Early in 1837 Thomas Winter was invited to take his theatrical company to the Earl of Bagot's country house to entertain the Earl's guests. The evening heralded the beginning of a new life for Winter's two enchanting daughters; for Isabella a dizzy rise to a great social position that was to be shadowed by scandal and the threat of public disgrace; and for Lettice the start of a career which involved the excitement of working with the greatest actor/manager of his day, the fascinating and terrifying Henry Davenant.