I equally want to acknowledge my debt to Caroline Weber, who offered me precious advice concerning all that related to Queen Marie Antoinette; to Jonathan Fasman, who gave the manuscript a dedicated reading; to Stephana Bottom Webb, whose large collection of books on
the French Queen—generously loaned to me for over two years—was a treasure trove; to Haley Hogan, for her meticulous research assistance; to Lillian Lovitt, Carol Haxo, Celia Britch, Karen Farrell, and Johanna Snyers for helping me to keep body and soul together, year in and year out; and to my male trinity, my late husband, Cleve Gray, and my sons Thaddeus and Luke, whose love and support have been my life’s greatest blessing.