"I'm not afraid of him. Of all of London, I'm the only one not afraid of him." Her words are sharp, coming through clenched teeth. Bill Sikes was a name that brought fear to so many. But he was her Bill. Hers. No one else saw him the way she did.

What Eames says next is so casual that it takes a moment for the weight of the words to sink in. Wasn't it just six years ago they'd gone out to celebrate their victory against Norrell? How proud he'd been of her, then? He'd bought her jewelry.

They'd had to sell the emeralds.

"I Have no idea what you're talking about." She was still Nancy. She was just... back where she'd always belonged.