The Princess Stakes

by Amalie Howard

  In my research, one of the really cool things I discovered was how many women of color there actually were in British high society, even though it’s not very well known or documented. Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a displaced West African princess brought to England, was raised and educated at the queen’s decree, and praised by Victoria herself as being “sharp and intelligent.” In the 1860s, she was also said to be an accomplished member of Brighton society who was fluent in both English and French. Her first born daughter was named after Victoria (Victoria Davies) and was the queen’s goddaughter. Later on, in the 1880s, Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, a Sikh princess, was a court favorite of her godmother, Queen Victoria. After her father’s death, she was granted a residence by the queen at the Hampton Court Palace and presented to British society as a debutante, along with her two sisters. She was also popular on the aristocratic scene, and loved riding, cycling, dogs, and traveling. Faced with prejudice and bias on account of both her gender and race, she went on to become a women’s rights activist in the 1900s and fought against inequality both in England and India.

  While The Princess Stakes is a work of fiction, I wanted to write a story that showcased not just what it meant to be a woman of color in historical times, but also what it meant to fall in love in a period that wasn’t all ballrooms and ballgowns (though I do hope you love the dresses—I definitely did—I’m head-over-heels in love with the gorgeous gown on the cover)! The Princess Stakes is first and foremost a romance, but it is also an exploration into my characters, drilling down to the core of who they truly are. I wanted to strip down the hero and heroine to their fundamental layers—to the raw essence that connected them as people and, hopefully, to show that differences are meant to be celebrated and valued. After all, love is love, and it’s certainly worth fighting for.

  Thanks for reading!

  Xo, Amalie

  Acknowledgments

  First and foremost, thank you to my brilliant editor, Deb Werksman. What a journey this has been, and you’ve had my back every single step of the way, editorially and otherwise. I cannot thank you enough for taking a chance on me and this book. I’ve wanted to work with you for years, and I’m so glad that I finally got a chance to do so…it has been everything I hoped for and more.

  To my hands-down super star agent, Thao Le, what can I say except you are a freaking force of nature. Honestly, you’re everything a literary agent should be: smart, professional, forward-looking, fierce, compassionate, and a devoted advocate. Thank you so much for going over and beyond for me. I’m truly lucky to have you.

  Thanks to the entire production, design, sales, and publicity teams at Sourcebooks Casablanca for your tireless efforts behind the scenes—I’m grateful for all you do! A special shout-out to Stefani Sloma and Molly Waxman. There aren’t enough words for how incredibly awesome you both are. Thank you.

  To the women who keep me sane on this publishing roller coaster and are forced to read my scrappy first drafts, Katie McGarry, Wendy Higgins, Angie Frazier, Aliza Mann, Sienna Snow, Sage Spelling, MK Schiller, Shaila Patel, Vonetta Young, Damaris Doll, Kerrigan Byrne, Lisa Brown Roberts, Jenna Lincoln, Jen Fisher, Stacy Reid, Ausma Zehanat Khan, Jodi Picoult, and Brigid Kemmerer, I’d legit be curled up in a fetal position if it weren’t for you. Thanks for being there and never letting me down.

  Thanks also to everyone who reached out when I really needed it. Too numerous to name here, you know who you are.

  To all the readers, reviewers, booksellers, librarians, and friends who support me and spread the word about my books, I have so much gratitude for you. Thank you for being patient with me on this particular book.

  Last but not least, to my family…my beautiful children (who are English, Scottish, French, Indian, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Australian-Trinidadian-Americans)—Connor, Noah, and Olivia—you make me so proud to be your mom. I love seeing you embrace all sides of your very diverse heritage. And finally, to my forever love and wonderful husband, Cameron, I couldn’t do any of this without you. Thank you for accepting me as I am and loving me so well all these many years.

  About the Author

  Amalie Howard is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, most notably of The Beast of Beswick, “a smart, sexy, deliciously feminist romance,” and one of O-The Oprah Magazine’s Top 24 Best Historicals to Read. She is the co-author of the #1 bestsellers in regency romance and Scottish historical romance, My Rogue, My Ruin and What A Scot Wants, and has also penned several young adult novels, critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, School Library Journal, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Kid’s INDIE NEXT selection. Of Indo-Caribbean descent, she has written articles on multicultural fiction for The Portland Book Review and Ravishly magazine. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children. Visit her at amaliehoward.com.

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