandalwood. The young lord, caught unawares, stared at Akitada with frightened eyes. Then he seemed to remember himself and got to his feet and out of the room quickly.