My heartfelt thanks go out firstly to my editor Nick Sayers, and to my agent Gordon Wise. Your continued support, encouragement and words of guidance with this book are so greatly appreciated. My thanks also to my American publisher Claiborne Hancock and Jessica Case at Pegasus in New York, and agent Deborah Schneider at Gelfman Schneider. What a wonderful team behind my books! I would like to also thank my friends from the world of writing – the Prime Writers and the Historical Writers Association – and in particular, Martine Bailey, Nick Brown, Antonia Hodgson and Rebecca Mascull. My husband Paul continues to be a writer’s dream partner – always keeping well out of my way when I’m obviously struggling with a knotty plot problem, and then turning up at just the right moment with a cup of tea, or glass of wine. And I must mention my children, Natalie and Adam, who are not only my trusted early readers, but also my most loyal cheerleaders – even books need some unconditional love. I want to save my biggest thanks, however, for my sister Kathy. We’ve had a difficult couple of years as a family, but she has been our tower of strength with her energy, love and sense of purpose.