Duchess Street <1>
Thursday Sepr 1st
My dear Henry
She <2> breathed her last in perfect peace at ½ past two o’clock today. – Thank God! her sufferings had been much lessened within the last few days – & during the last 4 & twenty hours she was scarcely conscious of what passed around her – but once yesterday she was quite collected – quite herself – for she beckoned me close to her – & in so feeble a voice that I could only just hear, she begged me to thank you very much for all your kindness in having spared me to be with her – and she added she was sure you would “always be kind to poor Marian” <3>.
The feeling of Marian’s forlorn has situation has always pressed heavily on her heart throughout her illness – I am sure you will approve of my wish to take her with me to Lacock – and this is her Marian’s own inclination also, as there is nobody at Markeaton <4> now. –
Will you give my love to Lady Elisabeth & Horatia <5> & say that I will write some other day – And will you also give my love to Miss Cotton <6> & tell her of my dear Sister’s happiness –
I can say no more today. – Marian & myself are both pretty well – Our Brother <7>is the greatest comfort to us –
Your affectionate
Constance –
Notes:
1. The London home of the Mundy family.
2. Her sister, Laura Mundy (1805- 1 September 1842).
3. Her sister, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).
4. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family
5. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
6. A flower painter.
7. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law.