Author's Notes:

Firstly, I'm a girl who likes a challenge and when a friend said to me that it would not be possible to put a woman into the Holmes canon and do it well, I found it impossible to resist trying. You may be your own judge as to whether or not I've been successful. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

Secondly, I am basing some of my interpretation of the characters of Holmes and Watson on the wonderful portrayals by Richard Roxburgh and Ian Hart from the BBC adaptation of Hound. This production came in for a lot of criticism from some but personally I found Roxburgh and Hart brought aspects to the characters which I thought interesting and worth exploring. Particularly Hart's far more competent Watson.

Hope you enjoy.

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Dear Reader,

Over the years I have published the details of 60 cases investigated by my good friend, the master detective Mr Sherlock Holmes. Whilst 60 is of course a more than sufficient number, you must understand that there are many tales from his 23 year career that remain untold. Some of these have been omitted due to the fact that they are of a simple or relatively uninteresting nature. Many however have remained secret due to the reticence of certain involved parties expressed to having their stories placed into print.

I have already documented my friend's lack of regard towards women, excepting of course Miss Irene Alder, oft referred to as 'the woman'. It has been assumed by the general public that no other woman came close to this one in Holmes's favour. This is not entirely true however. There was one woman - just one - that Holmes eventually had the good grace to admit was a more useful and astute member of her species than any he had ever met.

Up until recently she had wished her part in our adventures to not be included within my works. She is a rather private woman at heart and did not wish to be the recipient of any undue attention she may receive. But with her having retired to the country now, she has at last giving me permission to include those tales in which she has featured. This has therefore allowed me to finally tell some of the most remarkable cases which I have so far been held to secrecy over.

The story of how she came to know myself and Holmes is a tale for another time, when it has been agreed upon what details of her personal life I may include. For now, all that need be known is that Lady Katrina Ashcroft, born in India 1857 to a regimental Colonel, was a widow of some considerable wealth. Following Holmes's successful capture of her husband's murder, she became his benefactor of sorts, allowing him to take on the cases of even the poorest people in London. One such case is as follows, remarkable for the fact that it forced Holmes to admit that sometimes a woman can be an unexpectedly useful thing to have around.

Dr John H Watson, 1910