I am incredibly grateful to the many people who have gone out of their way to help me with this book. To Emily Stokely, domestic goddess extraordinaire, for teaching me how to bake bread. To Roger Barron for being so generous with his time and giving me a wonderful insight into the world of corporate law (not to mention his Jo Malone expertise!). And especially to Abigail Townley, for acting as legal plot consultant, allowing me to shadow her, and patiently answering a million dumb questions.
A special thank-you to Susan Kamil for so much support and understanding. Many thanks also to Irwyn Applebaum, Nita Taublib, Barb Burg, Sharon Propson, Susan Corcoran, Carolyn Schwartz, Betsy Hulsebosch, Cathy Paine, and Noah Eaker. To the wonderful Araminta Whitley, whose enthusiasm for this book has known no bounds, to Kim Witherspoon as Rebecca Watson, and Brian Siberell. Thanks as ever to the members of the Board and to all my boys, big and small.
These acknowledgments would not be complete, of course, without a mention of Nigella Lawson, whom Ive never metbut whose books should be required reading for all undomestic goddesses.