The Girl from Mölgaard

by Mollerjuice

HDJhkfahf

The Girl from Mölgaard

Lady Kristine Möller of Mölgaard at 18, photo taken in 1890.

Prolog

A calm night captain of the 3rd battalion of the Prince's lifeguard, Allan Möller was standing around a table planing the battle of Fredericia, the city was under siege and it would fall if they waited any longer. The loss to the rebels at Schleswig the year before had been a disgrace for the danish army.

"de Meza, is coming from Als with the 6th brigade" one of the officers said looking at Allan for an answer.

"Good, we need more artillery to bring down those bastards, the rebels have a lot of guns. We need more of them" He pointed to a point on the map "We send a battalion here, and then we take the left flank" The other officers agreed with him.

"It will be done sir"

"Good, go, and do not fail me"

As the men walked out Allan sighed, he had the feeling that something was about to happen and not for the best.

"Sir, we have a visitor, an officer from the navy" A sergeant said behind him, Allan turned around.

"Send him in"

A tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed man with a thin mustache and a short, but well-groomed beard, walked in, saluted him and handed him a letter. Allan broke the seal and read.

"What is the situation out there, have you seen them?" He asked.

"Aye sir, I have, the naval command want us to bring more troops from Zealand to reinforce you until de Meza comes and relieves the siege"

"We will see, we need them, but I doubt that the king will allow it, and if so, we don't have enough ships to do it" Allan said.

"I can go back and bring more men from Zealand, sir, just tell me when"

"Do it, we might sally out if it comes to it" Allan said looking back down at the map of the defences.

The officer nodded, saluted and left, a couple of hours later a rider came from the town, bearing the flag of truce, the message was clear.

The days went by, reading up for a sally out, more troops came by ship, the rebels and their german allies couldn't do anything to the power of the danish navy. During the day the cannons from the redoubts around the city. And in the night a new regiment was moved into the redoubts and the 3rd battalion of the Prince's lifeguard took positions behind the walls. de Meza would be there by morning, or so General Hedemann had promised, it would be perfect to sally out when the rebels had two fronts to fight.

"Sir, it de Meza, he's here" An officer said running towards him.

Allan stood up, the moment had arrived.

"Sound the signal, we attack"

The bugle sounded the charge, Allan took his sword and his pistols and ran to his horse, the first lines of the redoubt opened the gates and the men ran down the slope, the rebels didn't expect it and were still trying to wake up. They were surprised by the sudden attack, the Danes took advantage and ran down the hill and towards the tents, killing everything in their path. The 6th brigade was coming from the south taking them in the rear. musket fire was blasting all around in fine lines as Allan looked around at the slaughter of the rebels.

"This is my lucky day" He thought as a rebel cavalry officer rode at him, his sword raised.

A shot was heard, and the rebel officer fell from his horse.

"That's my lucky day" He laughed.

A cannonball came down and smashed his horse, Allan was thrown against a tree and felt unconscious.

"Wake up" A voice was saying in the distance, a hand touched him.

Allan felt dizzy and hurt, the sound of battle was far away now.

"You alright" A voice asked.

He blinked and looked up, it was a young soldier.

"You alright" the boy asked again.

"Yes, I think" Allan answered sitting up.

"Your battalion has been called to fall back to the redoubt, we were ordered to search for any wounded"

"Where are the others? Did we win?" Allan asked.

"Most are dead or taken prisoner, we won the day, the sally out worked" The boy said helping Allan to his feet.

Allan took his sword and his hat, and walked slowly towards the door. The light inside was dim and gloomy. The sound of dying men came from another room. Allan went through the door, the stench of blood and death was everywhere. A few men were helping the others, or what was left of them. The sound of boots came from the entrance and a few moments later a sergeant walked in, he looked around and saw Allan.

"Sir, are you okay?" The man asked.

"I'm alright, but many aren't, did we lose a lot?"

"Not too many, but heard you were lucky, the found you besides your horse, it had taken a canon ball at the front legs"

"Yes, I was" Allan said sitting down, the dizziness had come back and his head hurt like hell.

"I think you have a concussion, sir" the sergeant said "I'll send for the doctor, stay here"

"Yes" Allan said sitting down on a chair. A cup of water was put down on the table in front of him by the young soldier. "Has de Meza arrived in the city yet?" Allan looked at the young soldier Kristian.

"Aye sir, the 6th brigade and his cavalry was waiting for him and took the rebel right flank by surprise, they crushed them and the rest fled" Kristian answered.

"Good" Allan said standing up, the dizziness was gone. "i'll go speak with him"

Kristian smiled. "I will come with you, sir"

"Sure, I don't mind" Allan said as he left the house.

The two walked back towards the redoubt where General Hedemann and Major de Meza were talking. The two was looking out over the battlefield. Allan walked up the wooden stairs dug into the earthen redoubt to protect the city.

"Sir, is it a good time?" Allan asked.

"Ah yes, it is, how are you doing, captain?" General Hedemann said turning towards him.

"I'm fine, thanks, a bit sore but nothing to worry about"

"That is good to hear, Captain" General Hedemann said.

"Captain Möller, it is good to see you alive" de Meza said turning towards him, "I saw the canonball hit your horse and I was worried that you had died"

"Luckily, I didn't, and I'm thankful for it" Allan said.

"Indeed, well, as soon as the men have rested, we'll leave the city and march on Schleswig and meet up with general Krogh and Royal guard" Hedemann said, folding his hand behind his back. "we'll show those germans and royal traitors not to go to war with Denmark"

Allan nodded and smiled. "They will pay the price, I'll go and ready the men, sir"

"Go, I'll call you if we have orders for you"

"Sir" Allan said and turned on his heel, Kristian followed.

"Sir" Kristian said as he caught up to him.

"Yes, what is it, Kristian?"

"Are we really going to crush them? aren't they also a part of the kingdom" Kristian said.

"Yes, we are"

"But why? We shouldn't kill our own, we are a kingdom, are we not?"

"We are, but that doesn't mean we should trust anyone, especially not a man like count Frederick August"

"What has he done?" Kristian looked long at Allan for the answer.

"He wants a crown and believes he can get it if they join the preussens"

"Aye sir" Kristian answered as they came to the camp of the 3rd battalion, the men had gathered there and looked up as Allan and Kristian walked in.

"Men, tomorrow we'll march out and meet the traitor's and the preussens, are you with me?" Allan asked.

The men shouted and cheered, Kristian stood in the background.

"Good" Allan said, his face stern and cold, "I'll see you at dawn, get some sleep"

"Sir, what about the prisoners, and the wounded" an officer asked. "they are in good hands here in Fredericia, we'll meet up with general Krogh"

"Sir" the man said and left, Allan sat down on a chair and drank his water, the dizziness had not left him yet, but the day was far from over, the march would begin at dawn.

The morning came and the army was ready to march. General Hedemann and Major de Meza was riding at the front of the army through the gate of the city of Fredericia, ready to meet the rebels on their home field. They had no choice, and Allan knew it, he had talked with the commander the evening before and he had told him of his doubts. General Krogh would meet them at Haderslev for the attack on Schleswig. Allan was riding at the head of his battalion. A young lieutenant besides him. For days the army was on the move, 10.000 men was going south to link up with General Kroghs 27.000 troops to bring the Preussens and Rebels to heel. The Preussens had been a sore, their far superior numbers was hard to fight. The German state had no business helping subjects of the danish crown, Allan thought riding along side his battalion.

The evening came and the town of Haderslev was on the horizon, Allan was glad to have made it, he was tired of the constant march and the dust that covered him and the men. The dust from the road had caked on the uniform and made the army look ragged. As they dismounted, the men started putting up the tents and making camp for the night. Allan walked over to the headquarters a small tavern and stepped in, General Krogh was looking over a map of the area and marking off some points, the general had a thick graying beard and a large nose. General Hedemann and de Meza was standing on the opposite side of the table. Allan stod to attention when he entered.

"General Krogh, sir, Captain Allan Möller, the 3rd battalion of the prince's guard reporting, as ordered"

"Good, how are your men?" Krogh asked without looking up.

"Fine sir, tired but ready to fight for king and country"

"Good, I have a mission for you, the rebels have taken a position at Flensborg, their main forces is in the woods between Haderslev and Flensborg, the preussens reinforcements are on their way from Berlin as we speak." The General looked up from the maps and smiled at Allan.

"I heard you did well at Fredericia, the king wants to reward good service"

"Yes sir"

"You are being promoted, as of today you are Major Allan Möller, the new commander of the 2nd brigade, the king's personal guards.

"Thank you, sir" Allan said. He could feel the pride grow inside him. it has been a dangerous move to sally out, but it had been the right decision in the end.

"Congratulations, major" de Meza said and smiled.

"Thank you, sir"

"You'll have the 1st and 2nd battalions, under your command, and the 3rd under the new captain, Kristian Nielsen, do you know him?" General Krogh looked at Allan.

"Yes, he's a good lad"

"Good, go to the camp and rest, we have a battle ahead of us"

"Sir" Allan said, saluted and walked outside, the sun was shining down from the blue sky, a warm summer day, the kind that would be perfect for a swim or a picnic.

The camp was set up and the men were relaxing or playing cards or dice. The sound of laughter filled the camp, Allan walked towards his tent and opened the flap, he walked inside and sat down. A junior officer walked in. "Send for the captains, i'll speak to them as soon as possible" Allan said grabbing a piece of paper and an ink pen.

"Aye, sir"

The captains came a while later, they saluted. "Take a seat" Allan said.

"How many troops do we have left?"

"255 men in the 1st, 278 in the 2nd and 299 in the 3rd" The captain of the 1st battalion, a middle aged man with a bald spot on the top of his head called captain Brandt. "we didn't lose many in the sally" the captain of 2nd battalion said, a tall dark haired man with a large well trimmed beard and blue eyes, called captain Dahl. "what's the plan sir" said the newly promoted Captain Kristian Nielsen said, lighting up with pride. "We will march in the morning, and take the forest, the rebels are hold up there and we need to get rid of them." Allan said.

