[1]: 557 Lord Howard, who was bankrupt, was paid a lump sum and a retainer by Manci Howard's lover, Edward Stanislas Weisblatt, an arms dealer.
Manci Howard joined the British Union of Fascists.
[6]: 311 Even before the outbreak of the Second World War, she was suspected of espionage, and on 10 February 1941 was interned in Holloway Prison.
[1]: 557 After Manci Howard was arrested and held in Holloway prison, she appealed, declaring: "There is nothing I would not do for this country."
She was released three months later, as there was no evidence she knew of Weisblatt's suspected activities.