Tempting Her Reluctant Viscount Read Online Free PDF Page B

maybe, just maybe, determine what it was about this woman that affected him so.
    “Of course,” Hope replied softly, her voice ever so slightly breathy. “You may call me whatever you wish.”
    Michael’s brow lifted with surprise. “Oh really?” he said, smiling wickedly. He liked that answer very much, indeed.
    Hope seemed to realize what she had said, because she blushed prettily and turned her head away. And amazingly enough, Michael honestly believed the action. So many young debutantes put on an act of modesty and demureness, but Hope seemed to honestly be a lady . A rather intelligent one at that.
    Suddenly in a much better mood, Michael turned the conversation back to the intrigue of the day. “Now then, about this stock scheme you were mentioning… Would you please explain further?”
    Apparently grateful for the change of subject, Hope quickly replied, “Oh yes…the scheme. Do you play the stock market, my lo— ah, Michael?”
    Feeling a bit sheepish, Michael answered, “I’m afraid I do not. I tried my hand at it once but found I have no knack for it.”
    “All right, here is the simplest explanation,” Hope began. “Securities are issued by the government to help raise the funds necessary to pay for its expenses. People who purchase these securities are paid a specified rate of interest during the life of the stock and the face value of the stock when it matures or comes due…” Hope stopped to ensure Michael was following her thus far.
    Nodding his understanding, Michael indicated that Hope should continue.
    “The value of the securities will go up and down throughout its lifetime based upon the success of the government from which it was issued. And historically, one iron rule can be applied to the stock market during times of war: conflict is good for shares, but only once investors become convinced that they are on the winning side.”
    “Because,” Michael added slowly, “if England is on the winning side, the government stands a great chance of benefiting monetarily from the victory, not to mention gaining ultimate power and respect.”
    “Precisely,” Hope stated grimly. “Napoleon’s death would be a clear indicator that the British government was—or would be soon—flourishing, thereby increasing the value of the government stocks.”
    “All right, I now understand how the exchange would be affected by the rumors, but I am not sure how anyone could benefit from the effect.”
    “Well, if I bought a large number of stocks at a low price and then manipulated the price to go up, at which point I sold the shares that I bought at the higher value, I would stand to make a pretty penny, don’t you think?”
    Michael grimaced as he suddenly understood Hope’s implication. “Right…so someone out there presumably bought a large amount of something and then perpetrated this hoax so that he could sell it for an inflated profit. The question is, who benefitted from this latest rumor? And which stocks were affected? Is there any way to tell?”
    Hope shrugged. “It’s not as if no one has ever tried to perpetrate a scam on the market before, but this…this is so elaborate and sophisticated. Surely, the Stock Exchange will launch some sort of investigation.”
    “One would think so,” Michael replied as their carriage rolled to a stop.
    Hope glanced out the window. “Lady Lancaster’s?” she asked Michael, with a perplexed look on her face.
    “Yes, well,” Michael began matter-of-factly, “I couldn’t very well take you to my place and I gathered you wouldn’t want to return to your home in your current state of dress, so this seemed the only logical choice.”
    “No, you are correct. Coming to Lady Lancaster’s was a very good idea,” Hope acknowledged. “Besides, she may have some good insight as to the happenings today.”
    Michael had had the same thought but was immensely surprised that Hope had said as much. He had planned to discuss the scheme with the dowager