The Duchess of Marlborough was called to Cambridge in 1703, where her only surviving son, John, Marquess of Blandford, was taken ill with smallpox. The Duke was recalled from the war and was at his bedside when he died on 20 February 1703. The Duchess was heartbroken over the loss of her son and became reclusive for a period, expressing her grief by closing herself off from Anne and either not answering her letters or doing so in a cold and formal manner.Field, pp. 122–123.
The Duchess of Marlborough was called to Cambridge in 1703 where her only surviving son John Marquess of Blandford was taken ill with smallpox The Duke was recalled from the war and was at his bedside when he died on 20 February 1703 The Duchess was heartbroken over the loss of her son and became reclusive for a period expressing her grief by closing herself off from Anne and either not answering her letters or doing so in a cold and formal mannerField pp 122–123