“Many thanks for the undeserved praise,” Reiko said politely. “I know I look terrible.”

“Oh, you’re too modest.” Lady Keisho-in dimpled. “Now tell me, what news is there of the sōsakan-sama?”

“He’s investigating the fire and murders at the Black Lotus Temple,” Reiko said, leading the conversation to the topic of importance to her.

“Men,” scoffed Keisho-in. She inhaled on her pipe, exhaled smoke, and coughed, shaking her head. “Always so absorbed in business. Do you know that Priest Ryuko has gone off somewhere and left me by myself all day?”

Ryuko was Keisho-in’s spiritual adviser and lover. Evidently, his abandonment had caused her bad mood. Now she fluttered a silk fan in front of her face. Above it, her eyes twinkled at Reiko. “I bet your man has left you to your own devices, too.”

“Actually, he’s asked me to help with the case,” Reiko said.

She explained about Haru, and her belief that the Black Lotus sect was involved in the crimes. Lady Keisho-in listened eagerly, uttering exclamations: “Shocking!” “Remarkable!” Her attention encouraged Reiko to hope that Keisho-in would grant the favor she wanted.

“I need to speak with High Priest Anraku, the leader of the sect,” Reiko said, “but his subordinates wouldn’t let me.”

“Disgusting!” Keisho-in grimaced. “Those people take too much authority upon themselves.”

“Perhaps if I had assistance from a person of influence…?” Reiko hinted.

“I suppose that might help,” Keisho-in agreed cheerfully.

“Someone to whom the high priest owes a duty could convince him to grant me an audience,” Reiko said.

Smiling, Keisho-in nodded, but it was obvious that she had no idea what Reiko meant. Mirth shimmered behind the stoic faces of the ladies-in-waiting. Reiko gave up on subtlety. “The high priest would see me if you ordered him to,” she said.

“Of course he would. “ Comprehension brightened Keisho-in’s face. “He has to do what I say. All of his kind must.”

Lady Keisho-in was an avid Buddhist who had taken a religious name; she’d also directed the shogun to build temples and give generous endowments to religious orders. The clergy didn’t dare disobey her, lest they lose Tokugawa patronage.

“Just leave that priest to me,” Keisho-in said, “and you shall have whatever you want.” She fixed an insinuating, covetous gaze on Reiko.

Keisho-in was flirting with her! The belated realization flabbergasted Reiko. Everyone knew that the shogun’s mother liked women as well as men, but Reiko had never imagined herself as an object of Keisho-in’s romantic interest. The dowager had always treated her with maternal kindness, yet now it seemed that Keisho-in had taken a fancy to her.

“A thousand thanks,” Reiko stammered in dismay. Keisho-in often had affairs with her attendants, the wives of bakufu officials, and even her son’s concubines. No lover could give her as much affection as she needed, and she punished them harshly for their failure. Everyone had heard tales of maids and concubines thrown out on the streets; ladies-in-waiting dismissed and doomed to spinsterhood because Keisho-in forbade anyone to marry them; officials demoted because their wives had displeased her. Reiko wasn’t physically attracted to women, and she found the shogun’s mother repugnant. She was horrified to discover that she’d put herself and Sano in peril.

The only solution was to get away as quickly and gracefully as possible. Reiko said, “Your help will surely benefit the investigation, and I truly appreciate it, but I must-”

“We shall go to the Black Lotus Temple tomorrow,” Keisho-in announced. “I’ll order the sect to let you see the high priest, and we’ll both visit him.”

“What?” Reiko hoped she’d misheard the shogun’s mother.

“A little trip is just the diversion I need,” Keisho-in said. Giggling, she leaned closer to Reiko as she whispered, “Traveling together will give us time to get better acquainted.”

Reiko stared at her, dumbstruck. She didn’t want to spend any more time with Lady Keisho-in. Nor did she want Keisho-in around to meddle in the investigation.

“But you don’t have to go to the temple,” Reiko said, fighting anxiety. “It’s such a long way, and a message from you to High Priest Anraku would do just as well as a personal visit. Please don’t trouble yourself.”

“A favor for you is no trouble. “ Some of the happiness faded from Lady Keisho-in’s face. “Don’t you want my company?”

“Of course I do,” Reiko said quickly, because she dared not offend Keisho-in. “I’m just so overwhelmed by your generosity.”

“Then it’s all settled. We’ll leave at the hour of the dragon.” Her good humor restored, Keisho-in extended her hands to the ladies-in-waiting. “Help me up so I can choose my costume for the occasion.” As the women pulled her to her feet, Keisho-in simpered at Reiko. “I want to look nice.”

Riding in her palanquin through the streets of Edo Castle ’s official district, Reiko gazed absently out the window at the walled estates and mounted samurai. She tried to think how to avoid taking Lady Keisho-in along to the Black Lotus Temple, and failed. Unless she honored Keisho-in’s wishes, she wouldn’t get an interview with High Priest Anraku. She dreaded tomorrow and wondered how to discourage Keisho-in’s attentions. What would she tell Sano? Maybe she shouldn’t have approached the shogun’s mother.

Then Reiko shook her head. It was too late for regrets and self-recrimination. She would just have to think of a way to handle Lady Keisho-in. Meanwhile she had another favor to ask of someone else.

Outside an estate near Sano’s and similar in design, but grander, the captain of her military escort announced her arrival to the sentry stationed at the gate: “The wife of the sōsakan-sama wishes to visit the wife of the Honorable Minister of Temples and Shrines.” Soon Reiko was seated in a cozy chamber with her friend Hiroko, daughter of Magistrate Ueda’s chief retainer and now wife of the official in charge of monitoring the clergy.

“It’s good to see you again,” Hiroko said, pouring tea. She was two years Reiko’s senior and had rounded features that reflected her tranquil disposition. Maids brought her two little boys, aged one and three years, for Reiko to admire. Hiroko inquired about Masahiro, then said with a gentle, knowing smile, “Somehow I doubt that you’ve come here for the mere pleasure of passing the time with me.”

A fond, sisterly understanding had existed between them since their childhood, when Reiko had taken the lead in games while Hiroko tried to curb Reiko’s willfulness and often shared the consequences of it.

“I need information about the Black Lotus sect,” Reiko said. “I was hoping that the honorable minister might have some knowledge that would help solve the mystery of the fire and murders at the temple. May I speak to him?”

A frown marred Hiroko’s smooth forehead. “You know I would give you anything you wanted of me, Reiko-san, but… ” She paused, seeking words to refuse a favor to the daughter of her father’s master. “My husband is very busy, and women shouldn’t meddle in men’s affairs.”

“I understand,” Reiko said, “and I don’t like asking you to do something that might cause trouble in your marriage, but a life may depend on what I can learn about the Black Lotus.” Reiko described Haru’s plight and her own suspicions about the sect. “Unless I can find out who committed the crimes, a person who may be innocent will be executed.”

Hiroko glanced at her children playing in the next room, her gaze clouded with indecision.

“Will you at least ask your husband if he’ll spare me a moment?” Reiko asked, though she hated to pressure her friend.

Fortunately for Reiko, obedience was ingrained in Hiroko. A sigh issued from her, and she conceded, “I’ll ask him.”