The time has come to resolve the matter we had previously spoken of — and of course we can both agree that it was far past time to resolve it, given all of our previous conversations and correspondences. By all rights you should have finished exploring the Amazon by now and returned to England as a conquering queen, not be left languishing in a parlor with only these feeble attempts at fall society events to entertain you. My regret over the turn of events things have taken over the past month is deeper than I can say. From our first real conversation this summer I was impressed by your wit and poise, but I had no reason to expect you to be so gracious and patient as you have been this October. Your elegance and ease are particularly compelling given the severity of the situation I forced you into, and I hope you will believe what I told you last month: that I never imagined things would develop in this way, and certainly never intended to place you in such a position. Any woman would deserve better, but you especially deserve far better.

As much as I regret having placed you in this situation in the first place I must commit one further treason, which is to tell you this: our relationship, amiable and honest as it was, can progress no further. I told you last month that a woman in my acquaintance approached me after hearing rumors that my attentions were elsewhere, and she has made the case quite effectively for our union, so that at this point I find I can make no other choice but to marry her. We are well suited in a number of ways, having known each other for some time and already being well apprised of each other's virtues and faults. She has life experience that complements mine. Her more reclusive way of life that will suit mine moreso than marrying a young woman who feels the need to perform as a hostess in order to make her way in society. Finally, of course, as I mentioned before she has a good deal of affection for me, and she has convinced me (contrary to my earlier opinion) that this is in fact a significant factor in the success of a marriage. Considering this new outlook I must confess I am also desperately fond of her, and to continue courting (or doing anything more) with another woman after having realized this would be disingenuous and ultimately harmful.

None of this, of course, speaks to the effect this decision will have on you. I am not unfeeling to the impact of an abandoned courtship on a young woman's prospects and reputation and I regret most bitterly that there is little I can do to right this particular wrong. I hope that if there is anything I can do to help you won't hesitate to ask it, either now or at any future date — I consider myself most firmly in your debt because of this particular harm I've caused you, through no fault at all of your own.

Please know that I am most sincerely apologetic for everything that has happened.

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