In the days following the battle, Major Allan and his men had little time to rest. Word had spread that negotiations for a ceasefire were underway. The major European powers were involved, and the fate of Schleswig and Holstein hung in the balance.

Major Allan's days were a blur of meetings and battles. He shuttled between the makeshift command post and the battlefields. Finally, in October 1850, a breakthrough came. The Treaty of London was signed, officially ending the First Schleswig War. It reaffirmed Denmark's sovereignty over Schleswig while granting autonomy to Holstein. International guarantees were put in place to protect the rights of the German-speaking population in the duchies.

After the war Allan went home to Viborg to be with the woman he had married before the war, Karen Marie Wiirnfeldt and their baby girl, they were gonna build a life together and it would start with a new place to live close to home. He bought Mölgaard manor, a wooden timbered manor, not long after wars end a small estate of 450 acres.

CHAPTER 1

Kristines eyes opened. There was a loud noises coming from the yard in front of their manor. she turned in bed to see her sister still sleeping on the other side of the bed they shared. She slowly stood and walked over to the window facing out into the yard. All the farmhands was gathered with their scythes and standing in ranks waiting for inspection from her father. "well it's harvest time" Kristine thought glancing over the young and older men standing waiting.

A couple of moments later, her father walked out onto the porch, he was wearing a long sleeved shirt and trousers. His blond hair was cut short and he had a well trimmed mustache. Her father raised his hand and shouted an order.

The men split into two and lined up on either side of the porch. Kristine's father walked out among the men.

"you're all here, that's good" He said "i expect this harvest will be as good as the last"

"yes sir" the men replied.

"Good" Kristine's father said.

"the work will begin at sunrise and stop at sundown, no slacking and no fighting"

"yes sir" the men said again.

Kristine watched her father turnaround and walk back inside, as one of the older men, a short stout man with a thick salt and pepper beard, bellowing an order to the other farmhands and they started walking towards the large archway in the barn. Her eyes caught a glance from one of the younger farmhands, a man in his mid twenties with dark blond hair and wide shoulders, as he elbowed his side mate and pointed with a throw of his head towards Kristine in the window. She quickly ducked down under the window sill, her long ginger hair falling in front of her eyes. Her heart pounding as she leaned on the wall under the window. Her sister had awoken and was looking at her with a smile and a laugh.

"Kristine"

"what?" Kristine said, annoyed at the sound of her sister's voice.

"I know you like that boy" Her sister said sitting up on the edge of the bed.

"I do not" Kristine said, standing and looking at her sister, and swiping her hair from her youthful face. She walked over to the mirror and looked into it, picked up a brush and started brushing her hair.

"I was looking at father getting them ready for the harvest" she said annoyed, thinking of how the boys muscles under his shirt and the labor of the field.

"Sure, sure" her sister replied.

"Shut up" Kristine replied, annoyed.

Her sister laughed, the same laugh that irritated Kristine to no end. She had had enough, her sister's teasing, she was only a year younger than Kristine and had the same ginger hair and blue eyes from their mother. A knock came on the door and the raspy voice of their old maid cut through the tension.

"Girls? Are you awake? There is breakfast shortly"

"Yes, we are coming" Sarah, her sister replied, and walked over to her closet to find a dress. After Kristine was done brushing her hair, she walked over to til closet too and picked a pale pink dress and matching shoes. As they got dressed, Sarah started humming a melody. Kristine walked out into the dim hallway her sister just behind her.

"What! Are you up before us?" the heard behind them in the hallway. Their brothers Christian, the oldest of the children, a tall broad shouldered youth of 19 with blond hair and the beginning of a mustache, and the youngest Mikkel, a tall round kid of 14, was standing in front of their room smiling.

"Shut up, Christian" Kristine said, her brother smiled wider. He started towards them, walking with authority past them and looking back. "well we need to get down for breakfast" a smile ran across his face. He was always like this, all the way since they were kids, and he had been a bully, and still was, his arrogance grew by the day and his father only praised him more. He walked down the stairs.

"come" Mikkel said, following his brother, as the girls followed them down the stairs, the smell of eggs, bacon and fresh bread filling the house.

"There you are" Their father said as they all sat down. The old maid brought out plates of bacon and eggs and some fresh bread.

"Eat" their grandfather said, and dug into his breakfast. "So Per, are the lads in the field?" their grandfather, General Allan Möller, said, not looking up from his plate of food. Kristine looked at her father. "yes, they're preparing for the harvest" he replied, the old man nodded.

"Good" her grandfather replied, taking a bite of the egg. "So girls, how was sleep?" Karen Marie, their grandmother asked, smiling warmly while cutting the bacon. "Fine" both Sarah and Kristine replied, their grandfather and father was talking about the harvest, and the boys was listening, nodding at what the men was saying. Kristines grandfather looked at the girls and said

"We'll be heading for the city today, if you want, we'll buy some dresses for you"

"Yes, please" Kristine said, her grandmother nodded and her grandfather returned to his conversation with her father, her brother Christian looked at her and winked. He had a plan, and Kristine would play into it unknowingly, she was sure of it.

After breakfast, Kristine and Sarah followed their parents and grandparents outside to the carriage, they stopped for a moment, while the driver took the steps and opened the doors, helping their mother and grandmother in before giving the girls a hand, as the door closed, the driver jumped on the back of the carriage and grabbed the reigns. The carriage started with a jolt and headed down the gravel road, passing by the manor gate and onto the dirt road, heading for the city.

"I hope the weather stays nice" her mother said, looking out the window. The golden fields was dotted with men and women working, cutting the wheat. Kristine looked out over the fields. it was a large task, she knew, but the people had done it for generations. The carriage rolled through the landscape for two hours and the chatter of the women was pleasant. when they got to the cobbled road of Lögstör they heard the the sounds of a small town buzzing, and the sounds of the sound of the whistle from the steamer Limfjorden was cutting through the air. Kristine was happy, the sun was out and the city was alive, and they were going to buy a dress, which was a rare thing.

As the carriage slowed, the driver jumped down and opened the door, Kristine looked at her sister. The driver helped the women out and they started walking towards the small store at the harbour to see the latest coming in from Copenhagen. "i remember when we first moved to Mölgaard, Lögstör was just a small fishing village, before the canal" her grandmother said walking down the street.

"Oh, it's been so many years" her grandmother said.

They entered the small shop, there was a man standing behind the counter, he looked up and smiled, Kristine liked this shop, they had always gotten dresses here. "Mrs Möller, what can I do for you today" the shopkeeper asked.

"Dresses for the girls" her grandmother said.

"of course, what kind" the shopkeeper replied, gesturing towards a row of dresses. They were beautiful, Kristine thought looking at a bright red dress with a black hat. it was gonna show her curves, but she wondered is her large breasts was gonna fit, it looked tight, but the dress was made with high quality fabric, the silk felt smooth between her fingers.

"Try it on, and we'll see how it looks" her grandmother said.

The shop keeper nodded.

Kristine smiled and walked over to a small curtain in the corner and pulled it aside, stepping into a small room and started undressing, pulling the dress over her head. She looked at herself in the mirror, her blue eyes was staring back at her, her freckled face was framed by the long, updo, red locks, her lips was plump, the dress hugged her hips, the soft material was hugging her corset, accentuating her waist and trying to hide her large breasts, and the dress fell down her thighs, covering her legs. She turned, looking at herself. The dress was amazing, the finest she had ever seen.

"are you alright in there" her mother's voice came through the curtain.

"Yes" Kristine replied, her eyes still on the reflection. She put on the small black hat that came with it and pulled back the curtain, walking out.

"it's amazing" her grandmother said.

Kristine looked at the reflection in the large mirror. Her grandmother stepped up beside her and put her arm around her shoulders.

"that's a fine dress"

"Thank you" Kristine replied, looking at herself, feeling the pride in her body.

"we'll take it" her grandmother said, turning to the shop keeper. "and for you Sarah?" the mother asked, looking at her youngest daughter.

"this i think" Sarah said looking a bright yellow frilly dress with matching umbrella.

"good choice" the mother said.

Kristine changed out of the dress, and they went back to the carriage, Kristine held the hat in her hands and couldn't help but smile, this was gonna be her harvest fest dress. For when the whole community came together and celebrated a succesfull harvest. They walked out back into the street when their grandmother looked around.

"Now lets visit your aunt and uncle" she said smiling. The youngest of the Allan Möller daughters had married a merchant in Lögstör and lived not far from the busy harbour in a large white merchants farm in the city. They walked along the water and saw the Limfjorden, docked. the large steamer was being loaded with goods to bring south to Copenhagen. Kristine couldn't help but look at the large ship and the people working hard loading crates onto the deck, the sun was shining, making the water sparkle.

"here we are" their grandmother said stopping outside a large manor, Kristine hadn't even noticed where they had been walking. The house was painted white with two stories, the roof was a bright orange, the yard's warehouse was busy with dock workers bringing wares to the steamer. The women walked down the path leading to the front door and their mother knocked. After a couple of moments, the door was opened by a girl in her early teens. "Auntie" the girl exclaimed and gave the women a hug.

"Hello my dear" Kristine's mother, Mette, said.

"come inside, mother is in the garden"

The girl led the women into the house and down a narrow corridor towards a backdoor leading into the garden, the large oak doors opened, revealing the beautiful garden.

"Mother" the girl shouted and a woman stood, she had blonde hair, her face was still smooth and she wore a green dress.

"My, my" the woman exclaimed, walking over and hugging the women. "Aunt Camilla" Kristine said hugging. "so good to see you"

"I heard the girls had come to town" Camilla said smiling and towards the two girls.

