This is, hands down, the poshest ball John had ever been to. He had been required to attend a few though the army but nothing like this.

The white ballroom was decorated with swaths of midnight blue velvet and huge crystal chandeliers. The windows looked out upon dark gardens and at the very edge of those a line where the dark woods surrounding the grounds started.

On the stage in the front of the room quartet of string instruments were playing lilting music that swept around the circling dancers, all of which were dressed in period costume, the men in tights and doublets and shirts with flowing canvas sleeves; the woman in magnificent corseted gowns.

Sherlock had disappeared as soon as they had entered so John made his way alone to a mahogany table on which rested silver trays with sparkling fluted glasses of champagne.

The music stopped and the guests politely applauded as some dancers exited the floor and others entered it.

John found a space on the edge of the room to stand and turned to watch the dancers. As the musicians readied themselves, he spotted Sherlock leading a woman, dressed in an impressive black gown, to the dance.

The music started and Sherlock bowed to the woman, who curtsied back. Remembering Lestrade's description, John guessed this must be the owner of the grounds.

Sherlock led the woman in slow circles as the gentle music filled the room. he was staring intensely at her and talking quickly.

Suddenly a series of sharp notes signaled a change in the music and the music started to go impossibly fast.

Many of the dancers stumbled under the pressure of the beat and others gave up all together and gracefully moved off to the sides of the room. Sherlock however continued to dance, sweeping his partner around the fall in graceful motions; his body swaying and bobbing in time as he partner effortlessly round the floor. All the while Sherlock whispered quickly in her ear.

The music ended and Sherlock strode confidently away as the woman stared after his with a look of horror.

"She hid the book and called the police herself. She was then going to give it to her nephew to hand in and collect the reward which she would claim from him. As it turns out the family have been somewhat in debt recently. Dull." Sherlock swept out onto the dark ground to the car.

"Still, at least I got something out of it", Sherlock laughed. "Check your phone."

John opened his phone to find multiple photos of him in his ridiculous renaissance outfit, taken in Lestrade's office.

"Sherlock!", John exclaimed running after him. "Delete those right now. Right now! I was in the army! I've killed men with my bare hands!"

"You were a doctor." Came the reply from the other side of the car.

"I had bad days!"