Shugo’s quiet contemplation of the night sky suddenly shifted to a wicked grin. “Let’s go catch fireflies,” he decided.

I forgot to behave properly and sat bolt upright, staring at him. I could already anticipate the snide remarks from the other ladies of the court – ‘That Jin encourages our Lord Shugo to do such horribly undignified things!’ – and grimaced. “Perhaps that isn’t the best idea…” I hedged.

“Bah! You’re just worried that withered old persimmon Lady Furo will scold you if she sees us,” he retorted. He leaned in close as if revealing a secret. “I know for a fact she went to bed an hour ago, because her snoring shook the timbers as I passed her quarters.”

I muffled my very unladylike guffaw under my heavy brocade sleeve. No one would ever tell Lady Furo to her face that she sounded like a distressed water buffalo, of course. Except perhaps Shugo. I studied him carefully as my mirth faded, noting the wicked twinkle in his eyes. We were about to do something utterly undignified, I was certain.