"my, you have grown, last time I saw you, you were but children"

"yes, it has been a few years" Kristine said looking at her aunt, smiling.

"where is your father, dear" Karen Marie, their grandmother, said to the girl standing besides her mother.

"He's out back with the ship captain, they're discussing the next voyage"

"come inside, the maid has made coffee" aunt Camilla said taking the hand of her youngest child and Kristine in the other hand.

"so Kristine, how are you" the aunt said as they walked into the ladie's room and sat down, the maid started pouring the coffee.

"I'm well, and you?"

"oh, I've been great, the business is growing, and your uncle Jacob has invested in a new steamer" Camilla took a sip of the coffee. The room was not as large as the one at Mölgaard but it was lavish furnished, with paintings of ships, wooden furniture and things from all over Europe. The chatter continued, about the harvest, the weather and the family, Kristine enjoyed the visit, it was something different than just being at the manor.

"So Kristine, your parents told me you have become quite the young woman"

"I... I have been well" Kristine stuttered, the sudden comment took her off guard, the compliment was unexpected, but she wasn't gonna deny that she liked the attention.

"Oh, I can see, and tell, you're gonna break a few hearts" the aunt smiled and winked. "But what I'm talking about is that you have become a young woman"

"oh yes, I suppose so" Kristine replied, not sure how to answer.

"so, you're ready for a husband" her aunt said, smiling. The conversation was cut short when the door opened and uncle Jacob walked in, his face was flushed, and his dark hair was wet from sweat, he was tall and slim, wearing a fine suit.

"My dear" He said and kissed his wife on the cheek. " i can see we have visitors" he smiled at Kristine and her mother.

"yes, how are you, Jacob" the grandmother said.

"Oh, I've been good, business is going well"

"we know, the house is nice" the mother said.

"thank you, Mette"

"How are the boys" the aunt asked.

"The boys are fine, they are out on the ship"

Andreas was the oldest, a spitting image of his father and soon 16, ready to take command of his own ship, Kristine had never met the boy, but her sister had, she said that he was very charming and a handsome fellow, Kristine couldn't wait to meet him. Then there was Daniel, he was 14 and had already been out with his father on trips, and was learning the ways of the water one step at a time. "they are taking inventory of The Rosemary" the oldest of the schooners still in use.

"The Rosemary, isn't that the ship that is supposed to sail the next voyage to London" their aunt asked looking at her husband.

"yes, that's the one" the uncle said smiling.

Kristines eyes widened. "London? The capital of Great Britain?" she asked imagining the adventure of visiting the capital of the civilised world.

"yes" her uncle replied. Smiling, we are transporting corn for your father and hopefully taking clothes, iron and coal with us back"

"I would love to go to London" Kristine exclaimed, looking at her aunt and uncle.

"yes, maybe next year, when you are older" her uncle replied.

"well, we have to get going" her grandmother said, getting up from the chair.

"Of course, the driver is waiting" the uncle said, helping his wife up.

"We have had a great time" the aunt said, and gave Kristine a hug.

"I hope you will come by the next time you are in town" the uncle said and hugged his sister-in-law.

"of course" the mother said.

The carriage was waiting at the end of the path in the courtyard, as the women walked outside, some of the workers stopped and looked at the them walking by, their eyes followed the women. "hello" one of the boys said, Kristine waved and smiled. They walked past the workers and the men bowed, Kristine couldn't help but smile, the way these strong, rough looking men was bowing was amusing.

"Have a safe trip" the uncle shouted as the carriage started moving, and the family was on their way.

The journey home took an hour, and as the sun was setting, the fields were illuminated, and the birds were singing. Kristine looked out over the landscape, the wind blowing, she was happy. The harvest was in full swing, and the day had gone well, her grandmother and mother had given her more compliments, and she loved the attention, it felt good.

When the carriage pulled up in the driveway, her grandfather was standing outside waiting for them, he smiled when he saw the women get out of the carriage, holding the large hatbox.

"Did you have a good time" the old man asked, his smile was genuine, and he seemed genuinely interested.

"Yes, we did" Kristine's mother, Mette, said.

"Good" her grandfather said and gave her a hug.

"So how are the harvest" her grandmother asked, smiling. Kristines father Per, walked out from the manor just as the question was asked, his face was tired, his suit was neat.

"good, it seems we are on time for the harvest"

They were all gathered outside the house, Kristine's brother had just walked down the path from the stable and was walking towards the group. "Father, can i go into Haubro to meet up with David" Christians face was anticipating a no. But the father nodded. "Of course, but remember, if there's any trouble, you are to come straight back"

"of course, father" Christian smiled and started jogging towards the stables in the right wing of the barn, he was out of sight within a minute.

"I'll tell the maid we are ready for dinner" her mother said and walked into the house, Sarah and their grandparents following her, as they disappeared, the father and daughter was alone. Kristine looked at her father. His face anxious, looking to the door Christian had disappeared into. "Father, is everything alright" Kristine asked, putting her hand on his arm. The father snapped out of the gaze and looked at her, his face softening, and his gaze turning to a warm smile.

"Of course, why do you ask"

"You just seemed worried" Kristine replied.

"no, nothing, just thinking" the father replied, putting his arm around her and pulling her close. They turned towards the door and went into the livingroom, the smell of freshly baked bread and potatoes were filling the air. They walked into the large dinning room, the table was set, and the large windows was open, letting the evening sun shine into the room.

"The maid has outdone herself" her grandfather said, smiling at the food.

The family sat down, and the maid brought the food, a large plate with potatoes, meat and a salad. They were eating, the chatter was about the visit to the city and the family.

"I heard Andreas is becoming a captain" the grandfather said, looking at daughter son, Kristine's mother.

"Yes, he is, and his brother is becoming a sailor" the aunt replied.

"That's good to hear" the grandfather said, smiling.

"Yes, the family is doing well" the mother replied.

The dinner was replaced with a dessert and the family ate well, talking and laughing. As the sun set the yard turned to a dining hall for the field workers, eating, laughing and having a beer or two. Kristine and Sarah was sitting in the library, reading. It was a smaller room with bookcases from floor to ceiling filled bookshelves lined every wall except one where a fireplace stood opposite them, the floors covered in a large Persian carpet and the windows overlooking the tables of the field workers, the men was laughing, the beer and food flowing. The chatter was loud and the laughter even louder.

"Kristine" her grandfather shouted from the livingroom.

"Yes, grandfather" Kristine got up and walked over to the door. The room was lavished furnished, there paintings hung everywhere: portraits that she recognised but couldn't name; vases holding flowers decorated all throughout it, pieces adorned mantels while others rested upon sideboards.

"come here, darling" the voice was calm and warm.

Kristine walked out of the library and into the large livingroom. Her grandmother was sitting by the window knitting, and her grandfather was smoking his pipe in his favorite, green chair. She sat down on the couch opposite her grandfather, the large windows behind her looking out over the landscape, the sky was red, and the sun was starting to set.

"yes, grandfather"

"You seem very happy today, have anything special happened" the old man said, his eyes was looking at her, and she could tell he was genuinely curious.

"no, nothing really, i've just had a good day"

"well, I'm glad, it's always a pleasure to see you smile" the grandfather said and smiled. "I need your help" he said looking at her. "you have to make the arrangements for the harvest fest this year"

"really, that would be great" Kristine was excited, the harvest festival was a big event.

"good, then it's settled, your mother and Grandmother will help" the grandfather replied.

"i won't let you down"

"I know, my dear" the grandfather said and winked. Kristine stood and walked back to her sister in the library and sat down in the plush chair.

"so, what was it?" Sarah looked up from the book at her sister.

"He told me to help with the preparations for the harvest festival" Kristine looked out of the windows at the farmhands having fun outside, they were singing songs.

"Well, you have always liked the festival" Sarah said, smiling.

CHAPTER TWO

The morning was beautiful, the sun was just peaking over the horizon when the old maid, Anne had woken Kristine from her slumber. The harvest was almost done, the rain had delayed it for a couple of days but they would be done on Friday if everything went as planned. She walked down into the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast before going into the livingroom where her Grandmother was already sitting waiting for her.

"Good Morning" her grandmother said, smiling.

"Morning" Kristine replied and sat down.

The maid was pouring coffee when her grandfather came walking down the stairs, yawning and stretching.

"morning" he said sitting down and taking the cup the maid was handing him.

"Good Morning" Kristine replied.

The planning was going well, they had made sure there would be extra staff for the festival and lots of beer, the cook was planning the menu, and the musicians had been notified, the only thing missing was the decorations. Kristine had talked to some of the wives of the farmhands and farmers and agreed they would come and help put up the tables and decorations. Everything was great, and Kristine was excited about the festival.

The morning sun was shining through the window and Kristine was in the library, sitting reading a book when her father came walking into the room. "Hey there" He said, smiling. Kristine looked up, and the father sat down on the other side of the table. "Have you seen Christian?" her father looked worried, his hands was trembling, and his face was pale.

"No, why? Should i have?"

"Not necessarily, he left last night and i haven't seen him since"

"Do you want me to help look for him"

"If you wouldn't mind"

"Of course not, father"

"I'll have one of the fieldhands prepare a horse" her father said and left the room, his steps were hurried, and the footsteps echoed in the house. Kristine closed the book and placed it on the table, the thought of her brother missing was unsettling, where would he be? Had he gone to Haubro, maybe his friend's house? She had heard the boys talking about a party the other day.

Her grandfather came walking down the stairs just as she reached the main hall. "Where are you off to" he said, looking at Kristine in wonder.

"My father sent me to find Christian"

"Christian, is he missing?" her grandfather was worried, Kristine could see the fear in his eyes. "go talk to the stable hand, Hans, he will know where he went" her grandfathers worried face had turned to annoyance, Kristine was unsure why. She nodded and walked outside, the stable was not far, and she saw Hans working in the hay, preparing the horse.

