Socialite Charged With Theft -- Woman Accused Of Stealing From A Charity

LONDON - "Lady" Rosemary Aberdour was the hostess with the mostest, laying on bumper cars for a lavish carnival and flying in friends from Brazil.

But she wasn't a Lady, and Scotland Yard's theory is that her mostest wasn't her own.

The lively 29-year-old was charged today with theft of more than $2.7 million from a hospital charity.

She earned $33,600 a year - about two months' rent on her chic apartment overlooking the River Thames - as deputy director of the National Hospital Development Fund.

The charity boasts Princess Diana as its patron.

The foundation's director, Richard Stevens, said in an interview today that as much as 3 million pounds - nearly $5 million - may be missing.

"We knew her family, her friends, she had impeccable references," Stevens said, adding that her colleagues at the foundation were "absolutely shattered."

Newspapers this week were telling tales of the $100,000 Valentine party; the $65,000 celebration with a helicopter, just for one close friend; and the huge diamond ring she bought for herself, only to have it carried off by her dog Jeeves.

She commuted to and from work in a chauffeur-driven green turbo Bentley.

Stevens said she told colleagues and upper-class chums that she was the daughter of the 22nd Earl of Morton, a Scottish lord, and had recently inherited $32 million.

"Lady" Rosemary was chosen to chair the foundation's tony Queen Square Ball this year. It's now been canceled.

The organizer, Peregrine Armstrong-Jones, has initiated proceedings against Aberdour to recover money he claims she owes.

She was dismissed from her job on June 12 after the discovery of a forged check for $192,000, and vanished shortly after.

Aberdour turned up yesterday at London's Heathrow Airport, on a Varig flight from Rio de Janeiro. Detectives escorted her from her business class seat to the Holborn police station.

She traveled with her boyfriend, British Army Capt. Michael Cubbin. Press reports quoted Cubbin, who is based in Germany, as saying "I am under instructions from the Ministry of Defense to say nothing."