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James sat.
Now, then, continued Amanda, I have a simple
request. I want you to buy as many government shares
as you can with this. She reached into her reticule
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and to James s disbelieving stare pulled out a thick
roll of bills.
But where what ?
I want you to buy them in Ash s name. I have
advised Ash to buy as deeply as he can you should
do the same, by the way and I offered to give him
additional funds beyond his own to do so, but he
refused.
James, not to put a fine point on it, goggled.
I cannot believe this, he said at last. My dear
young woman, I can t imagine where you got the idea
that investing in the funds at this time is a good idea,
for, in fact
I know all about the drop in stock prices, but I also
happen to know that tomorrow, as news of
Wellington s victory spreads, the prices will soar
again.
How could you possibly know anything of the sort?
No, never mind, he said hastily. I don t want to know
any more about this. Even if I were to bow to your
no-doubt superior judgment on the matter, I could not
go behind Ash s back. He would be furious if he knew
you had come here.
Well, I intend to tell him, of course, but not until he
has had the opportunity to realize that I that I m
right about this. Please, James, she said pleadingly.
You must know how desperate his situation is. If you
will only do this small thing, you will help him get on
his feet again. You will help free him from his
obligation to my father.
James gaped at her. Why the devil are you doing
this? What can you know of Ash s feelings about being
forced that is, about Ashindon Park?
How could I help knowing how he feels? He carries
his pride like a damned banner. For God s sake,
James, I want to see him free of our betrothal, for I
know he was forced into it.
James eyed her shrewdly. Are you saying you do
not wish for this union?
Amanda dropped her gaze. I know you will consider
me stupid and naive, but I do not wish to enter into a
loveless marriage.
James said nothing for a long moment, and when he
spoke his tone had softened. But to invest in the
funds at this moment is nothing short of an exercise in
futility, my dear.
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Amanda lifted her head. As to that, I know you to
be wrong, but even if you were right, this is my money
I m asking you to invest. I d do it myself, but I have no
idea how to go about it. She laughed. I had a hard
enough time selling the jewels.
Selling the jewels? breathed James, fascinated.
Yes, I asked Hutchings my maid and she advised
me to go to Harper s, in Conduit Street. She said they
would not likely be too nice in their dealings. I brought
her with me, by the way, as well as a footman. They
are out in the carriage, so I did not come out alone and
defenseless into London s wicked streets. Anyway,
when I told the man at the jewelry shop what I wanted,
I thought he would call the police or something, but I
told him I was a widow who has fallen on hard times
and he was very sympathetic. The whole transaction
only took about half an hour, and look! she
exclaimed, waving the roll of soft. I have over six
thousand pounds! The gentleman said he was
fortunate he had that much on the premises, but he
had just completed a big sale. She uttered a small
laugh. I suppose they are worth more than twice what
I got, but I m not complaining.
Indeed, said James faintly.
You can do this, can t you? Amanda asked. I
mean, it s legal to buy stock in someone else s name?
Oh, yes. I am acquainted with Ash s man of
business. I m sure he will be
Well, then, there should be nothing to it.
Amanda rose and moved to lay the money in
James s lap. When he recoiled, she frowned slightly.
James, please. I know I am flying in the face of a
masculine bulwark of convention, but please help me
to help Ash.
James rose to stand close to her. I could almost
believe your only motive is in helping him.
Good Lord, why else would I be doing this? she
cried in exasperation.
James shook his head. I do not know. Perhaps to
place him under a truly iron-clad obligation to you.
Forgive my candor, but it has been my experience that
females rarely act so altruistically.
Amanda opened her mouth in protest, but he smiled
suddenly, and Amanda was astonished at the change
that came over his rather forbidding features. He was
much younger than she had thought, and really rather
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handsome.
I do not know about your experience with females,
she said simply, but I want very badly to help Ash,
and since you are his friend I thought perhaps that
would be your wish as well. As for placing him under
an obligation to me, I intend quite the opposite. Once
he has sufficient funds to accomplish the tasks he has
set for himself, he will no longer need me. She said
the words unthinkingly and almost gasped at the pain
they caused.
The silence in the small sitting room was deafening,
and Amanda felt she was choking on her heart, which
seemed to have lodged in her throat.
All right, said James at last, an indecipherable
expression on his features. I ll do it.
Oh, thank God! exclaimed Amanda, weak with
relief.
The visit concluded a few minutes later with mutual
expressions of goodwill and Amanda sped home to
spend the rest of the day in a state of expectation
bordering on panic. Had she done the right thing in
telling Ash her extraordinary story? He had made it
perfectly obvious that he thought her little more than a
lunatic. And how could she blame him? Perhaps she
was.
Maybe the person she believed to be Amanda
McGovern had never existed and the whole time-travel
thing was a figment of a profoundly disturbed mind. It
seemed to her that if one s mind were that messed up
one would be somehow aware of the disturbance, but
her experience with mental derangement was limited.
Dear God, suppose Ash took her advice and was
brought to ruin because Wellington had actually gone
down to defeat against Napoleon.
She took a deep, steadying breath. No, she was
completely sane, and if Ash had only taken her advice,
all would be well.
Whereupon she sat down, and with great precision
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