The royals - Kitty Kelley [6]
I also wish to thank my literary agent, Wayne S. Kabak of William Morris Agency, Inc., who combines brilliance and good humor, even in the midst of crisis. He brings to mind Chaucer’s “verray parfit gentil knight.” I value his counsel and the friendship extended by his wife, Marsha Berkowitz, and his children, Victoria and Benjamin. His staff makes the writing life less burdensome, especially his extraordinary assistant, Laura Blaustein. I’m also grateful to the London office of I.C.M. where Duncan Heath and his assistant, Lucy Morrison, were so helpful.
I salute Warner Books and its dynamic C.E.O., Laurence J. Kirshbaum, Chairman of Time Warner Trade Publishing; Maureen Egen, President and Publisher and C.O.O.; Chris Barba, V.P., Director of Sales and Marketing; Emi Battaglia, V.P., Director of Publicity; Tina Andreadis, Associate Publicity Manager; Jackie Joiner, Assistant to the President; Harvey-Jane Kowal, V.P., Executive Managing Editor; Diane Luger, Executive Art Director; Martha Otis, V.P., Director of Advertising and Promotion; Karen Torres, Director of Marketing; Nancy Wiese, Subsidiary Rights Director; Tracy Howell, Subsidiary Rights Manager; Sarah Telford, Subsidiary Rights Assistant. My thanks to Sona Vogel for expert copy editing and Vincent Virga for compiling the photographs.
Writing is tough, so writers need mentors. Mine continues to be Mervin Block, who sets the standard of excellence. After twenty years of friendship, I still marvel at his skill and intelligence. Humbling as it was, I’m mighty grateful for the red pen he wielded on my rough drafts and his insistence on making the contents shorter, sharper, stronger.
When the manuscript was completed, my publisher sent me a treasure in Carolyn Blakemore, an editor who arrived in Washington, D.C., determined to turn hopsack into velvet. She departed with my affection and gratitude.
My deepest appreciation goes to my husband, Jonathan E. Zucker, to whom this book is dedicated. He came into my life five years ago and continues to fill my heart with joy.
February 13, 1997
THE ROYAL HOUSE OF WINDSOR
ONE
Princess Margaret strode out of the theater. She had barely managed to sit through the opening scenes of Schindler’s List. She began squirming as soon as she saw the Jewish prayer candles burn down, leaving only wisps of smoke to evoke the ashes that would follow. She crinkled her nose at the sight of the captive Jewish jeweler being tossed a handful of human teeth to mine for fillings. As the nightmare unfolded, she stiffened in her seat.
On screen, the streets filled with screaming Jewish prisoners, brutal Nazi soldiers, and snarling police dogs quickly emptied, except for the scattered suitcases of those Jews who had just been hauled off to the death