Hatsumomo's face was a mixture of triumph and malice. When I opened the door to Mother's room, she sent her beautiful red smile towards me. Inwardly, I shook to my very core, but I steadied myself as I prepared to ask Mother the questions I so desperately needed to ask.
"Mother, Pumpkin has told me some very strange things downstairs."
Mother started to speak but then looked at Hatsumomo, who sat there gloating, wearing an expression of absolute contentment.
"Come in, Sayuri" Mother commanded. "This concerns you. Close the door, I don't want the maids hearing."
I slid the door closed.
"Little Chiyo, if you had wanted to know the truth about your Danna, you needn't have asked Pumpkin. I would have told you!" Hatsumomo gushed. Mother rolled her eyes and tapped her pipe to clear the ashes.
Remembering that I was the daughter of the Okiya and not Hatsumomo, I took my seat next to Mother.
"Whatever Pumpkin may have told you downstairs, drunk or not," Mother said, lighting her pipe and settling her gaze on me, "Believe it. Tashkent's solicitor has been to see and has answered my inquiries into the situation."
"He has agreed to a settlement!" Hatsumomo said gleefully. Mother glared at her.
"What you have done is absolutely disgraceful! If he had not agreed to a settlement you would be walking away from this Okiya and into the gutter. A pregnant Geisha can't entertain and earn her keep." Mother looked steadily at Hatsumomo as if to prove her point. Hatsumomo didn't even flinch. She was absolutely brazen in her success.
"Okassan, you and I both know that now you won't let that happen. So what is the use in bringing up this dreary talk of what could have been? All that matters is what is happening now, isn't that so Sayuri-san?"
"Mother..."I began, but she stopped me.
"I am sorry this has happened, Sayuri-san, but everything must go on as before. Nobu's patrongage is too valuable to lose."
"Yes, Sayuri-san, everything will go on as before. Perhaps one day the Okiya can adopt my child and it can be your successor!" Hatsumomo said.
"That will never happen" I told her.
"We will see won't we, little Chiyo?" Hatsumomo rose gracefully and went to the door and slid it open. In her figure I could see nothing that indicated that she was with child.
When she was gone, I faced Mother and watched her as she re-packed her wretched pipe.
"Will she keep it?"
"Who knows? Hatsumomo will not like the things that pregnancy can do to your figure. Nobu Tashikazu has seen to it that she has enough money to do whatever she wants, either way. No doubt she will give it out for fostering elsewhere. I told her that it would not be welcome at the Okiya, especially if it was a boy."
"Do you think he wants it?"
Mother laughed."Don't be so naïve Sayuri-san, or so foolish. You are a very smart girl except in one respect and that is your sentimentality. Remember it does not pay to get too attached to anything or anyone in this life. Obviously Nobu still wants you. He is your Danna. This little situation will resolve itself one way or another. Having a bastard child from a geisha won't matter to Nobu"
My face must have betrayed my inner turmoil because Mother softened her tone a little and said," You will still be pretty when Hatsumomo retires. Do you think having a baby will endear her to her customers? At the moment I find her pay is slipping, she will be gone from this Okiya and out of our lives for good."
"Yes Mother" I mumbled.
"You are the daughter of the Okiya. Be thankful that you have the best of both worlds."
"Mother why did Nobu agree to a settlement. If you say he does not care why do it?"
"I forget sometimes that you are not from Kyoto and have yet to understand how this world works. Nobu Tashikazu has been a patron of Gion for many years. Our Okiya, although not the most prestigious, is not without status. How would it look if Nobu had disrespected us and not paid a penny? Its would be absolutely crass!"
I nodded politely and then smoothed down my robes and rose and went to the door. Hatsumomo's perfume wafted in the air..
I did not have any engagements until tonight. I thought about going to Mameha's apartment but I did not know what to say. I told Mother I was going to be resting for the rest of the day.
She shooed me out of her room.
