For Nancy and Jeff Balfour,
with love
Thanks to:
Editrix ‘Suzie Dooré’ Lestrange, Francine Toon, Poppy North and everyone at Hodder & Stoughton in London. Marcia Markland, Kat Brzozowski, Hector Dejean and everyone at Minotaur in New York. Imogen Olsen for the copy-edit, Jessica Hische for the beautiful jacket design and Bronwen Salter-Murison once again for the Dandy Gilver website. My wonderful agent, Lisa Moylett. My family and friends in Scotland for their stupendous welcome when I returned to research this book. My friends (who feel like family) in America for their stupendous welcome back again. I certainly have fallen in with some good crowds. And thanks, of course, to the smallest and best crowd of all: Neil McRoberts.