Prince George was soon to become the prince regent. His father showed increasing illness and mental inability. In 1793, much of this is not known and the bouts are more rare, but there is growing evidence that his mental illness was of longer duration than was originally thought possible.
The waltz was not danced in England for many years to come, but it is not implausible that Prince George would have requested a ball with the waltz. He was known to be eccentric and shocking, both morally and otherwise.
The description of Carlton house is mostly accurate, as are the descriptions of the ball he threw, the rose room, the artwork, and even the outdoor décor with the tents. His described plans to include a river and fountain on his next tabletop, with fish included, was in fact a reality in the next party he threw. The house was constantly under renovation and never considered finished. The renovations are not mentioned in the story. I moved forward like we all wish we could when dealing with renovations—as if they were already completed.
Princess Elizabeth of Hungary is a fictional character, demonstrating one of the many Prince George entertained instead of accompanying his wife. Marie Antoinette was from royal lineage in Hungary, and so in my mind, they might be cousins.
Claire Lacombe and the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women worked hard for a constitution in France, one that included women’s rights. They insisted others wear the tricolor cockade, demanded the price of bread be lowered, and supported the Jacobins. I can only guess their true personalities, which may have been very different than I portray.
Olympe de Gouges, sometimes called the world’s first feminist, wrote many plays and letters and essays and other materials she spread through the city, among them The Declaration on the Rights of Women. She supported the king and queen, was considered a Girondist, and was executed in the year the book takes place. Some of her comments are direct quotes of her own words.
Charlotte Corday was sent to the guillotine for murdering Jean-Paul Marat in his bathtub.
Marie Antoinette was executed in the year 1793. An attempt to rescue her failed. She had in fact planned to travel on the ship called The Sally and live with the Clough family in Maine. They had some of her furniture pieces and, it is rumored, her cats. To this day, a specific breed of cat very similar to those belonging to Marie Antoinette can be found in Maine.
Of the character and personality of Marie Antoinette, I chose to write her from the perspective of the English, Scarlet specifically. The wealthy English loved Marie and supported the nobles in France.
The Carnation Plot is briefly highlighted as well. Someone did send in a flower to Marie, and she responded with pokes in a paper.
I made some educated guesses with the character and personality of Robespierre. The story falls at a time when his power is not yet absolute. In my story, I write as though he has already arrived in power as the head of the Committee of Public Safety. Éléonore Duplay was his mistress. Her character, upbringing, goals, and personality in this story are all my own creation.
The Spanish Inquisition was winding down during the time when Scarlet’s parents would have travelled to Spain but was not yet finished. The disagreement over the Faulkland Islands was brief but very real and heated during the time they would have been travelling.