Just like the dark clouds of late fall, Central Europe's mood was heavy and for many, it was unbearable. The whole of Europe was in upheaval. The tension of war was in the air. With Mussolini's invasion and conquest of Ethiopia, and the invasion of Austria by the
Third Reich, the agreement between Hitler and Mussolini to create the Rome-Berlin Axis had begun. The numerous violations by Germany after World War I were sheer indications of Hitler's untrustworthiness. Appeals to the League of Nations were ineffective and the major powers did nothing to interfere with Mussolini or Stalin.
The rich had choices: move their money to Switzerland and stay there, be part of the war machine and share in the spoils, or oppose the ruling dictatorship and perish. People unlucky enough to be born of Jewish ancestry had their wealth confiscated. Many were branded like cattle and sent to prison camps.
Melpomeni was careful never to mention to anyone the trace of Jewish blood she had in her veins. Many times she wished that it was not so. Melpomeni dared not even to tell Anna, her own daughter, about it. She was not even sure if her husband, the great Stavros Bouras, knew.
"Should we take Anna to the United States?" Melpomeni had asked. She did not trust the Swiss with her valuables, let alone leave her only daughter in their care.
Stavros agreed with her. He supported her decision to take their daughter to the United States, where they had a home in California. Besides, it was time for Anna to go to college. Anna was glad to hear the good news about going to their home in Hillsborough. She looked forward to seeing old friends and was eager to leave the stuffy, boring Swiss schools behind.
Anna and Melpomeni moved to the large Bouras estate outside of London until such time when her father would be able to travel with them to the United States. Shipping was at its peak, as goods from the United States were being sent to England. Large containers of unidentified cargo were received in many European ports, including ports in Germany. The S.M. Shipping, Ltd., a London-based company owned entirely by the Bouras family, was showing remarkable profits. Finally, Melpomeni and Anna decided to take the trip to the United States without Stavros. For him, leaving at this time was out of the question.
It was a wet, dreary day in 1938 when the M.S. Queen Victoria sailed from England for New York. Among the passengers were Anna and Melpomeni, in the owner's quarters, a luxurious suite consisting of two bedrooms, a sitting area, a dining room, and an office. Melpomeni took the larger of the two bedrooms. Anna insisted on that. Two Italian camarieri tended to them, providing just about anything they wished. The cabin attendants knew well that Stavros Bouras was a major stockholder in the M.S. Queen Victoria. There were different flowers every day in their rooms and the sitting area. A bowl of fresh fruit filled with Melpomeni's favorites was always on the dining room table. Breakfast in bed was the norm.