The writer of historical romance fiction to whom an 1850s novel was dedicated was born in London, England. The novel was one of four including "A Countess Below Stairs", "The Reluctant Heiress", and "The Morning Gift".
 The book is dedicated to Patricia Veryan. 
Patricia Valeria Bannister, (born November 21, 1923 in London, England; died November 18, 2009 in Bellevue, Washington, USA) was a writer of historical romance fiction from 1978 until 2002. 
 This novel and four others ("A Countess Below Stairs", "A Company of Swans", "The Reluctant Heiress", and "The Morning Gift") were reissued between 2007 and 2009 for the young adult market. 
