Miss Darling Whitledge,
Regrettably, it has been far too long since we have spent any meaningful amount of time together. I miss you, my friend. With my career and your debut into society, one need barely imagines as to why we have had no time for tea. While I do wish to spend time with you and do ask you as to when your earliest convenience for tea or lunch would be, the reason I write now is of the utmost importance. I cannot wait for tea to ask this of you. Would you mind so terribly as to write to the Ministry regarding my character? I would not ask if it weren't of great import, as I am sure you have heard of my recent engagement and the trial that has since been issued - I would have hoped that you would have heard from me directly when the invitations finally went out, but now that has been delayed.

I surely do hope that you would be willing and able to write a character reference on my behalf, though I understand entirely if you do not. Please know that you have my best wishes either way and that I do hope to see you at the wedding, should there still be one by the end of all of this. I hope you and your family are well, and I do hope that we may see each other sooner rather than later.