Epilogue
Yorkshire, 1837
T he village of Rampton was bustling with a flurry of activity that rivalled even the annual spring fair.
Today, they would declare the Lockwood Textile Mill complete and ready to begin production. Everyone in the village and the surrounding area had come to celebrate the triumph.
The mill required nearly three hundred employees to operate, and there had not been enough people in Rampton to fill the positions.
Men had moved here to take up the positions, resulting in new residences for them and their families, all built by the people of Rampton. The new employees had rejuvenated the industry in the village from the shops to the laundress.
As the mill began to produce, it would continue to entice more people to the area to find their fortunes, whether in trade or by taking up a tenancy on an empty farm at Lockwood Priory.
The area was sure to transform in the coming months, and Simon was happy to be here to witness it.
He and Hannah had not only come here to celebrate the grand opening of the mill. They had arrived at Lockwood a month ago along with Rothsay, Cat, and their children so the men could supervise the final month of the mill’s construction.
Not because they feared it would not be finished. Camden had the place well in hand, as he had since the construction had first broken ground.
No, he and Rothsay had simply been excited and wanted to be there with Camden to watch it all happen.
Lucky for both Simon and Rothsay, they had understanding wives. Or at least wives who loved them enough to indulge their desire to spend months in Yorkshire. And Camden had a wife who loved him enough to welcome his friends and their families into her home.
Theo had delighted in showing them all her observatory in the tower, little Georgiana fascinated with looking through the telescope in the evenings. Cat had taken them all on walks, educating them on the nature to be found here in Yorkshire. Those walks were the reason within the last month Lockwood Priory had become the home to two stray dogs, a litter of kittens and twin orphaned lambs that Cat and Rothsay had cared for round-the-clock until they could survive on their own.
Not at all a surprise, as the marchioness was a tireless advocate for those who could not speak for themselves. And her husband was a tireless advocate for her, Rothsay as smitten as always with his wife even after all these years.
He was not the only male in the Rothsay family smitten. Lady Helen Wallace, the Earl and Countess of Camden’s firstborn, had captivated little William. Rothsay’s son was devoted to the little girl, and the children’s nursemaid claimed he refused to nap unless he shared a crib with her.
The ladies had twittered over the whole thing, while Camden had threatened to call Rothsay out so he might answer for his son’s impropriety with Lady Helen. Simon had been the one to resolve the dispute between the two, pointing out that affection between children who still wore nappies did not require such an aggressive response.
Now the three men stood together on the dais with Sir Arthur Knott, a friend, neighbour, and the other investor in the mill. A fine group of men who stood together, ready to venture into the modern world together.
Camden stepped forward, unanimously voted by the others to be the one who made the speech.
“Ladies and gentlemen. I am delighted to see so many of you here to celebrate with us. It has been two years since we broke ground on the mill. I know some doubted it would ever be completed. They thought the village was on its last legs and the mill was one last death rattle before it was all over. But they were wrong. Rampton might have had tough times, but I have learned that if one puts the effort in to be a proper caretaker, anything can thrive. You must tend it, invest in it, but with that effort, you will be rewarded. And now Rampton shall step into the future, able to thrive as we all will.” Camden held his arms out wide to encompass the building. “I declare the Lockwood Textile Mill officially open. May it bring us all good fortune.”
Everyone applauded, and the celebration began. Food and drink had been provided for everyone to enjoy and musicians played, a makeshift dance floor formed by the villagers, who celebrated the new world that was offered to them.
This was good. This was progress. This was making a better world for the next generation to inherit.
That better future was why he had run in the recent election. He had wanted to be a part of the modernizing of the world for the benefit of all mankind.
And now he was The Right Honourable Simon Langley, Member of Parliament. A new queen sat on the throne and Simon had found a purpose for himself.
Not only in the House of Commons but also as Hannah’s husband.
He had intended to pay her back for her love by giving her everything she wanted. How fortunate for him that she quite enjoyed being the wife of a politician.
The last year saw more dinners hosted at Langley House than any year since its construction, and Hannah had delighted in all of them. Her menus were impeccable, her conversation both educated and charming, her talent on both the harp and pianoforte impressing the guests. She had been born to be a hostess.
Even now she was speaking with some ladies from Theo’s church committee, who were laughing at something she had told them as Simon approached.
“Mrs. Langley, you simply must come with Lady Camden to our next meeting. We would love to have your thoughts on our next charitable venture.”
“I would be delighted, Mrs. Boyd,” Hannah replied, although her eyes were on him as he approached.
Simon bowed to all of them in greeting. “Ladies. Do pardon my interruption, but I would like to dance with my wife on such a celebratory day.”
The ladies were quick to wave them off as they remarked on how romantic he was as he led Hannah to the makeshift dance floor.
“I have always loved to dance,” Hannah said with a happy sigh as they joined the other dancers.
“And I have always loved to dance with you,” he replied. “Even when you stomp on my feet.”
“I told you, I do not stomp.”
“Very well. Trod then.”
“Thank you.”
They spun among the other couples for a few minutes, Simon doing his best to avoid his wife’s missteps in order to preserve his toes.
“There is something we must discuss,” Hannah said, her heel barely missing his big toe.
“Can it not wait until after we are off the dance floor?”
“I am afraid not. I know that you want to stay here at Lockwood for at least a month to ensure the mill is running, but I need you to promise that we will not remain longer than that, no matter the state of the mill.”
He frowned. “Why is that? Has something upset you here?”
“Not at all. Living at Lockwood with Cat and Theo and their children is a wonderful dream. It is as good as living with Caroline and my sisters. It is only that I know you must be back in London for the next parliamentary session, but if we tarry here until the start of the session, I will be unable to return with you as it would not be safe for me to travel.”
“And why would it not be safe for you to travel?”
She looked up at him and ended up stomping on his foot at the same moment she said, “I am with child.”
Her words negated the pain, and he pulled her to a stop in the middle of the dance floor, the other couples continuing to spin around them.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“I am carrying your child.”
For all the things he had wished Hannah to say to him, this was never one of them. Hannah bearing his child had never been something he could let himself dream about. It had always been too painful a thought, as he did not want to lose a child, even if it was imaginary.
And now here she was, telling him that which he had never allowed himself to dream of was now a reality.
He lifted her up and spun her around, not caring who was a witness. He was living his dream, never having thought it could be possible.
He was more lucky than he could ever have imagined.
“I love you very much, Hannah Langley.”
“And I love you very much, Simon Langley. And we will love our son or daughter so very much too. Our children shall grow tired of hearing how much we love them.”
“I do not think that will be possible. I have yet to tire of hearing you saying it.”
“I love you. I love you. I love you.”
And so he danced with his wife, while Theo and Camden snuck off to the shadows of the mill to do something very improper and Rothsay had somehow managed to find a lame hedgehog who Cat was already fashioning a splint for.
For three men who had found their wives through the most unorthodox methods, they could not be happier.
Whether or not Fate existed was still something Simon could not answer, but if it did, he could only thank it for granting him and his friends the happiness they now had.