"Hearn,.Lian.-.Otori.02.-.Grass.For.His.Pillow.v1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hearn Lian)

after a moment he concurred.

“Maybe it’s best that you go to your parents. I will send for you
when I return to Inuyama. We will discuss your marriage then.”

“Will you make Inuyama your capital?”

“Yes. I intend to rebuild the castle.” In the flickering light his face
was set and brooding. Kaede said nothing. He spoke again
abruptly. “But to return to the Tribe: I had not realized how strong
their influence must be. To make Takeo walk away from such a
marriage, such an inheritance, and then to conceal him
completely… to tell you the truth, I had no idea what I was dealing
with.” He glanced again toward Shizuka.

He will kill her, she thought. It’s more than just anger at Takeo’s
disobedience: His self-esteem has been deeply wounded too. He
must suspect Shizuka has been spying on him for years. She
wondered what happened to the love and desire that had existed
between them. Had it all dissolved overnight? Did the years of
service, the trust, and loyalty, all come to nothing?

“I shall make it my business to find out about them,” he went on,
almost as if he were speaking to himself. “There must be people
who know, who will talk. I cannot let such an organization exist.
They will undermine my power as the white ant chews through
wood.”

Kaede said, “I believe it was you who sent Muto Shizuka to me, to
protect me. I owe my life to that protection. And I believe I kept
faith with you in Noguchi Castle. Strong bonds exist between us
and they shall be unbroken. Whoever I marry will swear allegiance
to you. Shizuka will remain in my service and will come with me to
my parents’ home.”

He looked at her then, and again she met his gaze with ice in her
eyes. “It’s barely thirteen months since I killed a man for your
sake,” he said. “You were hardly more than a child. You have
changed…”

“I have been made to grow up,” she replied. She made an effort
not to think of her borrowed robe, her complete lack of
possessions. I am the heir to a great domain, she told herself. She
continued to hold his eyes until he reluctantly inclined his head.

“Very well. I will send men with you to Shirakawa, and you may take
the Muto woman.”

“Lord Arai.” Only then did she drop her eyes and bow.