Hi Bernard.

First off many thanks for you books! As a student of history I love the way you interweave your characters with real events and am greatly looking forward to your “non-fiction” account on Waterloo in September.

I know that you are a great researcher so forgive me for picking you up on a reference that you make in “Harlequin” and I’m happy if by return you correct me….

In the book you refer to one of Thomas’ companions in the Archers as being the “son of a draper” … A few years ago I thought I’d research my surname, though I assumed it was a typical Anglo-Saxon name that simply referred to a trade, as in “Smith”. What I found out was far more interesting in that the name “Draper” originated from three brothers called “Drapeaux” who arrived from the Low Countries (Flemish) in the 16th Century and started the first Cotton Mills around the Huddersfield area. They later Anglicised their name to “Draper”. The use of the name as a “purveyor of cloth” was actually generic from their name change. So I guess the question is, did the word “draper” actually exist in the English language prior to the 16th Century?

Regards,

Jim