Dedication

To Susie, it’s always your fault.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

As I write this acknowledgment in the fall of 2020 it seems so odd to prepare to launch a travel romance into the world at a time when the world cannot travel. We are in the midst of a great global pandemic where people all around fight for their livelihoods, their health, and even their lives. I pray that by the time this book is read, we are on our way out of the darkest days, but in the meantime, I hope that instead of surrendering to the darkness, the fear, or even the fatigue, we will all find ways to look around at what we have lost and choose to appreciate what we still have. Even amid the horrors we have witnessed in 2020, I still believe the world is a great big marvelous place, and I know that no force anywhere in it is more powerful, healing, or transformational than love. Those core beliefs shape who I am and what I write, so while I cannot solve all the world’s problems, I pray that in the pages ahead you will find a short respite from the fear along with replenishing doses of hope, faith, wonder, and most of all love.

I would like to start by thanking the readers for all the love they have shown me over the years, but especially after the release of Full English in 2019. I immediately began to hear from readers who wanted a story centered on Lady Victoria, and I made a promise that if more than half the reviews mentioned her, I would do my best to tell her story. When all was said and done, more than 90% of the reviews wanted more Lady Vic, so I got to work. Thank you to each and every person who took the time to email, reach out on social media, or write a public review. This book was a blessing to me at a time when I really needed it, and I’m not sure I would have written it without your encouragement. Please don’t ever underestimate the effect a caring reader can have on the career path of a writer.