Melanie McDonagh (Books, 8 November) refers in her review of Margot at War: love and betrayal in Downing Street 1912-1916 by Anne de Courcy to “the son of the Earl of Battersea”. Cyril Flower, a Liberal MP, was created Lord Battersea in 1892. He was married to Constance Rothschild. They had no children so the title died with him. There never was an Earl Battersea. Peter Flower, Cyril’s younger brother, was Margot’s friend. I am their great-great- niece.Virginia Johnstone