John was sitting in his banker's office that Sunday afternoon. He had asked Latimer for a private meeting when he saw him after church and Latimer invited John to meet him at the bank. Marlborough Mills had been struggling since the strike and he was there to see if he could renegotiate the terms of his recent loan. While he waited for Mr. Latimer, his mind began to wander and whenever it did that it always wandered to … her.

His heart was broken. After sixteen years of working hard, and quite successfully, to pull his family out of the morass of debt and devastation left by his father he had finally found something ethereal to reach for – love. Unfortunately, he reached out to grasp it too soon and – POOF! – it disappeared.

Rejected by her, he now found himself growing sad and bitter. Though he refused to let himself hide from her or avoid her it was wearing on him. Now with the mill struggling he was being beaten down on more than one front.

Latimer finally returned to his office. "John!" he said enthusiastically, "I had to see the wife and daughter safely home, sorry to keep you waiting," and then with concern, "How are things going?"

"Not well, as I'm sure you have surmised," was John's reply.

Latimer raised a hand and interrupted him before he went on, "I know why you are here, but before we start thinking of going down that road let us try something else."

John cocked his head listening.

Latimer took a seat across from John and crossed his legs casually. He proceeded, "My daughter, Ann has been begging me to take her to London for the Great Exhibition."

John closed his eyes, and while his face remained impassive, he groaned inwardly. He feared this may be some sort of match-making scheme. Lord knows his mother and sister kept trying to pair him up with Miss Latimer.

"She and I are leaving on the first train Monday morning. Now, Ann was hoping for a companion more suitable to her age," Latimer said, looking pointedly at John.

John, feeling the need to interrupt at this point, said, "Sir, I don't see what this has to do…"

"I'm getting there John, bear with me," he replied hurriedly, "Ann was hoping your sister Fanny could join us." Unseen by Latimer, John let out his breath in relief. The banker went on, "Now, as I contemplated your predicament on my way here I thought maybe if you came along with your sister, you and I could drum up some investors at the Exhibition. I have heard that the Machinery in Motion exhibit is very popular and that many rich Londoners are asking about how to invest in cotton manufacturing. It may be just the opportunity you need. You can talk to them about cotton and I can talk to them about investing. What do you say?"

John leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and pressed his fingertips together. "I have heard those same reports about the Machinery exhibit but hadn't given it much thought. Individual London gentlemen would be only small investors but if there were enough of them…" John paused and sat back. He took a deep breath and said, "Also, my sister, I'm sure must be in league with your daughter as she has been pestering me since the Exhibition opened to take her to London for it as well. How long?"

"Really, only just two or three days. I can't afford much time away right now," Latimer replied.

John nodded, "Neither can I, but I think I can manage it for the next few days. I agree it is worth a try." He rose and extended his hand to shake Latimer's and said, "My sister will be thrilled but my overseer will not." Then he added, with a half-smile, "Thank you for your support."

John was not really looking forward to a four hour train ride with the dour banker Latimer, his conniving daughter, and his own flighty, shrill and talkative sister but he was in desperate need of funding for the mill.

Latimer replied, "Great! We will see you at the station tomorrow at six."