Lucille Duff-Gordon

ALS signed “Lucy Duff-Gordon,” one page, 7.75 x 10, 10 St. Loo Mansions letterhead, no date. Handwritten letter, headed: "To Evan Hodgson—From Lady Duff Gordon," in full: "In answer to your question—Do I play 'Bridge'—I must say that if I had time to play 'Bridge,' I should have time to do many things that w'd interest me more so I have never had time to learn the game & w'd consider it a shocking waste of my time today—later on who knows." In fine condition.

Lucile, a prominent fashion designer, and her husband Cosmo Duff-Gordon were aristocrats who controversially fled to safety on Titanic's Lifeboat No. 1, occupied by a mere dozen people despite a capacity of forty. The wealthy couple soon became a popular tabloid topic with allegations that Cosmo had bribed the crew to row away faster, rather than returning to rescue others; the press ultimately dubbed it the 'Money Boat.' The only passengers to participate in the inquiry's hearings, it was deemed that the Duff-Gordons did not deter the crew from any attempt at rescue, but that the lifeboat might have been able to rescue others had it turned around. Lady Duff-Gordon would later say that her husband was brokenhearted over the negative coverage for the rest of his life.