"Hans" Kristine shouted and the man looked up. He was a stout man in his thirties, bald with a large mustache and greenish brown leather vest over work clothes.

"Mistress" the man bowed and greeted her.

"My father asked me to help look for Christian"

"I have prepared the horse" the man replied, and gestured to the horse, a weird smile on his lips. "i wonder how he knew i would come" Kristine thought walking to the horse. "good work, how did you know?" Kristine gave him a quick smile, and walked towards the horse, the man was still looking at her, a wide grin on his lips.

"Thank you, Hans"

"my pleasure, Mistress"

Kristine grabbed the reins and lead the horse outside. The sky was cloud free and a warmth came from the sun just peaking into the courtyard, the wind blew from the North and the temperature was perfect. Kristine had changed clothes and was wearing a light riding clothes and a hat to protect her face. She climbed up onto the horse, and looked at Hans. "now you knew i was coming for a horse, so would you mind telling me where my stupid older brother is?" she didn't look at the stablehand but looked out over the courtyard, the question hanging in the air.

"well, mistress" the stablehand started. "your brother and a couple of the lads was talking about going into town yesterday, but they never came back" the stablehand looked at Kristine, the weird smile was still on his lips, it made Kristine uncomfortable, but she shook it off. "thank you, i'll take it from here" she smiled and spurred the horse. They started trotting towards the gate and the road, Kristine had a feeling she knew exactly where her brother was, the thought angered her, she hated going into the town.

Kristine rode hard, and fast, the ride took less than an hour, and as she came to the edge of the town of Aars, the horse was sweating and breathing heavily, the town was larger than she had remembered. She rode down the main street and stopped at the hotel, and walked inside. The clerk looked up at her and smiled. "can i help you" he asked.

"yes, i am looking for my brother, have you seen him"

"depends on who your brother is, miss"

"his name is Christian, Christian Möller"

"oh, him, i did see him yesterday" The clerk looked at Kristine with suspicious, his eyes moving from her head to her feet and back again, Kristine shifted nervously, her brother was here.

"would you mind showing me to the room, please" Kristine looked at the man, every fiber of her body starting to tingle in annoyance at her brother.

"i don't think that would be appropriate" the clerk smiled, leaning forward, his eyes locked with Kristine's.

"oh, please, my brother is drunk, and i want to get him home" Kristine tried her best authoritarian face, but the clerk wasn't giving in. He looked at his ledger and motioned his hand for her to scurry off. "He will be home, when he is done" he said not looking up from the ledger. Kristine could feel the anger boiling inside her. Her father and mother was worried and he just drank himself to sleep at some hotel.

"fine, but when he comes out, make sure he knows he has an angry sister waiting for him"

"sure, miss" the man was smirking and had a knowing look in his eyes. Kristine walked to the restaurant and sat down, a waiter came to take her order. "Coffee and a roll, please" the waiter left, and Kristine sat and waited. The room was mostly empty, there was a table of businessmen talking about some contract and a couple sitting eating, a group of men in the corner was laughing and drinking. "it barely ten o'clock" Kristine thought looking at the beer and schnapps.

The waiter brought her a coffee and a roll and sat them down in front of her. "is there anything else you need, miss"

"No, thank you"

The time went by and she drank her coffee, nothing happened. She was sitting reading the newspaper, men something caught her eye, someone she knew from the manor, one of the farmhands was in the hall. He was tall, broad shouldered, with short blond hair and greenish eyes. He looked to the group in the corner.

"I know him, why is he here?" she thought and started thinking. maybe he was with her brother when they left yesterday. She put down the paper and stood to walk to the farmhand, Anton. As she walked over she caught his eyes for a second and he turned pale as the grave, his eyes were filled with panic as she got closer. The farmhand tried to move, but Kristine grabbed his arm and held him still.

"Hey Anton" Kristine said looking at the farmhand, who had been working on their farm for some years. He was a little older than her brother, tall and slender, with dark hair and eyes and crooked teeth.

"hey miss" he said nervously, his eyes flickering around the room "what brings you here?"

Kristine looked long at him before answering, her annoyance filling her.

"oh, i thought maybe you knew something about where my idiot of a brother might be, and where my brother and his friends were last night" the annoyance in her voice was palpable, but the farmhand just looked down. "nothing to say for yourself?"

"look, i don't know anything about your brother, miss" he said, his voice trembling and his gaze falling to the floor. Kristine looked at him with a steel gaze and resolve. "well then you can help me find him" a mischievous smile dancing over her face. She could feel he was lying, his every word was trying to hide her brothers location.

"look, he is in his room, out back, 2B" The farmhand looked at the ground as the words came from him, Kristine felt relieved that her brother would be easy to find, she looked at the farmhand, there was still something bugging her about him, something he didn't say, that she needed to find out.

"but it wouldn't be proper for you to go out there" he suddenly blurted out, looking at her in horror. "not a proper young lady like yourself" his eyes quickly fell to the floor again. "that's none of your business" Kristine replied, her annoyance showing again, but she calmed herself quickly. She let go of the farmhand and started walking to the door besides the counter.

"i wouldn't if i were you" the clerk said still looking at his ledger.

Kristine ignored him and continued walking to the door and outside into a small courtyard with a few shacks in a row. "2B" she mumbled as she walked to the door. The courtyard was small with just a single lantern, with red tinted glass to casting some light over the area in during the night, Kristine looked at the lantern. "weird colour for a lantern" she thought as she heard giggling from one of the shacks. Her brother was here she could feel it. another sound came from one of the other, the sound of heavy breathing, and the grunts of a man working on something that squeaked. Kristine looked at the doors where the numbers were. "6A, 5B, there is no system to this" she thought as she moved from door to door, looking for the right one. Another one of the shacks started making weird noises, sounded wet and sloppy, then a woman started moaning, she was obviously in ecstasy and her moaning filled the morning air. Kristine saw the farmhand standing in the yard too, looking guilty and embarrassed.

"you couldn't have told me which was 2B?" Kristine asked and started moving again. A noise of a womans heavy breathing and a moan was coming from more than one shack, some of them mixed with men's grunts, but still others just woman, the sounds of moans, grunts and the creaking of wood, mixed together into a strange chorus, the farmhands eyes was fixed on one of the shacks where a woman was moaning and squealing as if something big and strong was hurting her, her cries were louder than all the rest. Kristine blushed, as she caught herself listening, feeling strange and moved away. The farmhand pointed to one of the shacks on the corner of the yard and Kristine walked straight towards it, the door said 2B on it and Kristine slammed the door open to see her brother standing behind a woman on all fours a sound of pleasure coming from the woman as her brother plunged deep inside her. Kristine froze in place, the sight of the two lovers standing before her, naked, filled her mind. "Kristine" her brother said in surprise and let go of the woman's hips. The woman looked at Kristine in shock, but it soon turned into a weird smile, almost mocking as the woman looked Kristine up and down before letting out a strange sound and collapsing onto the bed. Kristine just stood, she felt like she had walked in on something, something that had been meant to stay hidden and the feeling of anger mixed with shame. "your wife?" the woman asked Christian with a mischievous smile on her lips, her eyes turning from a mocking gaze at Kristine to a passionate, hungry look at her brother, her breasts shaking with every breath the woman took, her nipples rock hard, Kristine found it hard to tear her eyes off them, her freckled face finding humor in the situation.

"no, she is my sister, and not at all pleased to find you here, i'm sure" he looked at Kristine and started pulling his pants on, the woman smiled at Kristine and rolled to the side.

"so you are here to find your brother?"

"yes, our father asked me to"

"so your father doesn't know you are here?"

"of course not, if he did i wouldn't be standing here talking to you, i would be running"

"oh, he must be quite the stern father then"

"oh he is, believe me, if he knew" Christian started, his voice a little scared. Kristine just looked at the two of them and shook her head. "anyway" Kristine turned to her brother and took a couple of steps into the shack, the smell of sweat and an unknown oder filling her nostrils, it felt so wrong and she wanted to run out, but her brother and this girls were in there, so she stayed. "we are going home, our father sent me to get you" she was looking at her brother when a smile suddenly spread across his face.

"i was just finishing here" Christian said, still looking at his sister.

"yeah, you have had plenty of time for that, it took me half an hour to get here" Kristine looked at her brother in anger, but it didn't seem to have any effect. The woman was just laying on the bed looking at the siblings talking. "go get the other too, it will be quicker to ride home all together, you can explain to them what the situation is" her brother smiled at her. "alright, sister dear" Christian gave her a wink and walked past her outside into the sun. Kristine walked outside, her cheeks flushed and her breathing deep, the sound of the woman's moaning coming from inside the shack, as soon as the door was closed. The farmhand was still standing in the middle of the yard. "Anton, did you give me away" Christian said smiling, looking at the man with a mix of joy and amusement. "i..i..i.." The farmhand was stammering looking at Christian in terror, then the girl walked outside. she was a pretty thing, young with blond hair and green eyes, and a similar height but way curvier. He looked to the ground. "just get the others we have to get back" Christian looked at Kristine amused, he could see the anger boiling inside of her and smiled as he walked into one of the other shacks to get the others.

"Sis, it's not so bad" Christian started but Kristine just looked at him annoyed. Soon four men stood in front of Kristine, none of them able to hold her gaze, they just stood in front of her looking guilty and embarrassed. Kristine took the reins to the horse, and started to walk away from the hotel, the sun was burning hot, and she felt like her skin was starting to boil, as she started walking home, her brother and his friends behind her, the men looking like a group of beaten puppies, none of them could meet her eyes and she just walked, the road slowly taking them closer and closer home. The road was bumpy and the ground uneven, the sounds of the men behind her talking was only interrupted by her brother laughing and joking about the situation and her anger growing, she could hear them, even though the conversation was barely audible. After about ten minutes of walking her brother came up besides her, and walked in step.

