A forgotten woman who could not know in death that her husband had always loved her

Constance Mary Lloyd, the second child of Horace Lloyd and his cousin Adelaide, married on August 28, 1855, at St Peter's Church, Dublin by special licence in Ireland mirroring exactly what their friends, the Wilde family, had had to do two years previous. Constance Mary Lloyd was born in 1887 at which time Horace was serving at the Bar but was professionally gambling. He had a flair for mathematics which was inherited from his father and was popular with opponents even though they understood his innate ability to recall every card dealt, while offering good odds.

Constance would be a frequent visitor to Torquay when visiting her aunt, Lady Georgiana Mount-Temple residing at Babbacombe House on Babbacombe Cliff Road. Her father and grandfather both knew she would adore the house they called a 'Temple of Pre-Raphaelite Art'. Born in an era where children were seen and not heard when subjects like politics, sex and gambling were taboo for children, Constance would be fobbed off as too inquisitive if any were mentioned and therefore fear of scandal was inbred. Being the daughter of an aristocrat, Constance was also talented and beautiful. Her father was seen as bohemian and later he would even allow his daughter to reside with Horatio his father in London who first allowed her to visit auntie in Torquay. She adored Georgiana and the house as both Horatio and Horace predicted and with her Aunt having come from an Irish line through marriage the links with Ireland were strong. Earlier her mother would often take her to Sir William and Lady Wilde's home, where eventually she met Oscar their son.

But with an affection for Aunt Georgiana who she referred to as 'Mia Madre' Constance discovered the house had once been a hotel before being redesigned by Georgiana using men like John Ruskin, Burne-Jones and William Morris. The house was a veritable wonderland of their Pre-Raphaelite art. Its bedrooms had names - Daffodil, Marigold and Wonderland and its internal walls were festooned with Rosetti and Burne-Jones masterpieces - making a true wonderland. On one of her frequent visits William Morris introduced her to embroidery and needlework and as a competent pianist Constance fitted quickly into this new social circle. But then she met the second most important woman of her life Margaret de Windt -a woman of talent whose husband was Sir Charles Johnston Brook - Second Rajah of Sarawak. It was Lady Brook that now expanded her horizons at Babbacombe to such an extent she turned into an incurable romantic which eventually led to her re-finding Oscar Wilde and then marrying him at St James Church Sussex Gardens on May 29 1884.

The couple honeymooned on the Rue de Rivoli and their first child Cyril arrived a year later on June 5, 1885. The following Spring a second child Vyvyan Oscar Beresford Wilde was born. But by 1889 Constance was very aware the marriage was in trouble and she made plans to bring the family to Babbacombe Cliff in late 1892 in order for a possible reconciliation. Leaving Oscar with the children to write and reflect on their life with her aunt she left to tour the Continent although her idea failed, within weeks Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie) joined Oscar in Torquay and the rest as they say is history. Oscar by May 1895 was in Reading jail and was also made bankrupt.

Constance returned initially to Babbacombe but spent her last years in 'abject isolation' with numerous spinal operations having to be done before she died very alone aged 40 on April 7, 1898. Neither Oscar, Vyvyan or Cyril attended her funeral and it would be a year before her husband found the courage to visit her grave only to read on its marble cross 'Constance Mary, daughter of Horace Lloyd QC'. In death he was completely removed from her life and it was recorded wept profusely. .

IAN'S COMMENT A forgotten woman who could not know in death that her husband in fact had always loved her in spite of taking male lovers during their marriage.

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