A/N: Sorry for the delay. This chapter took me longer than I thought it would to write. Please read and tell me if you think it goes too slow, is too complicated, or doesn't pack enough emotional punch. Developing Holmes is complicated! :D

The doorbell rang. The Watsons' servant maid, Molly, ran for it. She had been at the other side of the house preparing for the guest to arrive in an hour and hadn't been expecting anyone. The man at the door smirked at her somewhat for her stare.

"Mr. Holmes!" she declared, astonished.

"Good afternoon, my dear Molly. Please be so kind at to tell the doctor and Mrs. Watson that I have arrived?" He brushed past her and then turned around quickly, handing her his coat, hat, and cane.

Watson came down the stairs at the sound of the doorbell. "Holmes!" he exclaimed, delighted, "You came!" Holmes was splendidly dressed in his best tuxedo. Holmes gave a small, mischievous smile to his friend, obviously gratified at his friend's reaction to his presence.

"I must admit, Watson that I wished to be here early to watch your guests arrive." He actually only wanted to watch one guest arrive, but he kept that caveat to himself.

"Of course, Holmes! Please, the house is yours. I have to finish dressing, but is there anything you need?"

"No, my dear Watson, I'm sure that Molly can get anything if I do."

Holmes found himself a drink in Watson's library and settled down to wait. He suspected that Ava and Roger would arrive early as well. Holmes had had no need of Watson confidentially informing him of Ava's request to bring a "valet." He had expected it from the moment that Watson had told him he had invited her. Roger was a second pair of eyes to a dangerous game that was being played out.

And so it was that they were the second party to arrive, though not as early as Holmes might have hoped. He heard her in the hall, greeting Mrs. Watson.

"It is very nice to meet you, Mrs. Watson. Thank you very much for your kind invitation."

"You are most welcome, Dr. Reed. I am so pleased that you've come."

"I do have one request that I hope you will not find too odd or exceptional, Mrs. Watson," Ava began, looking sideways at Roger standing slightly behind her on her side.

"Not at all, please ask."

"Would you be so kind as to allow my valet Roger to mix with your own servants?" Ava asked quietly. Her cheeks grew a little warm. "I would consider it a personal favor."

"Of course!" Mary said easily. "But then you must agree to call me Mary if we are to be sharing servants!" she joked lightly. Ava smiled shyly, and nodded. "I think that would be well. I gave Dr. Watson leave to call me Ava Grace years ago; I do wish you would do the same."

Holmes smirked at the cleverness of it. Coming early enough, Roger could mix in with the other servants as to be undetected by the other guests, and secretly observe them, thus providing protection for his mistress.

"Mr. Holmes has already arrived. He is in the library, if you would like to join him while I show Roger the kitchen?"

Ava's eyes widened slightly, betraying feelings that Mary could tell Ava herself was not quite aware of yet. "Oh, is Mr. Holmes here? I did not realize he came to such social events," she said casually.

Mary smirked, woman to woman. "No, not often, but occasionally he graces up with his presence. Though I must admit, he is a horrible dinner guest!" They both laughed pleasantly.

Holmes retreated from the door as Ava came down the hall. "Dr. Reed," he bowed politely as she entered.

"Mr. Holmes," Ava inclined her head. He tried not to react at her appearance. She was in a long silk dress the color of champagne, clinging slightly to her figure that made one realize that she had a figure. It enhanced the color of her deep blue eyes, but that wasn't the most extraordinary aspect of her appearance. Long, honey-blond hair was plaited atop her head, perfectly accenting the dress and her eyes. It was obviously a wig, but for a moment, Holmes was entranced.

"Would you care for a glass of sparkling cider, Dr. Reed?" Holmes asked, somewhat awkwardly. He really had no idea what woman drank at such things.

She looked at the short table where Holmes had laid his glass. "What you are drinking will suit me well, Mr. Holmes," Ava said simply. Holmes was a little startled, but hid it well as he poured another glass of brandy. Most women of the upper classes did not drink hard liquor.

More people began to arrive. Their voices could be heard in the hallway, coming closer. Ava took a quick drink from her glass, but otherwise showed no outward sign of her thoughts. Holmes smiled inwardly. "I was most interested in your last article, Dr. Reed," he began conversationally. "How many types of beetles have you actually studied?"

Gratefulness showed in Ava's eyes as she focused on a topic she knew well. They talked until the other guest made their way inside the room. In a few moments the room was full. Ava crept slowly closer to Holmes, quite subconsciously, as Mary made the introductions. The Watsons had invited about 16 people, but only 12 had accepted. Holmes deduced that the larger than normal guest list was an attempt to not make Ava stand out.

