Three women are anticipating the royal garden party with differing degrees of excitement and trepidation Jackie is the social editor of 'Society' magazine for whom it is merely one of the many glittering events that she is expected to attend Elfrieda, ex-Swedish au pair and current lady Witley of Vauxhall, sees it as one more step up the slippery social ladder on which she is desperate to make her mark Celia is lady in waiting to the Queen and it is merely another event in her round of duties, but this garden party turns out to hold some nasty shocks