Rose Aubrey is one of a family of three sisters and their adored younger brother Richard Quin. Their father, Piers, is the disgraced son of an Irish ladnownign family, a violent, nobel, improvident and, when it suits his ends, quite unprincipled leader of popular causes. Piers's streak of folly continually threatens his family with financial ruin and social disgrace, tragedies only narrowly averted by their mother, Clare, who becomes their tower of strength.

Sending to Suefitz from the relays