Allegations immediately began to be made to the Duke that Gurwood had a large number of his papers and that they 'had better be got hold of...before the women are told the value of them.' Adele Gurwood assured the Duke early in January 1846 that his papers were secure, that only a person appointed by the Duke would have access to them, and that, a fortnight before his death, her father had sent to Apsley House a large box of the papers he regarded as of greater importance. The Duke appeared satisfied but he then became extremely agitated at suggestions that Gurwood had been taking notes on his conversations and that these might get into the public domain. He wrote a long letter to Fanny on 29 January about the evil consequences that might result to his and, even more, to her husband's reputation. Fanny replied that Gurwood had made notes on military questions only and she confirmed that Gurwood had burnt them all, but on 2 February the Duke wrote her another very long letter repeating his reproaches. It was a sad end to the long collaboration between the Duke and his loyal and indefatigable editor.