I was most honoured to make your acquaintance at the dance on Saturday evening. I hope that you were not offended to learn of my conduct regarding your cousin, Miss Ashley Sully. I wish to explain myself more clearly in order to put your mind at ease. Under different circumstances, I would have naturally sought to be introduced to your cousin through the proper channels. An unfortunate accident left me with little choice but to accept her assistance, but I hope that you will be reassured to hear that we were not left alone for an extended period of time. As luck would have it, Dr O'Hara was in the vicinity and therefore provided a suitable chaperone to your cousin.
I hope this explanation can offer some clarity on what must have seemed to be extremely ill-mannered conduct on my part, and I do hope that we can put it behind us.
I would be grateful if you would pass on my kindest regards to Miss Sully. I do, regrettably, owe her an apology for leaving the dance without first seeking her out to bid her farewell. I sincerely hope that she can forgive me for this slight, and perhaps allow me to offer reconciliation. I should very much like to call on her if it would be agreeable to you, and I would gladly have you as chaperone so that you might be reassured that I have nothing but good intentions toward her.