Mrs Burton-Cox

In the novel Elephants Can Remember, Mrs Burton-Cox (previously Mrs Aldbury) is the adopted mother of Desmond Burton-Cox. She was first married to Cecil Aldbury, and after that to Major Burton-Cox.

Mrs Burton-Cox had a son by her first marriage, but he died. Kathleen Fenn, who had an affair with Cecil, claimed that her child (Desmond) was the son of Cecil. Mr. Goby said that this was very hard to prove. Mrs Burton-Cox adopted the child three years after the death of Mr Aldbury.