Prompt: Who was the man who collected the wedding band for Jefferson Hope, and did Holmes ever meet him again?
A/N: I got this highly implausible idea at--you guessed it--3:00 am. And it turned into a 221b! Strange how I always do these by accident. It's quite AU, and quite unlikely, but I had fun with the idea, so I had to write it :)
...I leave a photograph, which he might care to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes,
Very sincerely yours,
Irene Norton, nee Adler.
The king heaved a sigh of relief as he came to the end of this singular missive. He began to proclaim loudly what a woman Mrs. Norton was. I was hardly listening; but was reading a post script, which the others had overlooked.
You may not know it, but our paths have crossed before--I impersonated an elderly woman as a favour to my friend Jefferson Hope. He had told me to take precautions against you, as the advertisment could likely be a trap. Only thus did I know you followed me. You did it very nicely--I had to go to great lengths to shake you off. My congratulations, Mr. Holmes. You really are an expert in your field.
Yours,
Irene Norton.
"...Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" the king exclaimed.
"From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a very different level from your Majesty." I looked back at the photograph. A remarkable woman indeed. Of course, it was a blow to my pride, but I was appeased by the knowledge that there is no one by whom I would rather have been bested.