Though she did, anyway. As introductions were made, it could be seen that almost everyone in attendance new the name Ava Grace Reed. People are curious busybodies by nature, but the strict Victorian atmosphere held, and so did the wagging tongues. Holmes almost felt the need to close his eyes, the intensity of information leaking from these people made thinking difficult.

The Watsons' housekeeper appeared in the doorway. "Dinner is served, madam," she stated to Mary. Holmes breathed a sigh of relief, and left Ava squeeze his arm sympathetically. Mary turned, placing her arm with her husband's. As if on cue, Holmes moved his arm to accept Ava's hand he felt slide through, with no question needing to be asked. "Please, this way," as they guided their guests to dinner. Despite the unfamiliar setting, and a beautiful woman on his arm, Holmes actually felt relaxed.

Holmes had never been so gregarious, Watson decided. His friend ate, drank, and talked about a myriad of subjects with gusto. Ava spoke infrequently, on topics that she knew well - giving some of the guests pause, as woman usually were not conversant on the subjects of medicine and biology. The intensity of Ava's attention put them off as well, it being the fashion for ladies not to seem to pay attention to anything considered "men's work".

But Holmes only became even more talkative as her subtly drew Ava out. Watson smiled warmly, knowing that to those who knew him well, it could be seen that Holmes found Ava Grace the most intelligent and interesting person at the table. Including Watson. Which, thought Watson inwardly, bothered him not in the slightest.

Holmes himself could only marvel. Ava's demeanor Mary have been "mannish" by the standard of most of those at the table, but to Holmes they were reasonable, rational, and downright charming. Of course, he would never admit that to anyone, especially himself. But in his mind, she was like a finely honed blade – beautiful on the surface, but powerful and unbreakable underneath.

Dinner was drawing to a close. "I propose a walk in the garden," Mary announced, and everyone gladly accepted. This was not, perhaps, proper protocol, as the women normally retired to the drawing room to let the men smoke, but Mary thought that might not be a good plan in this situation. Ava obviously preferred the company of Sherlock Holmes, and Mary was going to keep Ava comfortable, protocol be damned!

Holmes helped Ava from her chair. Few words had been spoken between them during dinner, and yet, they seemed to have an understanding that belayed the few short months that they had known each other. Much like his relationship with Watson, a thought drifted through Holmes' mind.

The garden was pleasant as they walked arm in arm, someone separate from the other guests admiring Mrs. Watson's roses. "And what do you think of our fellow dinner guests?" Holmes asked conspiratorially, interested in Ava's powers of observation outside the lab.

"General Lamb will die within six months," Ava said bluntly.

Holmes looked over the general thoroughly. "And how did you come to this conclusion?"

"By several things. His rate of breathing and slightly flushed complexion tell of uncontrolled high blood pressure. But if you look at his feet, you see that they are swollen, which is another sign of poor circulation. And he has obviously not been listening to his doctor, who has in all probability told him to stop drinking alcohol. Taken together, he will suffer from a heart attack within the next several months."

Holmes was amazed. He had never thought to extend his science of deduction to medical matters, but it would seem that Ava had been doing it for years. "And our other guests?" Holmes asked, eager to learn more about the mind in front of him.

Ava's eyes twinkled. "That hardly seems fair, Mr. Holmes," she said. "You must now give me your opinion of them."

"A challenge, then?" Holmes looked her in the eye, a smile playing on his lips. "Well, then, as to the good Dr. Rolens, he has recently returned from a trip that his wife knew of, but obviously does not know that he met his mistress on said trip."

Ava's eyebrows rose. "And you have evidence of this, Mr. Holmes?" she said, trying her best to keep the skepticism out of her voice. "Or have you simply guessed from the man's age and wealth?"

"Guessing is for the week-minded, Dr. Reed. No, it is simply a case of correctly interpreting the observed. I overheard Mrs. Rolens asking her husband about the tie when they came in. She had not bought it for him. It is a rather fashionable tie, to which he stated he had bought it on his trip to Athens. Mrs. Rolens obviously knew about that trip, from her reaction. Now, during dinner, the doctor stated that he "hated department stores." This allows me to deduce that someone else bought the tie for him. And as he was unwilling to state that person's name to his wife, I therefore conclude it was his mistress."

Ava looked down at her feet, lost in thought. "Roger could use instruction such as that," she said quietly. Her grip on Holmes' arm seemed to tighten.

"I would be honored to introduce the steps to him," Holmes said gravely, almost able to hear her thoughts. Whatever game this was was dangerous; the people playing with Ava's life, deadly.

"You must start with the observation that everyone lies, Dr. Reed. All else follows."

She looked up at him, contemplating this line. She nodded, satisfied that he understood.

They said little else the rest of the evening, except for a courteous good-bye as Ava's carriage drove off with her and Roger. Holmes started after it for a moment, and then took his leave of the Watson home rather brusquely.