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Evangeline.”
    “But she is not the owner of record now, is she? Come, Mrs. Spencer. You’ve done your guard duty and warned me off. Let me see the man for myself. I promise you, I won’t take advantage of him.”
    The nurse worried her hands in her apron. “I shouldn’t.”
    Ben smiled again at her, turning on his vaunted charm full blast. “But you will. You care about the family, I can see that. And I have the wherewithal to improve everyone’s situation here. You must not stand in the way.”
    “You won’t cheat him? He’s had enough of that.”
    “On my honor as a gentleman—and I am a gentleman, despite what Miss Ramsey has written—I intend nothing but the best for the Ramseys.”
    He waited a tick while the nurse edged over to his point of view, keeping his impatience hidden. It was not often he had to work so hard to get what he wanted. Usually his good humor swayed even the most recalcitrant individuals.
    Except for Evie.
    But he had been young then, too young according to her. Too unpolished. Well, he had a blinding gleam about himself now.
    “Very well. But don’t tire him out. I’ll be right in the hallway on my chair, trying to hear every word.”
    “I’ll speak up, then, Mrs. Spencer. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
    The nurse led him to the end of the hallway, where a plush but worn chair was indeed stationed right outside the door. A basket of mending sat on a rickety side table.
    “Mr. Ramsey,” Mrs. Spencer said brightly, with that false voice adults sometimes use on children, “look who’s come to see you! It’s Lord Gray!”
    Ben’s eyes adjusted to the gloom of the room. The dark curtains were drawn against the thin winter light and draft of cold air coming through the window that managed to circumvent them. There was no smell of sickroom, however, and Evie’s father was not abed. He was seated at a small table, shuffling a tattered deck of cards between trembling fingers. He looked up, and Ben could see the intervening years had not been kind to him. His once jet-black hair was white, and the beaky Ramsey nose was more prominent than ever in his gaunt face.
    “Ben Gray, is it? My, my. Have you come for my Evangeline at last? I won’t hold it against you that you didn’t come up to scratch before, y’know. Boys will be boys.”
    “Good afternoon, Robert. I’m afraid your daughter wouldn’t have me then, and surely won’t have me now. I believe she holds me in some aversion.”
    “Ah! That silly paper of hers. I know she helps Frank Hallett with it sometimes. Bookkeeping, editing, that sort of thing. Don’t credit anything in it.” He waved a hand. “Sit down, my boy, sit down. A hand of piquet, perhaps? A penny a point.”
    Frank Hallett again, but Ben was fairly sure The London List was entirely Evie’s domain. He eased himself down in the chair opposite. He imagined Evie sat in it, keeping her father company. Keeping vigil. “I’m afraid I haven’t come to play cards, sir, but I have come about the newspaper.”
    “Can’t sue me for defamation. Look around you. The place is a dump. Haven’t a turnip to suck blood from. Doctors take it all. The lot of them quacks. Have me chewing bark from some damn tree and drinking the most vile potions. Evie won’t let ’em bleed me, thank God. Day nurses, night nurses. Wilfred—you remember Wilfred?—always lurking about to make sure I don’t wander off and get lost, too. My mind’s shot. Won’t bore you with the worst of it, because I can’t remember half of it. Hah! Poor Evie.” He cracked a smile, revealing the charming old gambler he used to be.
    “I don’t want to sue you. I’d like to purchase The London List, though,” Ben said, getting right to the point. If this was one of Robert’s more lucid afternoons, he’d better make haste. Ben named a figure, impulsively doubling what he originally thought was fair and had written down for Evie to deliver. He could afford it, and it was clear the Ramseys were