Letter
Category
Manuscripts and documents
Date
19 Apr 1908
Materials
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Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1248652
Summary
A Letter of Condolence from Daisy Greville, née Maynard, Countess of Warwick, 1861 -1939
Full description
Captain The Hon Ronald Fulke Greville died on 5th April from pneumonia following an operation on 31st March for cancer of the larynx. This letter was sent to his widow, Margaret Greville. Written on headed writing paper - Eastern Lodge, Dunmow, Essex. Over written, House of Tongue, by Lairg, Sutherland, NB. On 19th April (1908). Maggie dear, I have not liked to write sooner, yet I can't let any more days pass without telling you of all the real & intense sympathy in my heart for you in your awful trouble & loneliness. I have been kept away up here with the children- rather needy - for more than a month, so that all I hear from newspapers, & cannot tell whether it came upon you as an awful shock or whether you were a long time in anxiety. In any case, dearest Maggie I know what your sorrow must be. I send you all a loving friend's sympathy & thoughts. The only comfort one has is that "they" are happy free of the body we bury with so much care & that's life at its best - or worst - is so short for us all - that the joy of reunion can be our one thought. The suffering is all for us here & I suppose a little more or less makes little difference to Eternal sorrow of life. I wonder where you are - if you are with your father & being loved and comforted - for you seem so alone in the world, dear although with hosts of friends, yet there are but few one can bear to be with in times like this. Having known sorrow all the life I can look down on & having found peace and happiness in one "Perfect" friendship of absolute trust & understanding death has also taken this from me. So I know what it is to suffer - suffer in silence with none to help. Thank God I know that. Death is really life & that he waits for me only to begin life when I pass on and that is all that life means to me now. When you return to London may I come and see you dear, & meanwhile I send you deep and true sympathy & many thoughts and prayers. Strath lent me this little old house as I wanted to escape from work for a bit but must go home about the 1st of May. There is only sea between me and the north pole & 40 miles of motoring from a railway & no posts so I do not know when this may reach you. Yours lovingly, Daisy. Daisy Maynard had inherited Easton Lodge, which is on the headed writing paper, when she was four years old. Daisy Greville, now Countess of Warwick, is writing from her half sister, Millie Sutherland's holiday home. 'Strath' is her husband, Cromartie Sutherland. Daisy seems to be writing in empathy for their shared grief. Daisy's husband, her lovers Edward VII, Sir Charles Beresford and Joseph Laycock were all alive. Who is she referring to, is she still grieving for the 'lost' love of her life, Joseph Laycock? Margaret might of known as they were both members of the Marlborough House Set