"sis, please don't tell father, he would never understand" Kristine could feel her anger reaching a new peak, she hated him, but the words were still locked away somewhere, deep inside, unable to escape. She was so disappointed in him. He was to inherit the manor, the responsibility and the wealth, the whole thing would be his, one day. "don't tell me you didn't notice her, i mean her face, and her tits, and that blond hair, damn" his words finally found their way into her, and she froze on the spot. The whole group stopped behind her in the middle of the lone country road. She turned her gaze at her brother and saw he had a weird grin on his lips. She just turned away and started walking, he soon came up besides her, that grin still plastered over his lips. "Would you be quite for one bloody minute" she scoffed not looking at him. the road home would be long if he kept talking, she thought trying to gather her thoughts, but her brothers voice kept on pulling her out of them.

After some time walking she turned her head to him and looked him up and down, her gaze slowly moving from his legs to his crotch and back. She felt embarrassed and the heat coming to her cheeks, she was angry with herself for doing it, and the anger flared in her eyes and she started walking again, she didn't dare look at the others, the group walking in silence the last hour. When the road forked the turned right towards the manor, it was just over the top of the hill. "soon we're home" she thought, with a sigh of relief. Her brother took her arm, and spun her around halting the small train of people once more. He stood smiling. "what is it" Kristine asked her anger boiling to the surface again, her eyes shooting daggers at him. She was about to scold him for touching her when he smiled, the smile of an evil genius and a grin that had just solved a huge problem. "i know exactly how we can deal with father and mother and all that stuff"

"what are you talking about" she looked at her brother and the others behind him.

"look sis" his words came out fast, his face beaming. "they would never let me out of the house again, if they knew what was going on" he looked at her with his best puppy dog eyes. Kristine could see the sincerity in her brothers face and smiled, and sighed. "why can't you ever listen" she shook her head at him, "Fine, i wont say" she could see the relief on his face and sighed again. "thank you sis" Christian took his sister into his arms, she was warm and soft, his arms were strong and she could feel them around her. She sighed and turned, taking her brother by the arm. "you will have to promise to behave yourself though, or they will find out anyway"

"of course sis, you won't regret this" her brother took her by the arm and walked on, the rest of the group was silent, not sure what to do, but followed, they soon went through the gate into the manor.

CHAPTER THREE

"The day had come" Kristine thought as she looked out over the courtyard from her bedroom window, the last of the harvest was coming in today. Her sister was still sleeping, but Kristine couldn't, not now, she was ready for the festival. She looked at the farmhands standing ready. Some of them had been with her brother in town the other day. One looked up at the window where she stood and smiled, her stomach gave a slight jump at his sight. she sighed, she couldn't shake the weird feeling in her body, they had been at a whorehouse. She had looked it up in the encyclopedia shen she got home, "A whore is a woman prostitute or any woman or man who engages in sexual activity that is deemed immoral or culturally unacceptable." They thought of women as things and did as they pleased with them. It wasn't proper and she turned back to her dressing table. "I have to forget it" she said to herself, as she looked in the mirror. She looked herself deep into her eyes, i need to stop having this weird feeling. She picked up a brush and started brushing her long red hair. Her sister stirred in the bed, but soon fell still. Kristine kept brushing her hair until it shone and cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. She heard her father bellowing outside and went back to the window, still brushing, and looked outside to the farmhands taking orders and happy yells coming from her father. He had been worried all summer, but the harvest had been a success. She let her gaze move to her brother standing at the other end of the yard. He looked up at her and she gave him a little smile, it felt strange to smile at him now, she had seen him naked, with a woman. The picture flashed in front of her minds eye, she could feel her cheeks blushing and she looked at the ground for a second before she could look him in the eyes again. He had changed. She looked back to the rows of farmhands turning to go to the fields, one of the men from the other day looked back and winked at her. She could feel her blush rising again and closed the curtains quickly and went back to the mirror to finish getting ready. "They can't know about it, never" she whispered to herself.

"They will kill you and him if they find out" the thought shot into her head, as she took her brush through her hair. She laid down the brush and went to the closet to pick a dress for the day. "white, with black accents, no, blue one, green one" her hands danced through her closet looking for the perfect outfit to go have on before the harvest festival. She couldn't pick one, the picture of the naked woman laying on the bed flashed in front of her eyes. "maybe the men would like to see you naked too" she heard the woman's voice say, soft and seductive, her nipples hard as glass and a hunger in her eyes that Kristine had never seen before. She froze on the spot. "No that would not be proper" she whispered, and continued looking at her closet for the right dress to wear, finally choosing a light grey dress that had dark accents on the arms. Perfect she thought. She went to the drawers and pick up her corset and started undressing her sleeping gown and stood in just her underpants looking in the mirror. The house was quiet, her father was yelling orders out, she heard her sister stirring again in the bed. "I have bigger breasts than her" Kristine caught herself thinking before she quickly banished the thought from her mind, "it doesn't matter anyway" she started putting the corset on, feeling the constriction, the pain, the struggle of breathing while trying to close it. It was a struggle to do it by herself. It would have been easier to get some help from her mother, or a maid, or even her sister, but she knew the way, she wore it everyday since she turned sixteen. She tied the corset and looked at the dress on the chair and into the mirror. A thought pop into her head. "Maybe i won't wear my underpants" she said to herself and let her hands move to her crotch. "it will be very easy for a man to pull it down and touch me" she thought, the images in her head making her cheeks turn red again. She shook her head removing the thought from her head. "you can't let them" she said to her image in the mirror and grabbed the dress to start getting dressed.

The sound of boots running on the stairs outside the door made her freeze. Then someone was pounding on the door. She was dressed in just her underwear. "shit" she said out loud before she could stop herself. "Who is it?" she asked as she hurriedly tried to cover her body with the dress, her brother opened the door without knocking and stood there looking at her in her underwear, the light from the window dancing over her figure. He smiled. "what do you want?" Kristine hissed looking at him in shock and surprise, a deep blush creeping across her face. He had never done that before and he just stood there. "don't just stand there and gape at me" Kristine's anger started flaring and her cheeks grew red with anger, but she couldn't get her body to move, the eyes of her brother were all over her.

Their sister Sarah woken by the sudden commotion, sat up in bed. "wha... what's going on?" she asked all sleepy rubbing her eyes and looking from Kristine to Christian and back, confused at the scene that unfolded before her eyes.

"Kristine was getting dressed" Christian smiled, and let his gaze move from Kristine, down her body and back up again.

"don't stare at me, brother" Kristine hissed her eyes burning with anger, as she started pulling her dress down over her hips, to hide herself. She wanted to slap him across his face for looking at her like that.

"What's going on" she asked, and looked at her sister and then to her brother, her eyes wide, a bit more awake and looking very confused. Kristine looked at Christian. "Yeah what is going on actually?"

"We need your help with something sis" Christian smiled and winked at Kristine, Kristine sighed.

"Help? You need to knock next time brother" She tried to keep her anger down. "Yeah mother says so" Sarah agreed, still looking sleepy and confused at them. Christian grinned.

"I didn't want to knock on the door" he said and Kristine looked at her sister, then her brother and she just shook her head. "well knock next time, but now that you are here, i need help with the corset" Kristine laid down the dress, standing in her her half tied corset and underpants and turned her back to her brother. Christian walked to her and untied the knot, as Sarah laid down again to look at the ceiling.

"We want to go to a whore house again" he said with a low voice to his sister.

Kristine could feel a annoyance build inside of her as Christian pulled on the strings of the corset pulling it tight, his words spinning in her head, like a cog that started turning.

"why would you tell me something like that, what if father or mother would hear, you would get in trouble" She was whispering back, feeling most of her air leaving her body. He pulled the corset tighter than she was used to. Her hands felt like they would lose grip on the dresser.

"but you promised to keep your mouth shut and we need you to do us another favour, just one little thing and we will be able to go"

Kristine stood thinking, she could feel his strong hands tying the strings around her waist and a then tying a bow on her back. "What do you need from me brother?"

He stopped for a second before continuing tying the knot on the back. "we need you to give us and errands for the festival tonight, something we can only do in Aars" he finished tying the corset and stood back, smiling at her, her eyes found his in the mirror. She stood and looked at herself in the mirror for a while, feeling Christian's gaze on her. Her waist was so small she thought turning back and forth looking at her waistline. Then she looked to Christian. "I maybe have some things for you to get today" she said out loud looking at him, then at the dresser in front of her, the images flashing in her mind again, the naked woman and her brother. "can you meet me in the library in 10 minutes" she looked to the bed where her sister was dozing off again. He gave her a wink, "of course sister" then turned and walked out of the room. Kristine picked up her dress and went behind the changing screen. She looked in the mirror and put her hair up in a hairstyle that showed her long neck.

Kristine stood in the library looking out over the courtyard. Her breathing hard in the tight corset, yet it felt nice to have such a small waistline. Christian walked into the Library, "So sis, what did you have in mind for me today?" he asked in a playful tone, walking towards the chairs in the corner. "i have an errand for you actually, so that you will have more time in the town tonight, I want you to pick up my order at the haberdashers and pick up two things for me at the perfumery. Here" She took a paper with orders and a small purse with some coins in it from the drawer of the small desk. She handed the paper to Christian who stood with a confused look on his face. "Wait, these are real errands" he looked at her confused.

"Yes they are real errands brother" she smiled. "what did you expect? it will only take a couple of minutes to pick them up, yet you'll have an excuse to be there for an hour." She gave him a mischievous. He thought he could manipulate her, not today. He would have lots of time to do his thing, but he would come home with things to her. "call it a bribe" she winked at him. "or a token of gratitude"

Christian smiled, "you really are something" he turned and went towards the door. She saw him walk towards the carriage hall where 2 other men stood waiting. "no doubt, they were for the whore house too" Kristine thought before closing the door and walking over to the desk, a smile playing on her lips as she walked. She felt good to get a little back at him for once, she felt clever. As the carriage rolled out of the hall, Kristines father stopped them.

"Wait" he bellowed from the barn, her father walked with a slow but determined pace towards them. She couldn't hear what was said, but she could see Christian pointing towards her in the manor. Then they both looked at her, her heart froze. She turned back into the library, she had to calm down, act like nothing. Soon after she heard the door open in the hall, and her fathers steps coming closer. She sat down at the desk and started writing a letter.

"Kristine?" he asked, her father stood in the doorway, his large frame standing in the doorway.

"Yes father?" She said turning to him. Her eyes looking into his, it was hard for her not to show any signs. She wanted to act normal. She just needed to stay calm and her father wouldn't notice a thing, her stomach started jumping, the images of the naked woman kept popping into her mind.

"Where are they going?" Her father asked walking over to her, she could feel the pressure from her father looming over her. "they went to get supplies for the festival" he looked at her with some confusion and then looked out the window as the carriage disappeared at the bend in the road. "before breakfast?" his eyes fell back to Kristine. "Yes father, I had a sudden need for a new shawl to match the dress for tonight, and i want my new perfume to be a surprise. " Kristine's heart started pounding in her chest and she hoped that her father would just turn around and leave. He looked at her with a perplexed face, "well alright then" he turned around in the doorway. "can you get the maid to wake your little brother and sister then?" he aksed his back turned. She stood up from her desk. "Sure father, right away" she smiled as her father started to walk back down the hallway. Her father's footsteps slowly walking towards the dining room. "good job Kristine" she whispered to herself in the doorway, her breathing a little ragged as the tight corset restricted her breathing. "i didn't even tell a lie" she smiled. She found the maids in the kitchen baking bread for the breakfast, her eyes scanned the room to find Anne, the oldest of the maids in the house. The old lady had worked as a maid since before her parents married and her grandfather had employed her. Kristine had never seen Anne at another job, she always assumed the old lady was married, she wore the traditional black dress, her graying hair tied in a tight bun on her neck. Her kind brown eyes smiled as she saw Kristine coming into the kitchen, the young lady had always been kind to the old maid. "yes, miss?" She asked looking to the young girl, as she kneaded a ball of dough, ready for the oven. Kristine smiled and asked her to wake the younger children, before walking into the dining room to join her father. "Well then miss" She smiled as Kristine disappeared back to the main hall of the house. Kristine was one of her favourite in the house. Kristine smiled back to Anne and then closed the door to the kitchen behind her. Kristine's grandparents were already at the dining table when she walked in

"Morning mother" Kristine smiled, then looked at her grandfather reading the newspaper. "morning grandfather, grandmother" she walked over and sat down by the table. Her grandfather laid down the paper and looked at his granddaughter. "Kristine my dear, i was hoping to get some of your help this afternoon" her grandfather's deep brown eyes looked to her with a mischievous twinkle in them. "Of course grandfather, what can I do for you?" Kristine loved to help her grandfather and was happy to do so. He would let her look over the books for the farm and make up numbers. Kristine had a knack for numbers and could remember them. "Well I will show you later today" He said, the mischievous look still in his eyes, he turned and went back to his breakfast and paper. Her grandmother had looked at Kristine with the same look, that her grandfather had, the same look in her deep blue eyes and then turned her head down to her food again.

The morning went by fast the last preparations was underway and the last of the decorations was being put up. Kristine walked into the Library and looked at the clock on the table, "why were they so slow at the whore" she thought sitting down on the velvet chair in the corner of the room, looking out at the yard. She started thinking of the man winking at her the other day when the farmhands went to work. The whore's voice coming back into her mind, "do you think the farmhand will fuck me?" her voice was so sensual, and her naked body lying there with the sheets covering her. She was sure it had to be cold, lying there naked like that, even if the weather was hot. She had to wonder what the room was like, was it big and cold, or warm and cozy. The sound of her name pulled her out of her daydreaming, her grandfather stood in the door opening of the library. He walked in with a large book under his arm and sat down at the table laying in down in front of him, the title "Financials of 18 51 - " it was all the families financials from when they bought the farm in 18 51 and to the present day. Kristine looked at her grandfather, wondering what it could be, they had gone over the numbers earlier in the summer. "What can I help you with?" She asked. Kristine's grandfather turned a few pages, opened another book and put them on top of each other and laid them out before his granddaughter. Kristine looked at them confused for a second. There was something there, a small note written besides one of the amounts on one of the books. Her grandfather smiled at Kristine. She looked at the books and saw the small note with the name "Ole the baker" and an amount of 23 kroner. She looked down the page, and saw it was from the other day. Kristine gave her grandfather a quick glance. He was looking out over the courtyard. "Why has Christian made a note for it" she thought annoyed. A whore visit wasn't something for the books her mind raced and she wanted to stand up and run out to find Christian, her cheeks flushing a little at the thought. Then she realized what this meant, he knew... "It's alright Kristine" Her grandfather looked at her with a loving look, a look Kristine didn't want to see. "what do you mean?" she asked looking up from the book to meet her grandfather's gaze. He looked at her, his hands holding onto the table.

"You know what I mean Kristine, and i have always had a suspicion. That it was your mother" Her voice was a bit shaken.

"I was young once, but that doesn't make it right. This is not the 1700's where you can hide such things from a husband or a family." he leaned closer. "I need your help with this Kristine"

Kristine looked down, and could feel a small tear start to run down her cheek, it felt warm. "yes, grandfather, I will do it" She looked up again and met her grandfathers eyes with her own. "i will fix it for you" her voice was low, and the shame was evident in her words. "It's not for you Kristine, you need to take care of this, he has to see this it wrong, we are a respectable family." he turned and looked back out over the courtyard, "this meeting of some common whore is a disgrace." His words took her by surprise, a lot stricter than her father and she felt her stomach churn at his words, a whore was a disgrace. He walked over an pointed to more amounts and weird explanations to the amounts, the grocer, a bar tap, 58 kroner for a tap it was not right. Christian had tried to take money out of the books, without anyone seeing, Kristine saw the pattern immediately. He would go out to the grocers, the baker or the bar tap and would get whores for him and his friends. Her grandfather closed the book, and looked her straight in the eyes. "we need him to stop, i have tried but he isn't listening."

"What do you need from me" Kristine's eyes looked straight to her grandfather, and she nodded to him, he could count on her. Her grandfather stood up straight. "well, you are good with him, he listens to you." his voice was hurt as he said it, like it was an accusation to her. "and this needs to stop, it's going to ruin everything i have worked for and the reputation of the family, a lot of work has gone into it, it will not be for naught." his voice was firm but loving as he finished. He picked up his book and started towards the door, and Kristine knew she would need to speak to Christian and put a stop to this, not for their grandfather, not for the manor. but for Christian, for himself.

Kristine walked back to chair and sat down and tried to read her book. The hours passed and suddenly she heard the whiny of a horse in the courtyard. She stood and looked to out the window. They were back, he was back. She sat down, he would come to her, she knew it. moments passed, she heard the main door open and footsteps coming closer, and then he stopped at the door opening, leaning on the doorframe. "See, it wasn't that long," He smiled. She smiled, and he came and sat down in front of her on the other side of the table. His eyes had a mischievous twinkle and she looked to the table. "what did you bring me" she said, trying not to make her voice sound annoyed, or accusing, her heart racing in her chest. "The perfume, the shawl, and I brought you this" Christian pulled out a small book for the inner pocket of his jacket and laid it on the table, she looked at it for a while and picked it up. It had no title on the cover, is was bound in deep red leather with golden embroidery on the cover.

"It is the Arts of the Night, it will teach you things in the bedroom. It is supposed to be a guide on the sensual and the carnal nature of a human being, and the art of sexual love. " His eyes looking straight at Kristine, with a hint of pride in his eyes, his eyes gleaming as he looked at his sister, a smile playing on his lips. Kristine's cheeks went red at the thought of looking through such a book and reading its content, what kind of book was this. "It's not just a book you know," he said leaning over the table with a smirk playing on his lips "It contains some exercises too" he whispered. "Why would i want to do them? She said looking him straight in the eyes, not wanting him to see her surprise. Her heart raced, what could there be in a book. "To please your future husband, or maybe just not be so boring" He winked at her, and leaned back in the chair, a sly smirk playing on his lips, Kristine tried to hide her red cheeks and turned her eyes back to the book.

Christian leaned back in his chair and Kristine looked up at him. She tried to speak but nothing came out of her mouth. She laid the book down on the side table. "we need to talk about your... activities." Her heart pounded in her chest as the words escaped her lips. He leaned forward in his chair and smiled at her "oh, really? And what would those activities be" Kristine tried to keep her cool and tried to remember everything she had to say, what her grandfather wanted. "could you at least stop taking money from grandfather... AND write a lame excuse in the finances book" she looked at him with dull eyes. Christian smirked "that was a mistake on my part" he smiled at Kristine, with the same mischievous gleam in his eyes that Kristine remembered from their childhood, the one that he would have before he would take her on another adventure down the steam or when he was planning on getting their sister in trouble. He looked her in the eyes "I was hoping to take more but then I figured grandfather would notice" he looked at Kristine and leaned towards her across the table. Kristine stood up from her seat "please Christian...please listen to me."

Her mind raced as she thought about the best way to stop him and convince him to stop the spending and whoring. "please, please listen to me Christian, we need you to stop doing this. We can not keep paying for these whores... "

"I didn't expect you to" He winked at her as he said it. She took a step closer and looked him straight in the eyes, she tried to sound as firm as she could. In her minds eyes, the scene replayed, her brother bend over the blond girl, she looked at Kristine and smiled, waving her finger at her. It was so wrong, her mind was playing with her. Kristine regained focus and looked at her brother. "you need to stop, or at least hide it better" her face turned stern. "Ha ha you look like grandfather" he said smiling at her. "but okay, i'll try and use my allowance instead" he winked and stood. Kristine smiled back at him.

"and Kristine?" he stopped and turned around at the door, the smile playing on his lips still, he shook his head, laughed as he turned and left her standing in the room. Kristine looked at the empty doorway and wondered what had come to his mind before leaving. She stood looking out the window for a few minutes, a warm feeling filled her heart, the coldness was gone, he was her brother, he listened, he would stop. She thought of the book and a chill ran up her spine. She sat down, thinking of her brother, then to the brothel and then the party, her had went from the armrest to the side table and her hand fell on the book. She looked down, her hand resting on the small red book. "i wonder what it says" she thought, fighting her instincts of grabbing and opening the book. Her curiosity got the better of her and she pulled it up from the table. Kristine took the book into her hands and opened it to the first page, and read, "The Carnal Instinct and the art of seduction" she started reading. Chapter 1:

Seduction and the Art of Flirtation. Kristine's heart raced in her chest and she turned a few pages looking through the book, there was an array of drawings in the book, a man and a woman, naked bodies and more. She couldn't take her eyes away, she saw the way the man touched the woman, and a shiver ran down her spine, his hand was touching the woman's breast, his hand caressing her cheek and then their lips meeting, a blush covered her cheeks at the sight of the images. She turned back to the first chapter and started reading, "it is easy for a woman to seduce a man. She does not need to be smart, or have a high standing, she just need to show a man her assets. The easiest way for a woman to seduce a man, is by flaunting her breasts" The author's words filled her head, the images of her brother's fingers, slowly caressing the whores pale skin flashed before her mind and the way her mouth had parted and her eyes had looked at Kristine, filled her head. She put her finger on the next sentence and kept reading, "she should show a man her beauty, the curves of her body, she should be soft and loving, but a strong woman will attract a man better. When she walks, a man should be able to see her curves, a little skin and not too much, she should always be close to a man, showing her love and attraction to the man, it should not be hidden from him".

Kristine felt a warmth in her chest at the words, and her mind turned to the men in the courtyard, talking about her, a few had tried to talk to her and her mind had turned to the images she had seen. The man in the book, caressing the woman, the whore in her bed with her brother. Her hands felt her cheeks and the warmth spread from her chest and a feeling of shame over her. The images kept replaying in her mind, and she stood from her seat and closed the book with a smack and sat back in her chair, putting it down on the side table, next to her book. "what's the matter Kristine?" Kristine turned in her seat, she hadn't heard the door open or heard anyone coming into the library. She saw her sister, Sarah, standing at the doorway with a puzzled look in her eyes. "Nothing," Kristine could feel the embarrassment in her voice as she answered and stood, leaving her sister behind as she walked to the door. Her sister, Sarah, had long wavy blond hair that had been tamed into a long braid down her back, she was tall, her frame was slender and she was a few inches taller than Kristine even though she was younger. Kristine stood and walked to her sister. "we should get ready for the festival, i'll be up soon" Sarah smiled and turned around. Kristine heard her footsteps, fading, and the door closed with a click. Kristine's mind still went over what she had just read. The images and the feelings that had run through her. Kristine sighed and stood and went up the stairs, to get ready for the festival.

When she got to their room her Sarah was getting her dress ready. Kristine walked to the closet and took out her new red dress and laid it on the bed. "Are you excited" her sister asked as her dress fell from her shoulders. Sarah turned to her, her braid resting on her back, her body bare. "Yes" Kristine said, "you?" her voice came out weirdly she thought. Sarah turned back around and slipped off her undergarments. Kristine watched her, Sarah was the perfect lady, she never did anything that could tarnish the reputation of their family or her future marriage.

Her sister turned around with a smile "I am excited to be seen by others" Sarah picked up her new white undergarments and a fresh corset. "we should get Anne in here to help us" he said holding her corset up into the light coming from the windows. "no, let me, then you can help me afterwards, Anne has enough to do" Kristine smiled and walked over to her sister. Her sister smiled, her hands putting on the corset, her braid still hanging down her back. Kristine wrapped it around her sister, her mind wandered and her hand reached out for her braid. It was soft as her hand caressed it and Kristine pulled the strings and her mind turned back to the book she had been reading. She tightened the corset and tied it tight and watched her sisters body turn from barely any curves to a tight waist showing her hips. A small grunt came from Sarah, as the air had left her lungs and her body tightened in the corset. "you could at least give me a warning next time" her voice was firm and humorous. "yes, sorry Sarah."

Sarah smiled back at Kristine as she turned around, and she opened her new dress and put it on. Kristine walked to the closet and let her dress fall and found the rest of her clothes. Kristine put on her corset and turned her back to Sarah. Sarah walked over and grabbed the lace from Kristine's corset and pulled. Kristine could feel the corset tightening around her waist. Sarah stopped and started tying the lace, "stop Sarah. It needs to be tighter" Kristine said. Sarah looked at her for a minute, but tightened it more. Kristine felt the air being pushed from her lungs and felt being forced to stand upright. "tighter" Kristine said with her last breath, as her lungs couldn't take anymore. "no, it's already tight, this is good" her sister said. Kristine turned her head and gave Sarah a look. Her mind seeing the text from the book in her mind. Sarah lifted her eyebrows and she tightened the lace more and Kristine gasped as she felt her body forced straight. "thank you" Kristine smiled. Sarah turned around and walked to the chair and Kristine walked over to her the new red dress she was going to wear and picked it up. It was beautiful, the soft material, and the colors. The red fabric with the black lace trim and embroidered with golden thread, a red rose on her bosom. Her hands grabbed it, and she took it on. She walked over to the mirror and looked at herself in the mirror, and the smile came across her face. The dress fitted her, but her breast felt constricted, but not much, but they weren't as free as usual. Her waist was so small and her hips looked wide, a perfect hourglass figure.

A knock on the door and a soft voice came through the door. "Can i come in" Their mother opened the door slowly and peaked into the room, her face smiling at them. Mette walked into the room with a big smile on her lips "Oh girls you look so beautiful" she stood looking at them and then moved to Sarah first and started lacing up her dress. Kristine watched her mother, her mind wandering. Her mother's figure was more of an old school than a perfect hourglass like she and her sisters were, Kristine looked down at the dress and felt a blush cross her cheeks as the thought of her body being like the women in the book. She thought of the description of how to seduce and felt blood warm her cheeks and she tried to shake it away as her mind started thinking of the man and women in the book, the images and her fingers going over the images. She walked over to her dresser and her eyes found the small book on her dresser, she turned around. "Thank you mother" she said looking at the small red book laying in the drawer of the dresser. Kristine looked to her sister. "I'm so looking forward to this night" she looked and smiled at her mother, she tried to shake her head and forget what she had read and seen and then looked to her sister.

Kristine walked over to her sister who had turned away from them and was fixing her hair into a perfect braid that hung down her back and smiled at Sarah. Their mother walked over to Kristine, "let me do your hair" she smiled at Kristine. Kristine turned around, feeling the book staring at her from the closed drawer, and felt her heart pound in her chest and she sat down in the chair at the end of the bed and her mother walked over to do her hair. Kristine's long red hair, as her mother fixed her hair and braided it down her back, making small braids on her temples and making a bun on the back of her head. Her mother walked around to the front of her, she held her hand up to Kristine's chin, looking into Kristine's eyes, she smiled. Kristine's eyes drifted and looked at herself in the mirror on the wall. Their mother finished up Kristine's hair and stood. "Let me look at you girls" Kristine watched their mother walking around them, smiling with happiness as her eyes looked at them, a look of pride in them, a slight blush covering her cheeks. "Oh girls you are so beautiful" She looked to both her daughters with a warm smile on her lips.

The sun had started to set as they came out into the courtyard in the middle of the manor. The whole place was lit with a million lights, the farm hands and tenant farmers were all gathered in the courtyard. The tables had been set with all different types of food, and in the middle of the courtyard there was a small group of musicians playing their instruments and people were already dancing and enjoying the music. Kristine, Sarah and their mother walked down the stairs, where the rest of the family was standing in the hall waiting. Kristine saw her brothers, Christian and Mikel saying something and laughing. Allan, their grandfather looked up the stair at Kristine and smiled. Their father walked over to them. "are you all ready to join us" he asked with a smile. Kristine nodded her head with a smile. "oh, Kristine, you look so beautiful" her grandmother broke in, looked at her granddaughter, as she smiled at her. "well, lets go out and see the people" her grandfather said taking her grandmothers arm and looking at the door. Sarah walked over and took Mikel's arm, her mother and father held arms and Christian waved at Kristine. "let's go sis" he said.

Kristine walked out the doors behind her father and grandfather and held Christian's arm. Christian smiled at Kristine as they walked. The music stopped and everybody stopped to greet their lord and the family, they bowed their heads, a smile on all their lips as they saw them.

A few of the older people from the manor walked over and shook her grandfather's hand, as they had a conversation about the land, and Kristine watched her father talking with a group of farmers as Kristine and the family walked through the crowds to a table at the front of the courtyard. Christian left Kristine at the table with a wink and walked to the edge of the crowd. Kristine saw him standing next to Sarah and Mikel, he laughed as Mikel said something and Sarah laughed along with him.

