Falling Through Glass by Barbara Sheridan

killed during the Ansei Purge? If I were him, I’d want my revenge on the house of Tokugawa.”
    Kondo sat up. His expression turned as serious as Hijikata’s. “You have a point, but many think highly of him, even those loyal to the shogunate.”
    Hijikata shrugged then turned to place his sword back on the lacquered sword rack beneath his smaller wakizashi.
    “All I’m saying is that the young one bears further watching, especially since he insists on keeping his true identity a secret outside the palace walls.”
    Kondo folded his arms into his sleeves. “I suppose I can’t argue with that point.” He summoned his page and had tea brought in. “Will you be accompanying me to Edo to recruit new men?”
    “And leave Yamanami in charge?”
    “He’s a capable officer, Toshi, and you need to get away and relax.”
    “I’ll think about it.” He sipped his tea. “You said last night that you have some promising prospects to interview?”
    “I do. Including one Kawashima Daishiro.”
    “Kawashima? He’s willing to leave his position in Edo to come here?”
    “It’s possible.”
    Hijikata’s reply was a scowl.
     
    * * * *
     
    Prince Asahiko paced the length of his reception room in the Imperial Palace. “Mori Takachika sent one of his retainers to approach me today. I was too busy to receive him and will remain too busy to receive him until I know exactly what Choshu’s plans are.”
    He stopped and faced his son. “You have important business to attend to, Kaemon. And, while I realize the best place for you to get the information we need is in Shimabara, your mind needs to stay on the business of the Court. You cannot waste precious time by fornicating with servants in the halls.”
    “Honored Father, I do take what I do for you seriously. And I was trying to get information from the girl, but… I was mistaken about her…”
    “So you decided to pass the time in more pleasant ways.”
    “No—”
    Asahiko held up his hand for silence and began pacing again. “I heard you had trouble in the Licensed Quarters earlier this week.”
    “It couldn’t be helped. A group of the Choshu attacked one of the courtesans-in-training at Narihisa-ro. The kamuro was a child of only ten. I had to get involved.”
    The elder prince stopped and stared at Kae. “What business did you have in a third-class house like that? The men with the information we want wouldn’t be there.” He paced again. “You do realize that the men of Choshu han guard this palace. They have acquaintances from their home domain arriving in Kyoto every day. All it takes to spell disaster for us is for one of them to recognize your description.”
    “Understood,” Kae said, bowing deeply. He looked up to see his father sink down onto a low, painted chest that held maps. Throwing protocol to the winds, Kae rushed over. “Are you ill? Do you need a doctor?”
    Asahiko shook his head. “I’m tired.” He gestured for Kae to sit beside him. “Japan is on the brink of death, Kaemon, and I want to hold it off as long as possible.”
    He rubbed his eyes and exhaled a weary sigh before continuing. “You and I have a responsibility to be the voices of reason in Emperor Komei’s ear. We need to find a way to voice that same reason to young Prince Mutsuhito, because one day he’ll be emperor, and if the rebels have their way, it will be long before he’s ready to assume the role.”
    Prince Asahiko placed his hand on Kae’s shoulder. “This incident with the kamuro and the servant girl prove to me that you are too much like your mother, Kaemon. Men such as we can never indulge the whims of our hearts. Never. Remember that.”
    Kae nodded. “I will remember, Honored Father. You have my word.”

Chapter Ten
     
     
     
    The meal that the wife of the castle warden served was far from a plate of table scraps. In fact, if Emmi had been wearing her favorite jeans instead of the loose kimono and hakama, she’d have had to undo the top button.