TALBOT9144

Margam Taibach¹
Oct^r 26^th 1866

My dear Henry

I was so very busy at Cotehele, ² that I did not answer Your last letter – but I think Ernestine’s to Rosamond³ would have answered your questions & unless indeed she was gone before it arrived.

We left home on Monday last, in the afternoon. – drove to Saltash, & took the train to Exeter, where we arrived at ½ p. ten & slept. The next day we arrived here at ½ p. 3. – The father & mother of the Bridegroom were here,⁴ M^r & Lady Ch. Fletcher (as Sister of L^d Wemyss) ⁵ & his younger brother Frank, married to a daughter of Lady Emily Pusey; ⁶ & cousins, Bridesmaid, Miss Campbell, &c &c.

The Wedding took place yesterday, in the Church near the ruins, & went off very well; but Edward Nicholl ⁷ will tell you all about it. The seven other Bridesmaids were Emily & Olive, Ernestine Evelyn Pennefather, ⁸ Miss Fletcher, Eleanor Lewellyn ⁹ & Miss Basset, a friend. They were in white tarlatane with red ribbons; & they looked very pretty, walking down the garden altogether. Poor Kit ¹⁰ was dreadfully low during the 2 previous days – & Excessively nervous during the ceremony – but kept up nevertheless – the Sister & Theodore ¹¹ also seemed to feel the parting excessively – & Jane ¹² was anxious we sh^d stay on a few days, to Enliven them. She did not appear at the wedding but came the day before, to take leave of the Bride.

The Lewellyns came & Isabella & Ch. Traherne. ¹³ In the ev^g there was a tenant’s dance in the Orangerie, w^h we all attended for a certain time – after which it was kept up till 4 o’clock.

I believe we go on Monday or Tuesday to Merthyr Mawr ¹⁴ – I wish you would have proposed yourself there or here – it w^d have been very nice. I am sure they w^d be so glad. We are also asked to Pennllegare ¹⁵; but it is difficult to squeeze every thing in. We think of going back on the 12^th Monday – or 13^th as Charlie & Shooters are due at Cotehele on 17^th & on the 21^st we adjourn to M^t E. ¹⁶ Can you contrive a visit to either place? London must be dreadfully dull – & I hear you thought of going there?

Cannes is very uncertain for this year – tho’ we sh^d like it. The Vals ¹⁷ will be going very soon. At present they are at the Queen’s Hotel, Hastings, Charlie ¹⁸ is at Drumlanrig I believe.

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham