The streets of London were slick with rain, fog curling between gas lamps, masking the city in a quiet, eerie hush. You tugged your coat tighter and glanced at Daphne Bridgerton, who was adjusting the brim of her hat with the same poise she always carried—except tonight, there was a sharp glint in her eye that belonged not to a debutante, but to a detective.

“Are you certain this lead is credible?” you asked, ducking under a low doorway as a carriage rattled past.

Daphne nodded, voice steady. “Every detail fits. Lady Whitcombe’s jewel disappeared last week, and every witness places a figure near her estate just before the theft. I cross-referenced it with sightings of Mr. Blackwell—the same man spotted near three other thefts in the past month.”

You frowned. “And you think we can catch him tonight?”

“Not think,” she corrected, a sly smile forming. “Know.”

You followed her down a narrow alley, footsteps muted against the wet cobblestones. She paused at a shadowed doorway, listening. Then she whispered, “He’s inside.”

You glanced around. “Daphne… this is dangerous. If he realizes we’re amateurs—”

“Not amateurs,” she interrupted sharply, gripping your arm. “We have the advantage of surprise. And cleverness.”

Inside, the dim glow of a single lantern revealed a room cluttered with stolen goods. The jewel sat on a table, glittering under the light. And behind it, a man—tall, dark, dangerous—spun around, eyes narrowing.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he hissed.

Daphne stepped forward, calm but commanding. “And you shouldn’t steal from the ton. Return the jewels, and no one need be harmed.”

You felt your heart pound, but you stayed by her side, ready.

The man lunged for the door. Quick as ever, Daphne grabbed a heavy book from a shelf and let it slide across the floor. It struck his leg, tripping him just enough for you to intercept. Together, the two of you pinned him just long enough for the authorities—summoned discreetly earlier by Daphne—to arrive.

As the constables cuffed him, Daphne turned to you, hair damp from the rain, cheeks flushed, and a triumphant sparkle in her eyes.

“See?” she said softly. “Cleverness—and a little courage—always wins the day.”