] Again, I can believe that Willoughby may be accurate about this part of his wife's character without excusing *him* at all. Though I agree that Sophia got much the worst of their bargain, I have to wonder how much she truly loved Willoughby, and how much was just possessiveness.

Perhaps she did not wish to suffer any humiliation? Sofia may not have known (and indeed,probably did not) of Willoughby's amours before she accepted him. To brake off the engagment would mean to admit that she had been taken in by a complete rascal. She did strike me as a very proud woman and maybe she believed she could knock the cad out of him once they were married.