The Ambassador's Accidental Marriage (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) by Rachel Clark Page A

to Earth,” Cindy said very quietly.
    “I agree,” Loukie said vehemently. “The charges are obviously false and you should defend yourself.” Eric must have seen something in Loukie’s expression that Cindy missed, because he smiled and pressed a kiss to Loukie’s forehead.
    “Of course. Cindy should defend herself against such obviously false charges.” It was nice to know that he believed her to be innocent, but it was maybe a tad disappointing that he didn’t fight harder to keep her close. Cindy tried to remind herself that her going back to Earth was the best thing for all of them.
    “Excellent,” Eric’s father said with a broad grin. “I wish you a pleasant journey.”
    Thankfully he left the room before the tears fell. Cindy blinked rapidly, desperately trying to clear her eyes. But luck was not on her side as Loukie moved away slightly to look at her face.
    “Hey, none of that,” she said with a kind smile. “You don’t think we’re going to let you leave without us, do you?”
    “Um…” Cindy mumbled, trying to come up with a diplomatic answer even as relief poured through her. She didn’t have any family left on Earth, and she was never there long enough to have built any lasting friendships, so the trip “home” would not have been pleasant alone.
    But, she vowed silently to herself, if she didn’t get the all clear from a medical point of view then she would find the strength to walk away from the most passionate love she’d ever known—somehow.
     
    * * * *
     
    Three days of listening to false accusations and Eric was ready to pound somebody. A parade of people that Cindy had never met had filed through the courtroom—and it was an actual courtroom up to and including the judge who could pass sentence and incarcerate Cindy if he chose to. Every single one of them had given testimony as to the apparent failure of every diplomatic mission Cindy had ever been on.
    Somebody was going to a lot of trouble to make Cindy look guilty. The question was why.
    As soon as they stepped into the luxury hotel room, Eric closed the door firmly and pulled both women into his embrace. Despite how calm Cindy seemed on the outside, she shook violently in his arms.
    “I’m sorry that I dragged you into this.”
    “You say that one more time and I swear I’m going to put you over my knee and spank you until your bottom is bright red.” Cindy laughed brokenly, obviously trying to keep a brave front, but the tears flowed a moment later. He guided his women across the room and helped them settle onto the bed.
    Thankfully Eric and Loukie had managed to keep Cindy close, but it hadn’t been easy. The moment she’d boarded the ship back to Earth they’d tried to throw her in the brig. The word hadn’t translated properly, but Cindy’s reaction had told him all he’d needed to know. She’d also managed to use several other words so that he and Loukie had understood that a brig was the ship’s prison. Cindy had shown no outward concern. To a stranger her fear would have been well hidden, but it had telegraphed easily to Eric and Loukie.
    It had taken some quick talking, and a lot of royal posturing, but eventually Cindy had been released into their custody. Just remembering the ship captain’s attitude made Eric want to put his fist through a wall. Cindy had often spoken favorably of her world’s “innocent until proved guilty” policy, but it was obvious that, in this case at least, the system Cindy had held most dear was failing her.
    “Tomorrow you get to defend yourself, yes?” Loukie had been outraged by the fact that Cindy had not been allowed to defend herself against the individual accusations. She’d been forced to sit quietly and listen as stranger after stranger made their false claims. At least tomorrow she would get a chance to speak in her defense.
    “I should,” Cindy said tiredly, “but considering everything else that has happened I think whoever is behind this will find a