Fifty Words for Rain(65)

Akira seemed happy. In fact, she had never seen him like this. His youth had returned to him; he was the boy he was never allowed to be.

Though she went to his room every evening before bed so he could read aloud to her, she never stayed long. Tonight, he read her a chapter of The Tale of Genji before closing the book and letting out a deep sigh.

“Forgive me. I’m tired.”

“That’s all right.”

She had finished the book on her own already, days ago, but she would not tell him that.

“You’ve been well? Ayame-san says you’ve been having nightmares.”

“They’ve passed,” she assured him, and it was only half a lie. They had eased greatly since his return, and since the faceless wraith had been replaced by the love-struck girl who kept a diary full of dreams.

“How’s your leg?”

“It’s fine. The scar is less noticeable than you’d think.”

“Good. I know I’ve been busy. But I’ll take you somewhere soon.”

This was quickly becoming a common farce. He would promise, to appease a guilty conscience, and she was sure in the moment he said it, it was wholly true. But then the moment would pass and she would be forgotten.

She inclined her head in reply and was rewarded with a sharp laugh.

“You have become quite docile, haven’t you?”

Outwardly, perhaps. The less that was expected of her, the more she could get away with. It had taken her a long time to learn this. Meekness was not weakness. And boldness was not strength.

“I don’t want to fight with you.”

He looked suspicious. “You’ve given me no grief over our guests.”

She shrugged. “I see no point. They are far from their country, their home. I would not see them thrown out onto the street.”

“I know it’s more cooking for you.”

“Ayame-san helps.”

Akira nodded. “She is kind to you?”

“She is, Oniichan.”

“Well, the help will not be needed soon,” he told her. “We have the funds now to hire back the servants we lost. Or, better yet, some new ones. People I can trust.”

She frowned. “I thought we were poor?”

Akira laughed. “We are frugal, not poor. And anyway, Will is paying us for our hospitality.”

“I thought they were poor.”

“The furthest thing from it. They come from a very old, very rich family.”

She crossed her arms. “So why are they here? Surely there are hotels for such very rich people.”

“It’s not a matter of money. They are . . .” He paused. “Actually, they are rather like us, Nori. That’s why I invited them to stay here.”

“I don’t understand.”

Akira slid the book back onto the shelf. “It’s not my story to tell.”

She felt her frustration bubble up inside her chest. He was always dancing three steps ahead of her.

“If you say so.”

“You could try talking to them, you know. They don’t bite.”

“You know I have no experience with regular people.”

Akira chuckled. “And you won’t get any from these two. But it’s a start. You might surprise yourself. Alice is not so much older than you, you might like her.”

She shifted from foot to foot. “I thought you said she was a fool.”

“Precisely why you might like her.” His smile told her that there was no sting in his words. “Now, off to bed.”

She went without a word.

But not to bed.

She slipped down the stairs, through the kitchen, and out to the patio.

The night sky was etched with stars, each one placed so meticulously that she was sure God had taken special notice. She started to reach for the basket she kept her sewing in, only to find that she was not alone.

Will was seated in one of the wicker chairs, smoking a cigarette. His eyes met hers, and she froze like a deer caught in a hunter’s gaze.

“My apologies,” he said with a wide grin. “I did not mean to startle you.”

She allowed herself to look at him up close for the first time. He was obnoxiously attractive. Right now, this only served to irritate her.

“You did not.”

He looked her up and down, but she didn’t notice anything indecent about it.

“How old are you?”

“Fourteen,” she lied. In summer. But even her lie sounded too young, too childish in front of someone like this.

He smirked as if he knew she was lying. Akira had probably told him her true age. She felt like a fool.

“But not in school.”

Nori wanted to fidget but made herself resist. “I don’t go to school. Oniichan says it is better this way.”

“Oniichan?”

“Akira.”

He scanned her face and she held steady. When he looked at her, she felt tiny pinpricks all over her body. The sensation was not entirely unpleasant.

“And do you always do what Akira tells you?”

There was no inflection in his voice for her to read. And he had not dropped his playful smile.

“Sometimes.”

He stood up and gestured to his empty seat. “Well then, Noriko. Don’t let me interrupt your disobedience.”