Tempting Her Reluctant Viscount by Catherine Hemmerling Page A

earlier came around the corner with a file in his hands. It was then that Michael pushed away from the wall and, seemingly engrossed in the paper, started walking toward the young assistant. Then, with absolutely flawless timing—the broker’s factotum had just knocked on Mr. Fearn’s door—Michael bumped into the man.
    It wasn’t an especially hard bump, but Michael managed to trip the fellow up enough that when the door opened, both he and Michael fell through the opening, landing in a crumpled heap on the floor, and the file the man was carrying flew out of his hands and skittered across the floor.
    Hope had to bite her tongue to keep from giggling at the site of two grown men tangled up on the floor, and at the same time she was struck with a sense of awe at Michael’s feat. Falling into the room as they had, Michael was able to get a good look around while Mr. Fearn and his visitor were focused on retrieving the file and its contents. He then turned around and began apologizing profusely to the assistant, who quickly ushered Michael out of the office and away from his now irritated boss. She could clearly see how Michael would be considered an asset to the war office. The entire event took less than a minute and was so expertly done, no one was the wiser as to it being planned.
    Returning to Hope, Michael whispered, “We need to move.”
    He motioned to a more secluded nook of chairs situated near the entry to the office, and Hope didn’t hesitate for a moment before moving with Michael to the new seats. Once there, he immediately opened his paper and adopted a blasé look. Following his lead, Hope also re-opened her newspaper and tried to calm her rapidly beating heart by pretending to read the print in front of her.
    Going crazy wondering what was happening, Hope was just about to ask Michael what he had seen when the door to Mr. Fearn’s office opened and out walked Richard Butt and another gentleman who looked somewhat familiar to Hope.
    Suddenly, Hope understood why Michael had wanted them to move to the spot more out of the way. He was probably concerned that Mr. Butt would see Hope and recognize her. Hope was sure that in her current get-up that was unlikely; however, it was also possible that Michael didn’t want to be recognized as the man who had fallen into the room. Clearly they could not have left immediately after the incident as was prudent—the opportunity to spy on Butt was too great to ignore—but Hope could certainly understand the impulse to avoid a confrontation, especially in light of their investigation.
    Taking even greater care to blend into the background, Hope kept her eyes on her newspaper and her ears open as the two gentlemen passed them.
    “I don’t like where this is going, sir,” Mr. Butt was saying in a low voice. “An investigation has been called—”
    “Yes, that is unfortunate,” the older man replied softly, looking around. Luckily, from his vantage point, the lobby appeared empty. “But I don’t believe we should be overly concerned. What proof is there that we have done anything wrong? As long as De Berenger is not found out, all they can prove is that we invested in the stock market and our investments came good. We chalk it up to good luck and move on.”
    “But if they ever find—”
    The other man stopped and grabbed Mr. Butt’s arm brusquely. “If they ever find what, exactly? There is nothing to find… is there, Butt?”
    The smaller man blanched at the tone of his companion. “No, no, of course not, sir.”
    “Good. Then let us go to the club. I need a drink.”
    Hope and Michael watched the younger man scurry forward and hold the door open for his friend before following him out to the street.
    After waiting a few moments to ensure the men were out of sight, Hope jumped up and said, “Quick Michael, we must hurry.”
    “Hurry?” Michael repeated.
    “Yes,” Hope said impatiently, reaching down to pull him up by the arm. “ Hurry