The Clever Fox: Part Three (The Pleasure Hound Series) Read Online Free PDF

home.”
    “I’d rather stay here, thank you.”
    The door opened, and the guard entered. “It’s not policy for a prisoner to have this many visitors at once. But your advocate and representatives from the Sisterhood are here. So we’re making an exception, this once.”
    Adom watched the Male Voice enter, followed behind by a woman dressed in the deep purple robes of the Sisterhood. He looked beyond the two for a sight of Emet, but instead saw someone whom he least expected.  
    Alyss rushed to the bars. Adom was so overjoyed to see her he made the ill decision of trying to stand. He let out a howl of pain when he the chain linking his cuffs to the railing jerked him back to the metal cot.
    Alyss turned her molten eyes on the guard. “How dare you chain him like an animal. I demand you release him at once.”
    The guard swallowed under her glare. “I’m sorry, my lady. But I can’t. He’s accused of defaming a woman through the means of criminal art.”
    “You imbecile. Art is not a crime. The woman in that painting is me. And I filed no such complaint.”
    “Lady Jayne filed the complaint when he tried to show the painting in her gallery.” The guard pointed at Lady Jayne who had slunk into the corner as she gaped at the crowd of officials gathered before her.
    “It's…” Lady Jayne’s voice wobbled. “It's illegal for any man to capture the likeness of an unbonded woman.”
    “He didn’t paint it. I did.”
    Lady Jayne smiled so wide Adom felt certain she would devour Alyss whole. “Then you’ll be arrested for obscenity.”
    “You must prove it.” This came from the Sister who stood next to the Male Voice. “I’ve seen the painting. I found it to be a bold political statement about the rights of young women to chart their own path, outside the confines of their Mother’s home. As a gallery owner, I’m surprised you didn’t see it yourself.”
    Lady Jayne balked. She opened her mouth to speak, but Sister Mychelle continued.
    “Of course you have the right to dispute Lady Alyss’ interpretation. And if you do, we’ll take the matter before chambers where we’ll be joined by Lady Angyla.”
    Lady Jayne’s mouth clamped shut.
    “And while you’re proving that,” said the Male Voice, “I’ll have charges brought up against you for false imprisonment of my client. The charge might not hold, but it will be bad publicity for your gallery.”
    Lady Jayne turned on Adom, the lascivious smile gone. “I expect you to have all of your garish art out of my gallery before morning.”
    The glint in her eyes told Adom that she aimed to take pleasure in denying him this once in a lifetime opportunity. Instead, Adom felt grateful to have his precious pieces removed from so vile a person. With that door closed, Adom was surprised to hear another creak wide open.
    “Excellent,” said Sister Mychelle. “The Chamber of Arts and Culture has a wall in need of artwork. You would help us out by showing there, sir. I’d like to show your painting too, Lady Alyss.”
    Both Adom and Alyss stared at Sister Mychelle, who beamed at them both. The guard went into the cell and released his wrists. Alyss was in his arms before he had time to bring the circulation back into his forearms.
    “I’m sorry,” he said to her. “I shouldn’t have taken your work. I just wanted the world to see your brilliance.”
    “You’re right,” she pulled away from him. “That was a stupid thing to do.”  
    The laugh that shook Adom’s shoulders removed any trace of coldness left by the damp cell.
    “I don’t care what anyone else thinks,” Alyss said. “I only cared what you thought of it.”
    Adom tangled a wayward curl at her neck around his finger. “You don’t have to marry me. I don’t want you to feel obligated to.”
    “You freed me, Adom. You freed me from a life of confinement. If a contract is what I need to keep you in my life, then that’s what I’ll do.”
    “I’ll never let you go again. I’ll