James Gordon Bennett had retired from editing the New York Herald by the time we had him meet Margaret and had handed the reins over to his sports-mad son, who became the youngest-ever Commodore of the New York Yacht Club.

The lives of two of our main fictional characters have been inspired by real people. The Reverend Arthur Osborne Jay’s work in the Shoreditch parish of London is to a degree the model for Father Sebastian’s work in Lambeth. Reverend Jay, like Sebastian, believed that his parishioners’ material well-being was as important as their spiritual health, and established a social club and gymnasium in his parish.

Marion Scrymgeour’s experiences in the lower echelons of the diplomatic service have their roots in the lives of several diplomatic wives, travelers, and explorers, including Lady Mary Sheil, Isabella Bird, Lady Hester Stanhope, and Isabel Burton. It was Lady Anne Blunt who actually first established a stud with imported thoroughbred Arabian horses, rather later than our doughty Marion.

As for all the other main characters in our story, including Killin, Randolph Mueller, Susannah Elmhirst, Patrick Valentine, and Fraser Scott, their appearance, characters, and traits are entirely the fruit of our imagination.

The locations, however, are all real, and many can still be visited.

Sadly, Montagu House, which was the Buccleuch London residence until 1917, was converted to offices, and then demolished in 1949. The site is now occupied by the Ministry of Defence building. However, the other main Buccleuch residences still exist. Dalkeith Palace, just outside Edinburgh, is currently leased by the University of Wisconsin, but you can visit the surrounding park and enjoy a meal in the beautifully restored stables that were once home to Spider, Margaret’s beloved pony. Drumlanrig Castle near Dumfries can also be visited.

Donald’s home, Achnacarry Castle, was used as a base for training commandos during World War II. It still exists, and though it isn’t open to the public, you can visit the nearby Clan Cameron museum.

Inveraray Castle, principal seat of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, is still a private residence but also open to the public. The writing desk which Queen Victoria gave to Louise as a wedding present is one of the exhibits.

The world-renowned Powerscourt Gardens continued to be developed by Mervyn, Julia, and their heirs. Though they have been much enhanced since Margaret’s time, all of her favourite areas in the grounds still exist and can be visited, including of course the spectacular waterfall where Donald first proposed. Unfortunately, in 1974 a fire swept through Powerscourt House, leaving only a shell. It was twenty-two years before it was renovated, and it is now one of the Autograph Collection of hotels.