Draft footnote of the day: Lady Bexborough

Lady Desborough

Lady Bexborough who opened a bazaar, they said, with the telegram in her hand, John, her favourite, killed.

9.23 Lady Bexborough The name recalls the Countess of Bessborough (1761-1821; born Lady Frances Henrietta Spencer), a celebrated Regency hostess, confidant of Lord Byron, and mother to Lady Caroline Lamb (1785-1828). It also rhymes with that of Lady Desborough (1867-1952), a prominent Edwardian hostess and intimate friend of many Prime Ministers of the period. Her resemblance, both physically and in manner to an eighteenth-century hostess was widely remarked. Two of Lady Desborough’s sons were killed in WWI (See EN 9.24) See (D 3.37; 20 July 1925): “Sometimes a buttery crumb of praise is thrown me—‘Lady Desborough admires your books enormously—wants to meet you.’”