“My first impression was of handsome women wearing classic evening gowns and marvelous tiaras and necklaces. I imagined those heirloom diamonds and pearls coming out of the family vault or the bank safe-deposit box especially for this gala evening. The men looked dignified in tuxedos, tails, or uniforms with ribbons and medals – very English and very military. This was the British aristocracy as I’d always imagined it – the epitome of long-standing tradition, secure in its lineage and customs.”
