"You admire that, don't you?" he observed. He made it a question, but he knew it was true. If she had denied it he would not have believed her. He admired it too. He had no regard for someone incapable of anger at injustice.

He had thought Rathbone cold, a creature of his intellect, of superb and total control of his emotions. To find he was not so increased Monk's liking for him. He was not sure that he wished to like Rathbone, but even with all its complications, it was a sweeter feeling than contempt or indifference.

"Do you want to tell Gabriel?" she asked, cutting across his thoughts.

"Yes ... yes, I will. How is he?" He asked because he liked Gabriel; it was not a matter of courtesy.

"Better," she replied, meeting his eyes. “I think the pain is about the same. It will be for a while. But he is sleeping with fewer nightmares now."

"Perdita?" he guessed.

She smiled. "Yes. Slowly..."

He smiled also, remembering Athol Sheldon and the look on his face when Perdita had spoken to him the last time Monk had been there. It was a battle she would not win easily, but at least she was prepared to fight it.

Hester led the way from the withdrawing room across the hall and upstairs to Gabriel's room. She knocked on the door.

It was opened by Perdita. She was dressed in soft pink trimmed with wine and she looked very serious and demure in spite of the flattering color. She stared past Hester to Monk.

"Is it more about Martha's nieces?" she asked very quietly, in case Martha should be close and overhear her.

"No, Mrs. Sheldon, it is about the inquest on Keelin Melville."

"Oh." She hesitated only a moment. The old habit of trying to protect Gabriel did not die easily. She had to make a conscious effort to realize what she was doing. She opened the door wider and they followed her in.