CHAPTER ONE
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1911The beautiful mirrored ballroom at Lord and Lady Mercer’s vast mansion in Knightsbridge had seen many grand and exciting occasions, but none to rival the one in progress this warm summer evening.
The daughter of the house, Mary-Rose, was now eighteen and in honour of her birthday, her parents were throwing an extravagant fancy dress ball.
All the smartest and grandest members of London Society had flocked to the great house in a variety of marvellous colourful costumes.
Against Lady Mercer’s better judgement, the band now playing up in the gallery that ran round the far end of the sumptuous oval room, had been imported especially from America.
In a side room tables had been laid with a sumptuous buffet. Ice statues in the shape of flowers stood between huge crystal
