My thanks go first to my husband, Steve, without whose loving support I could never have found the time to write this novel. Additionally, I am grateful to Mr Roger Flavell BA (Oxon) for his invaluable suggestions and for the sharing of endless resources; to Professor Francis O’Gorman for insightful advice pertaining to synopses, and to my nephew, Michael Carter, for being a sounding board at the submission stage. Miss Eleanor Carter gave of her time to read the first completed draft of Far Above Rubies for which I am most appreciative, and I am grateful to my father, Mr George Carter, for his assistance with the title. Thank you to Kim and Richard, for being who you are, and to my boys, Jon-Marc and Alexander for making me so proud.