My dearest nephew,

I am particularly disheartened by the nature of the news from which I have recently received. I have been informed that you and Elizabeth Bennet are intended to be married. I have always held a great amount of pride in you, but upon hearing this news I am deeply ashamed. I am your nearest relative. I recognize and understand what would be in your best interest and your engagement to Elizabeth is in no way appropriate. Your selfishness is utterly appalling. You owe better to yourself, to me, and to the rest of your family.

Elizabeth Bennet is of an inferior breed and, unlike us, does not come from good fortunes! She along with her five sisters has no respectable background in the arts. She has admitted to me that she neither draws nor plays the piano well. Not only can Elizabeth not draw or play the piano, but not one of her sisters can either. Not one! To have also grown up with no governess-that is unfathomable. Five girls brought up with no governess! Can you even imagine? These girls must have been neglected.

Her two younger sisters and her mother; completely foolish and immature. Her father is exceedingly lenient and is in no way disciplinary enough in regarding the silliness of their actions. Lydia and Kitty are always pursuing the soldiers. Just think of the recent elopement of Lydia and Wickham; it is sickening! It was undoubtedly a cheat and now you want to be associated with that? You will poison our honor and our good name. You will ruin our friends' opinions of our family. Do not allow me to endure that!

An offer of marriage to Elizabeth is entirely nonsensical. You and my daughter, Anne, are still to be engaged. She would be an upmost improvement from the likes of Elizabeth. The marriage of you to Anne has been planned since your infancy! It was the wish of your family as well as the wish of mine. You both come from the same family line; a respectable well-off family. It would only deem appropriate that you marry her. Anne is a lovely amiable girl and among the most beautiful and handsome of her sex. I oversaw her education and she is a most proper lady- a quality, I can dare say, that Miss Elizabeth does not possess. You are worthy of a proper wife, but marrying Elizabeth will rid you of that fortune.

If I am recalling correctly, which I am most certain that I am, Elizabeth did not seem to be very fond of you. I had heard from many that she believed you to be proud and conceited. You my nephew, have the right to be! You are a man with good fortunes and are superior to many, including the Bennet's. We are of high status in society and we should associate with others of the same position. It is rather insulting that you would give up our honor so easily to correlate with anyone of lower status, especially when that person is so obstinate as to have the nerve to speak badly of you. How does ones feelings change so suddenly from detestation to love? It is impossible! This marriage is impossible! She must have surely drawn you into it. That troublesome girl!

I hope to find you reasonable in your final decision. I take pride in you, my nephew. I insist on being satisfied and know that you would not want to disappoint your aunt, your friends, and your family. Do not reject to abide by the claims of duty and honor that you hold. If you follow through with this engagement, you can be positively certain that I will be more displeased then I am at this moment. Do not give Elizabeth or any of the others of her family my regards, as I want absolutely no connection with them whatsoever.

I hope you have not been ignorant of all that I have just said, and that you take my request into serious consideration.

Yours,

Lady Catherine