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?