Although she was a highly talented young dancer, Lauri knew that she had been incredibly lucky to have been ‘spotted’, while still at ballet school, by the great impresario Maxim di Corte, and offered a job in his company. But this was only the start of her carer. Lauri knew that before her lay years of unrelenting hard work, disappointments – and the formidable personality of Maxim di Corte himself. “I sensed something ruthless about him, “ Lauri told her Aunt Pat. “He moulds people to his tastes, and makes them submit whether they want to or not.” It was indeed likely that he would have no difficulty in making Lauri submit to him as a dancer – but what would be his influence over her as a woman?