Chasing Emily [Duoterra 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Read Online Free PDF Page B

trial, too?
    The judge must have been having a similar thought as he looked over to where Finn sat just a short distance away and gave him a ponderous look. Emily finally glanced around. Finn looked calm. Damn him! He smiled at her, and she jerked her eyes away from him, tightening her lips angrily at the situation that favored men on the planet.
    “I understand that the person with whom Emily was found was a certain Finn Taylor. Please stand, Mr. Taylor, and make yourself known to this court.”
    Finn stood almost negligently, his hands on his hips, a smug smile on his face. “I’m Finn Taylor.”
    “Hmm.” The judge gave Finn his usual studious examination before continuing, “I know you are not a member of this town, so please confirm where you come from and why you are here.” Emily nearly sniggered at this. The judge had a habit of being pedantic. He knew exactly who Finn was because he had been at the dance, like pretty much everyone else in the room.
    “I don’t have a particular home these days, judge, but I was born near The Coast, and I work as a travelling musician—a profession which takes me all over the place.”
    “Answer me another question, young fellow,” the judge requested. “Are you married?”
    Emily turned her head to look back at Finn fully. She hadn’t considered that. Her absolute rule was that she wouldn’t have intercourse with any married man, but she hadn’t thought about that when she had been having sex with Finn. Actually, she hadn’t thought at all. He had rather seduced her into it, which in itself was unusual as it was she who usually initiated the actual act. The youngsters might steal a kiss or two, but she decided when they had sex. But then Finn was a little older than she was used to.
    “No, sir. I’ve never taken out a marriage contract.”
    She let out a long breath. Emily was rather surprised by how much it meant to her if he had been, and she wasn’t sure why, since she hardly knew him. Okay, so he was cute and charming and sexy and handsome, but was that enough? She shook her head inwardly. Why on Earth was she even thinking about permanency with him? She had stayed clear of any committed relationships since her late, unlamented marriage, so why was she even considering anything different now? Putting that thought aside, she concentrated on her trial again.
    “Excellent,” intoned the judge.
    Well, yes, it was good that she hadn’t cavorted with a married man, but why did the judge think so? Emily was beginning to get worried.
    He continued, “That makes it very simple. The man in question being unwed means he is free for Emily to marry him.” The judge had a broad grin on his face as he made this appalling pronouncement.
    “ No! ” Emily was horrified. There was no way she was being forced into marrying Finn—or any man.
    “There’s no ‘no’ about it. I have made my decision, and you will have to abide by it.”
    She looked dismayed at Finn, who appeared equally horrified. She could hear mutterings from the crowd.
    “About time, too.”
    “Quite right.”
    “That’s a shame.”
    The last had come from a young man who had approached her just a couple of months ago wanting to come to her bed. She had gently rebuffed him, telling him he was too young, but in all seriousness she’d wonder if she would ever want to bed a virgin again. She’d had enough of them and wanted someone she didn’t walk all over. That was one major reason she kept turning Robin down—he gave in to her far too easily.
    Adam, one of Brianna’s husbands, rose to his feet. As usual his natural dominance forced a hush to descend. “I can’t believe you people. You should know by now you can’t force women to marry. Look what happened with Brianna. That could have ended badly.”
    The judge shifted in his seat to peer around Adam and looked over his spectacles to Brianna, who was trying unsuccessfully to sink down in her seat and hide. “Ah, the other scandalous woman