The Pigeon Pie Mystery (47 page)

“I was wondering whether you would be kind enough to give me some bicycling lessons,” she called as she approached. “I’m hoping to buy a machine.”

They stood, holding each other’s gaze in silence, while so much tenderness was said.

Evening had fallen by the time they finished their walk. As Dr. Henderson escorted her back to Wilderness House, Mink heard a group of visitors leaving the King’s Arms singing the “Shirt-sleeve Pudding Song,” and she looked up at the cloud-draped stars and all she could see was diamonds.

The last and final warrants for apartments at Hampton Court Palace were granted in the 1980s. Two grace-and-favour residents still live there, as well as numerous palace staff, including the vine keeper, a woman.

There is nothing quite like writing a Victorian murder mystery to bring out the kindness of strangers. When I first had the idea for this novel, I was living in the Middle East and e-mailed several questions to John Sheaf, a local historian of Hampton. He very generously fired back replies, including one on Christmas Eve while preparing his turkey. I felt so indebted to that gentleman, I thought I’d better write the thing. Numerous other experts have also taken the time and trouble to answer my questions. I am particularly grateful to Professor James C. Whorton, Dr. Brian Parsons, Dr. Daniel Grey, and Professor Alastair Bruce, OBE. I am indebted to the late Ernest Law for his accounts of the palace, as well as to historian Sarah E. Parker, a specialist in the grace-and-favour period. I would like to thank the palace staff for their generosity when I stayed in Fish Court while carrying out research, and during numerous subsequent visits, especially Gillian Cox, Anthony Boulding, and most of all Ian Franklin, a marvel. Heartfelt thanks to all at Doubleday, particularly my editor, Alison Callahan, and, of course, Gráinne Fox, my super agent. And, finally, I would like to embrace the British Library and the Wellcome Library, not only for their collections but for their muffins.

Julia Stuart is an award-winning journalist and the author of two previous novels,
The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise
and
The Matchmaker of Périgord
. She lives in London.