Her defiance of him hurt his pride inordinately.

Everyone else to some degree at least he could control; his young daughter not at all.

Only so far were they ever reconciled that he would occasionally visit the Montagus at their London house and play with the children.
In his later years the Duke's health was unsatisfactory, but it was not thought that the end was so near.

"I have now to tell you of the surprising death of my father, and a great deal of surprising management of the people about him, which I leave informing you until another time, being now under some spirit of hurry myself," Lady Mary wrote to Lady Mar in March, 1726.

"I am unfeignedly sorry that I cannot send you word of a considerable legacy for yourself." On April 15 she supplemented this account; but not to a degree to make it very intelligible: "To be sure, the shock must be very great to you whenever you heard it; as indeed it was to us all here, being so sudden.