Dear Lady Catherine,
I am writing to inform you of my engagement to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I have found Miss Bennet to be a woman in possession of a lively mind and impeccable character and I am convinced our marriage will add greatly to my happiness and be to the advance of each.
Your objections to the match have not gone unnoticed but I hope that in time you will learn to be satisfied with what I have done.
If I have injured the feelings of Miss de Bourgh I can only say that I am sorry for her pain but I cannot accuse myself of having given her any encouragement. I do not lightly disregard the wishes of my mother, but whatever her wishes may have been they do not, in fact, constitute a legally binding contract, nor do I believe myself to be bound by honor to fulfill a wish she once expressed which, if we had not had the misfortune to lose her, might have changed. I do know that both my parents were always eager to promote my happiness and therefore think it not unreasonable to believe they would have reconciled themselves to my choice and come to love Miss Bennet as much I.
Georgiana, whose happiness is always of utmost importance to me, is delighted. Perhaps by Georgiana's example Miss Bennet will be encouraged to practice her instrument more, as I know you particularly wish her to do, and by Miss Bennet's ease and liveliness my sister may learn to be less timid. Georgiana wishes to be remembered to you and has asked me to pass along her thanks for your continued advice and her reassurance that she has no intention of neglecting her practice.
How the rest of my family will respond remains to be seen. I should be sorry to disappoint my uncle but, as he is not in the habit of involving himself in my affairs, and I am persuaded of Colonel Fitzwilliam giving him a favorable report of Miss Bennet, I have reason to hope that he will withhold any disapproval until meeting her. If he does this much, I am convinced that once he becomes acquainted with Miss Bennet he must no longer wonder at my having made her an offer and only rejoice in her having found me worthy of her acceptance. If I am wrong I should regret the loss of his good opinion, but expect to be so happy in the society of my beloved, that on balance I would have nothing to repent.
Your disapproval of Miss Bennet's connections does not surprise me but it has been many months since I have learned to think differently on this point. I am especially fond of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and look forward to a closer relationship with them and to having them visit us at Pemberley.
In conclusion I must thank you for your endeavors to separate us which, while they did not have the effect you intended, were of infinite use as the means of removing all my doubts. I hope you will pardon my not having filled the sheet but Miss Bennet is finished her own letter and we are going out for a walk.
Yours, ect,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
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