Lady Catherine
My Dear Nephew,
I wish you had consulted me before leaving Rosings in such a hurry. During moments such as these, a word of wisdom from a woman of considerable experience could have prevented you from making unfortunate mistakes. You seem to be under the impression that your honor obligates you to form an alliance of marriage with Miss. Elizabeth Bennet. Miss. Bennet, an adroit vixen and social climber, has seduced you into moving with haste into a series decisions that you will come to regret in the future.
The proposed union between Miss. Bennet and yourself places the future prosperity of Pemberley at risk. I do not deny that the girl comes from a fecund stock. However, like her mother before her, she may fail to produce a male heir. She has no money or property to contribute to the estate and has never been brought up to manage a household as grand as Pemberley. I fear that your excellent servants will lose all respect for the family and neglect their duties under her management.
I need not tell you how the news has affected my dear Anne. Her spirits have never been high, but the news of your engagement has quite overcome her sensibilities. A conniving nobody has snatched away the position that I have groomed her for since childhood. I can give you no words that do justice to her despair. This is not to be borne.
After much contemplation, I have devised a route to extricate you from circumstances that you undoubtedly regret already. I consulted my discreet and personal lawyer upon the problem. He suggested that your only avenue out of the engagement would be to settle a dowry of a considerable sum upon Miss. Elizabeth Bennet. He suggested that you should send her to the Americas for their season, where she will reside as a jewel of the marriage mart. She will proceed to use her amble charms to seduce another man of power and wealth.
I have no doubt that Miss. Bennet will agree to these terms, although she may require a dowry of considerable proportions. Due to her independent streak, she will not be able to resist an offer to become a woman of means in her own right.
I have instructed my lawyer to contact you. I will visit Pemberley as soon as I am able as well to help you navigate this critical juncture. Anne's weakened state prevents me from leaving Rosings at the moment. Our vacancy at the parsonage also requires my attentions. However, do not fear dear nephew. I will dispatch these duties as quickly as possible and present myself at Pemberley, where I know my presence will be indispensable.
I do not blame you for falling victim to Miss. Bennet's charms. Her skill is unparalleled. During her initial stay at the parsonage of Rosings, I suspected her of directing her attentions towards Colonel Fitzwilliam. I advised the Colonel against such an ill-advised match, but I regret that I did not take the opportunity to warn you as well. Obviously, Miss. Bennet decided that the best way to circumvent my watchful eye was to divert my attention towards her and the Colonel, while stirring feelings of jealousy in you. I apologize for not recognizing the danger earlier. Keep heart nephew. Our family has weathered worse scandal than this.
Your Loving Aunt,
Lady Catherine Debourgh