Garibondy
Cannes
Thursday May 14th
1868
My dear Henry
I received your letter <1> 2 days ago, & am very sorry you could not stop & see us on your way – but I quite understand your anxiety to get on – & I hope you found poor Constance <2> quite recovered from her severe illness. You will be grieved to hear that poor Ernestine’s <3> sciatica turned out to be the beginning of Rheumatic fever. Her illness came on quite suddenly, on the day she wrote to Rosamond. <4> She came into my room in the morning hobbling upon two sticks; but the pain encreased so much during the day, that I sent for the doctor. For 2 or 3 days, he could not quite pronounce upon the case – but at last said there was no doubt as to the nature of the complaint. She had a great deal of fever, & grew quite stiff & helpless – in all her limbs. I am thankful to say that she has been suffering less the last 2 days – (this is the [illegible]th day –) The fever is very much diminished – indeed there is not much left – & the stiffness in the hips, & pain in the [illegible deletion] feet are better; but her knees & shoulders are still very painful – & her hands much swollen – She can just use them a little – but very little – because the arms are so stiff. She is able to read – & she changes her position by being put in the arm chair, & on the sofa. Her maid makes an excellent & attentive nurse & as to Val, <5> he is quite perfection. He & her maid together lift her in & out of bed without hurting her in the slightest degree – & he is so ingenious that he is always inventing little comforts for her. Then he is so cheerful & she is so fond of him, that his company is everything to her. Katie <6> too is most kind & tender always on the watch for anything that may please her. I do not know what we should have done, had she been taken ill on the journey – all alone. Here too she has every comfort – & this house is in such a high, cool, & lovely position.
The doctor is very well satisfied with the progress she is making – & says there is not one bad symptom. He is considered clever, & is most attentive & careful.
It is sad to see her, always so well & so particularly active, suddenly reduced to such a helpless & suffering state. But she bears it all most admirably – always patient, uncomplaining & cheery – In fact we all wonder how she can bear so such pain & weariness with so much courage. You see there is an end to any pleasant prospects of excursions to Genoa or elsewhere, which we might have entertained. The doctor thinks the baths of Aix most likely to be very beneficial to her – but we cannot think of the journey yet. I am sorry to say the Vals must leave us in about a week – but he will arrange for us to remain in this house till the end of May – before which we hope Ernestine will be very much better. She sends you her love.
You can write here again of course.
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Letter not located.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
4. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
5. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
6. Lady Katherine Elizabeth Edgcumbe, née Hamilton (1840–1874), wife of William Henry Edgcumbe.