meaning of 'would'

[Klpno]

Hi everyone.
Sometimes it's difficult for me to figure out the meaning of 'would' when it is used in fiction. For example:

Jasmine was curious to see what their reaction would be. Not that all eight Directors hadn't already read over and approved the speech - probably each had their own bits they wanted in or out - but sometimes you could get some interesting involuntary reactions out of people. As career politicians, the Directors would be less prone to it than, say, the athletes she used to interview back in Boston, but even the best politicians slipped every once in a while.

What does 'would' express - probability or future in the past? And can 'were' be used instead of would, i.e. the Directors were less prone to it than...

[Pamela]

Would expresses probability here.

[Klpno]

Thank you very much, Pamela.