The Earl's Stowaway. Krystina Daryl

      The Earl’s Stowaway

       The Earl Series, Book One

      By

      Krystina Daryl

      ©2015 by Blushing Books® and Krystina Daryl

      All rights reserved.

      No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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      Daryl, Krystina

      The Earl’s Stowaway

      eBook ISBN: 978-1-68259-237-7

      Cover Design by ABCD Graphics & Design

      This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the Author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

       Table of Contents:

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Epilogue

      About Krystina Daryl

      Ebook Offer

      Blushing Books Newsletter

      About Blushing Books

      Chapter One

       America- August 1856

      

      Melanie giggled as she pulled free her long hair and watched as it danced in the wind. She wanted to be exactly like that, free, without a worry in the world. Turning her face to the sky and closing her eyes, she loved the feel of the sun's heat caressing her face as she held her hands out high and leaned forward like a bird ready to take flight.

      Her body tingled and her heart raced with excitement. The feel of the wind against her body spelt freedom to her.

      How she wished she was free!

      "Lanie, you'll fall!"

      Her smile deepened at the small voice. She looked at the little girl, with curls shining like strawberry-golden strands on her head and sparkling eyes that matched the sky.

      Melanie's chest tightened at Lyly's memory. Jessica was the splitting image of her. It had been a decade, but her face was still etched in Melanie's mind.

      So long ago, they would have had each other, and now Lyly had no one. But Melanie had Jesse and Jessica. Yes, she felt guilty for her fortune, but it equaled her misfortune.

      Mayhap Lyly is lucky. Anyone who doesn't have to live with my parents is lucky, she thought to herself.

      "Lanie, get down here this instant!" Jesse ordered with a stern tone. He looked more like Melanie, with amber eyes and raven black hair.

      Melanie laughed. The boy's behavior, like that of the man of the house amused her, but the reason behind it didn't. Their father didn't pay any of them any mind. He was a drunk and only went home to sleep, at whatever time of the day. Her step-mother, Geraldine, didn't care where he passed the night. She was always relieved at his absence, as it meant she could bring one of her male friends home.

      Her betrayal towards her father angered Melanie, but what else could she expect? The woman married her father for the vast lands he owned, only to find out after Jesse's fourth year that he lost it gambling. She threatened to leave, without her son of course, but her father wouldn't stand for it.

      What started as a quarrel, ended with her father taking Geraldine forcefully in Melanie's presence. She wanted to help, but feared she would suffer the same fate. He wasn't the father she knew anymore.

      Nine months later, a little girl was born. Geraldine wanted nothing to do with her and less to do with Jesse. Melanie named the girl Jessica, to rhyme with Jesse. And since the first day Melanie held the little girl in her arms, she became her daughter and Jesse her son. At the age of four and ten, Melanie was a mother.

      "Lanie!" the two voices yelled in unison.

      She laughed, "Fine, I'm coming down." She used the tree branches to lower herself to a height where she could jump without hurting herself. They rushed to her, Jessica holding her arms up, meaning she wanted to be carried. Melanie picked her up and kissed her pink cheeks. "Sweetheart, one day you'll become too big to carry."

      She shook her head. "Never."

      Melanie smiled pulling all her gold locks free from her bonnet. She twirled around with her, releasing squeals and giggles from Jessica. Melanie stopped and knelt down next to Jesse. She pulled him to her lap and squeezed them both in a tight hug.

      She kissed their cheeks and placed her head between theirs and whispered, "I love you both very much."

      "We love you too, Lanie," Jessica chirped reaching up to kiss her sister's cheek.

      "And Lyly too," Melanie added.

      Jessica nodded, giving her another kiss. "For Lyly."

      Jesse moved to sit on the ground across from Melanie. His fingers moved anxiously on his lap, his eyes looking up at her in earnest. "Have you thought over what I asked?"

      Melanie gave him a weak smile and cupped his chin gently in her hand. "We can't run away, Jesse."

      His brows furrowed deeper with anxiety. "We can go to Lyly! She can help raise Jessica. I know she won't refuse!"

      "I know that too, but I don't know where to find her."

      Jesse bowed his head, the familiar sadness causing his shoulders to sag.

      The sight broke Melanie's heart. How she wished there was another way to ensure their happiness, but the only thing she could do was pray that God would finally grant it to them. She also prayed for a husband who would permit her to take the children to her matrimonial home. But with no dowry, the only thing she could depend on to catch a husband was her beauty.

      The only reason Melanie knew she was beautiful was because of the deathly glares Geraldine gave her when she declared her beauty superior to Melanie's. She'd threatened to cut all her hair off once when Melanie had let it flow down to her waist. Since that day, she always held it in a tight braid around her head when Geraldine was around. Melanie's hair was all she had that reminded her of her mother and she couldn't permit the dragon to shave it all off!

      Melanie put a brave smile on her face. "Not to worry. When I marry, I'll take you both with me. I promise."

      "But