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Julia came forward, smiling. "How do you do, Mr. Monk. How charming of you to call upon us," she said for the maid's benefit. "May we offer you some refreshment? Janet, please bring us some tea and cakes. You will have cakes, Mr. Monk?"
He accepted politely, but as soon as the maid was gone the charade fell away. Julia introduced him to Maria
Monk had dealt with a case of assault upon a woman only once before. Rape was very seldom reported because of the shame and the scandal attached. He had given a great deal of thought how to begin, but still he was uncertain.
"Please tell me what you remember, Miss Gillespie," he said quietly. He was not sure whether to smile or not. She might take it as a lightness on his part, as if he had no sympathy with her. And yet if he did not, he knew his features were of a naturally grim cast.
She swallowed and cleared her throat, then cleared it again. Julia's hand tightened on her shoulder.
"I really don't remember very much, Mr. Monk," she apologized. "It was very-unpleasant. At first I tried to forget it. Maybe you ca
"It is quite natural," he assured her with more sincerity than she could know. "We all try to forget what hurts us. It is sometimes the only way we can continue."
Her eyes widened in sudden surprise and a faint flush touched her cheeks.
"How sensitive of you." There was profound gratitude in her face, but no easing of the tension which gripped her.
"What can you tell me about it, Miss Gillespie?" he asked again.
Julia made as if to speak, then with an effort changed her mind. Monk realized she was some ten or twelve years older than her sister and felt a fierce sense of protection toward her.
Maria
"I don't know who it was," she said very quietly.
"We know that, dear," Julia said quickly, leaning forward a little. "That is what Mr. Monk is here to find out. Just tell him what you know-what you told me."
"He won't be able to find out," Maria
"Of course not!" Julia agreed. "That would be terrible for you. Quite unthinkable. But there are other ways. I shall see that he never comes near you again, or any other decent young woman. Please just answer Mr. Monk's questions, dear. It is an offense which ca
"Where were you when it happened, Miss Gillespie?" Monk interrupted. He did not want to be drawn into the argument as to what action could be taken if they discovered the man. That was for them. They knew the consequences far better than he.
"In the summerhouse," Maria
Instinctively Monk glanced toward the windows, but he could see only sunlight through the cascading leaves of a weeping elm and the lush pink of a rose beyond.
"Here?" he asked. "In your own garden?"
"Yes. I go there quite often-to paint."
"Often? So anyone familiar with your day might have expected to find you there?"
She colored painfully. "I-suppose so. But I am sure that can having nothing to do with it."
He did not reply to that. "What time of day was it?" he asked instead.
"I am not certain. About half past three, I think. Or perhaps a little later. Maybe four." She shrugged very slightly. "Or even half past. I was not thinking of time."
"Before or after tea?"
"Oh-yes-I see. After tea. I suppose it must have been half past four then."
"Do you have a gardener?"
"It wasn't he!" she said, jerking forward in some alarm.
"Of course not," he soothed. "Or you would have known him. I was wondering if he had seen anyone. If he had been in the garden it might help to determine where the man came from, which direction, and perhaps how he left, even the precise time."
"Oh yes-I see."
"We do have a gardener," Julia said with kee
"I shall do," Monk promised, turning back to Maria
"I-I don't know what you mean." Her hands knotted more tightly in her lap, and she stared at him with mounting nervousness.
"Was he dressed in a dark jacket such as a man of business might wear?" he explained. "Or a working smock, like a gardener? Or a white shirt, like a man of leisure?"
"Oh." She seemed relieved. "Yes. I see. I think I recall something-something pale." She nodded, becoming more assured. "Yes, a pale jacket, such as gentlemen sometimes wear in the summer."
"Was he bearded, or clean shaven?"
She hesitated only a moment. "Clean shaven."
"Can you remember anything else about his appearance? Was he dark or fair, large or small?"
"I-I don't know. I-" She took a sharp breath. "I suppose I must have had my eyes closed. It was…"
"Hush, dear," Julia said quickly, tightening her hand on Maria
Monk retreated, uncertain just how far he ought to press. It was a terror and revulsion he could only imagine. Nothing could show to him her experience.
"Are you sure you wish to pursue it?" he asked as gently as he could, looking not at Julia but at Maria
However, as before, it was Julia who answered.
"We must." There was resolute decision in her voice. "Quite apart from justice, she must be protected from ever encountering this man again. You must persevere, Mr. Monk. What else is there that we can tell you that may be of use?"
"Perhaps you would show me the summerhouse?" he asked, rising to his feet.
"Of course," Julia agreed immediately. "You must see it, or how else can you judge for yourself?" She looked at Maria
Monk was about to say that he would be present to protect her from any danger, then realized just in time that being alone with a man she had newly met might in itself be enough to alarm her. He felt he was foundering. It was going to be even harder than he had anticipated.
But Maria
"No-that is quite all right, Julia," she said firmly. "I will take Mr. Monk and show him. Perhaps tea will come while we are out, and we shall be able to return to it." And without waiting for Julia's reply, she led the way out into the hall and to the side door into the garden.
After a glance at Julia, Monk followed her and found himself outside in a small but extremely pleasant paved yard under the shade of a laburnum tree and a birch of some sort. Ahead of them stretched a long, narrow lawn and he could see a wooden summerhouse about fifteen yards away.
He, walked behind Maria
Maria