PUBLISHER’S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

   The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

ALWAYS LEARNING

PEARSON




For George,

who managed to live comfortably for a year with both me and Alice Perrers. As ever, with love and thanks.



Acknowledgments



All my thanks:

To my agent Jane Judd, who appreciated the possibility of Alice Perrers as an unconventional heroine. Her advice and support, as always, are beyond price.

To Jennifer Unter, my “agent over the pond,” who continues to support me and my historical heroines.

To Ellen Edwards and her exceptional team at NAL. Their guidance and commitment were invaluable in enabling the real Alice Perrers to emerge from infamy.

To Helen Bowden and all at Orphans Press who come to my rescue and continue to create masterpieces out of my genealogy and maps.

To Phia McBarnet, who patiently introduced me to the benefits of social media and set my foot on the steep learning curve.










“There was…in England a shameless woman and wanton harlot called Ales Peres, of base kindred…being neither beautiful or fair, she knew how to cover these defects with her flattering tongue.…”