I certainly had no "proposed" to Theodosia.

In fact, to the very best of my recollection I never did "propose" to her--or "pop," as the hideous phrase is--any decisive question at all.

We seem, to my recollection, to have come gradually, insensibly, and mutually to consider it a matter of course that what we wanted was to be married, and that the only matter which needed any words or consideration was the question, how the difficulties in the way of our wishes were to be overcome.
In the autumn of 1847 my mother and I went to pass the winter in Rome.
My sister Cecilia's health had been failing; and it began to be feared that there was reason to suspect the approach of the malady which had already destroyed my brother Henry and my younger sister Emily.

It was decided therefore that she should pass the winter in Rome.

Her husband's avocations made it impossible for him to accompany her thither, and my mother therefore took an apartment there to receive her.