A few girls came running over and smiled at Kristine as she was seated next to her sister at the table. Kristine looked out over the farmhands and tenant farmers as they ate. She saw the farmhands that had looked at her at the start of the harvest. She saw the broad shouldered man with dark eyes, looking at her and winked. In her mind the words flashed from the book, "show him what you have and let him know it" and "do not show your love too openly." She felt a warmth in her cheeks at the thoughts of what the book was saying to do, she couldn't imagine that would be appropriate in a family setting, or anywhere else. A few other men came walking over and looked at her and she looked to Sarah and then down at the table as the girls were talking around them, looking out over the crowd of men. She looked at the other end of the table and saw Christian talking with a few girls and being pulled to the dance floor and he started dancing with a young lady and he spun her around in a dance. Sarah started talking with the girls and Kristine looked at the dark eyes of the man as he was walking away from them to get something to eat. A young man, about 25 came over, "good evening ladies" he said bowing and holding his hand out. The man's name was Johannes and he was from the small village Vannerup, just 2 kilometers south from their home. Sarah and Kristine smiled, a blush covered Sarah's face and Kristine just smiled, "good evening, Johannes" Kristine said taking his hand, the book came to mind. Her eyes locked on his hand and he turned to Sarah and held out his hand to her. He kissed her hand and bowed his head. "would you do me the honor and dance with me?" The blush covered her sisters face, the red tinge filled her cheeks. "Yes" Kristine saw Sarah looking down as she smiled. Behind Johannes the dark eyes man was standing. Sarah and Johannes walked to the middle of the courtyard and the dance area. Johannes smiled at Sarah as the music started. Kristine looked over to Christian who was smiling as he danced with one of the farmhands girls, they looked at her. She felt her hand being touched and a voice "can i ask for this dance?" She turned to look at the dark eyed man, her heart pounding in her chest. She was looking straight into his broad chest, as she sat. Her mind filled with images of her running her hand down his chest. Kristine looked up and smiled and she saw him smiling down at her, a gleam of hope and desire in his dark eyes. Her mind saw the whore behind him smiling at her, nodding, as the book in the library, and Kristine's hand reached out to his hand. She could feel it was calloused from hard labor and she could feel the strength in his hand and her heart fluttered. He walked her to the middle of the courtyard and they all started folk dancing together. They clapped their hands as they moved in a circle around each other and then turned. Kristine felt her hand being grabbed by her brother Christian and his friend and spun around and she turned and she could feel a hand on her back and a hand in hers. A small gasp escaped her as the hand of the dark eyed man, fell on her back, she felt as it slid up to her neck. A tingling sensation covered her body at the touch and Kristine spun around and she felt a warm sensation in her cheeks at the thought of it, a slight feeling of embarrassment at her body's reaction to a strangers hand. She smiled up at Christian. As the night continued, and they danced more and ate more, the farmers had beer and brandy. Her parents and grandparents were having fun, as their children was dancing with the young people of the region.

after a while of dancing, she noticed her brother was missing and went looking for him, her parents hadn't noticed as she slipped out the crowd. The air had grown a bit cold and the courtyard was filled with a warm light, and people were singing songs with the musicians. Kristine could feel the blush in her cheeks at the songs, most of the songs were about love and lovemaking, and some were more inappropriate. Her feet moved as she moved through the crowd, and then she felt someone looking at her. A blush crossed her face at the feeling, she saw the dark eyes man in the corner of the courtyard, a small smile on his face as he looked at her. Her mind started turning back to the book she had read. She snapped out of it, "where is he" she thought, as she moved from the crowd. Suddenly she could hear a noise she had heard before, at the hotel in Aars. Kristine turned and walked to the stable. In the corner of the stable she could see her brothers' blonde hair in the moonlight and a girl in the dark. As Kristine moved closer, she could see that the girl had her leg up against Christian as he leaned against the stable wall, and her mouth was on his, a smile on his face and Kristine could see he was pulling the strings of her corset, slowly loosening them. She slowly moved towards them, and Kristine's heart was racing, a tingling sensation growing inside of her, and she felt like she was growing warmer as she watched them. Kristine looked down and saw the girls hands, caressing his back and shoulders, as she saw him, leaning in and kissing the girl again, a wet sound started and the girls gave a small moan. Kristine felt as if her mind was somewhere else, and her body was somewhere else as her feet moved toward them, a slight blush covered her cheeks as she saw them kiss. Kristine slowly started moving toward them. Suddenly a hand grabbed her and pulled her aside, it was Johannes. Kristine was so caught off guard that she didn't know what to do and a loud moan came from girl as they started moving back into the dark. Johannes pulled Kristine closer, and her body reacted to the sudden touch. She looked into his eyes, the blush covering her cheeks and she could see him smiling as he held her in his arms, her body reacted and she could feel her body wanting to lean against his chest, his arms. A gasp escaped Kristine's lips and she could feel her body getting warm from being close to him. Kristine felt the blood warm her cheeks as she stood, looking up into his eyes and Johannes leaned closer, Kristine's mind was in shock and the tingling sensation filled her body as she felt his hand slide over her arm and around her back, his eyes moving from hers down to her lips. His lips got closer and then suddenly she heard the stable door opening and her brothers voice. She quickly pulled herself together and felt Johannes pulling back as well as he looked towards her brother, Christian, as he started walking out of the stable. Johannes had turned her to see her brother walk out of the stable, a grin on his lips as he pulled the strings to his pants. Christian stopped when he saw Kristine standing close to Johannes. A wide grin spread over his face, and then Kristine felt Johannes arms pulling her tight. Kristine could see Christian laughing, "Sorry sister" he laughed, and he turned and walked towards the manor and the music and people. Kristine turned to look at Johannes and her mind was going back and forth on what to do and what she should do. She tried to push away from Johannes, and then her eyes looked back to his, his smile made her blush. She could see he was thinking something as his eyes moved from hers and down to her lips. Kristine turned away from Johannes as he moved to lean in to kiss her, her hand was on his chest, feeling it's hardness, her mind went back to the book. She gained control of herself. "No she whispered" pushing away from him and his grip, she could see a look of surprise on his face, the feeling of the strength of his body, and as she turned away from him, Kristine's mind filled with the thoughts from the book and her body said to turn back and she felt a warm blush cover her face. She felt herself walking away and as she entered the courtyard again, and saw people still dancing, Christian was sitting with Mikel and some girls and Kristine walked over and sat down next to her grandfather.

CHAPTER FOUR

Kristine was sitting in the library reading the little red book. She knew it was wrong, but ever since the harvest festival a couple of weeks ago, the only thing on her mind was what was in that book. The things she read were not things a woman should do. And Kristine kept telling herself to just put the book down. But she couldn't, something was making her read more of it, something was making her go to the library after dinner and lock herself inside the library to read it, something was making her think about doing the things in the book, but Kristine couldn't quite grasp what it was that had taken control. She knew that if she got caught she would be punished, but there was something more to it. "Chapter 5: the art of oral pleasure" Kristine cocked her head as she read the title again. She turned the page and saw a drawing of a woman sucking on a penis, her cheeks blushed at the thought of her doing it to a man, her face red as a beet, the heat growing inside of her body, her breathing heavier than normal. The drawing of a man sitting in a chair as the woman knelt between his legs and pleasuring him, Kristine closed the book, a shiver ran down her back. She started reading what it said, "oral pleasure is giving the man pleasure with ones mouth and lips" and more followed, "it is also known as a blow job and cunnilingus. A blowjob is where the woman uses her lips and tongue to bring pleasure to the mans manhood" Kristine stopped, she felt a warmth in her stomach at the thoughts in her mind. "This is not appropriate reading material for a lady" Kristine said to herself out loud as she put the book down on the small table, but her hands opened the book again. "as a woman sucks the tip of the male genitalia, she should use the arts of stroking from chapter 2, to please the male" she stopped reading again and looked at the drawings. Her hands touched the book, her finger running over the image of the woman on her knees, her hair draped over the mans leg, as she licked the tip of his member. She read further into the chapter. "the more pleasure the male feels, the more pleasure you will receive when you get fucked by him" she blushed again. Kristine was so caught up in her reading that she didn't notice someone else in the library with her until they knocked on the door. Kristine jumped in her chair, "sorry to startle you" it was Christian, her brother. Her cheeks had a slight blush as she saw him. Christian stood with a smile, a playful glint in his eye "may i enter" he asked, with a small smirk on his lips, he saw the book and then he looked back to her. "I guess" Kristine said. He walked into the room and Kristine felt herself grow warm in the face and body, as he got close to her. He sat down on the chair opposite of her. "What do we have here?"he smiled softly,"a good little read." Kristine looked at the book, "no" she said, a nervous smile on her lips. Christian was 19, her older brother and had always looked after her, ever since she could remember, but he was so annoying sometimes, and he gave her the book anyways. "It's not appropriate reading for a lady" Christian smiled. Kristine laid the book on the table next to her. "well, you didn't come here to make fun of me, did you?" she said with annoyance clear in her voice. Christian smiled, a slight gleam of playfulness in his eyes, "oh yes, that is true" he said and Kristine watched her brother and waited. Christian was tall and his blonde hair, his blue eyes, and his strong jaw line and the beginning of a mustache. "i'm going into town tomorrow" he looked down at the floor. Kristine leaned forward "so why tell me this? We're not going with you? Christian, what is this?" she asked and looked at him, waiting. Her brother smiled and looked into her eyes "I thought, you would go with us into Aars?" his question shook her. Her mother and father would not approve of this. Kristine sat there stunned at the offer and thought for a minute. She couldn't, it wasn't proper and her mother wouldn't want her going, it wasn't appropriate for a woman her age. For any decent woman. "You'll join me, Jon, Anton and Johannes. you can just sit in the restaurant and wait" he smiled. "We just need someone to get us home before dawn." Kristine heard it all, but it was like nothing registered in her mind. Her eyes looked at Christian but her vision was blurred, the voice of the whore appeared in her head, "do it darling. You will love it." Kristine snapped out of it with a shake of her head. Christian was still trying to explain his plan for her help. "I'll come with you" Kristine whispered. Christian stopped and looked at her. "I'll go with you to Aars" Kristine said in a more steady voice, a nervous smile on her lips and her stomach fluttered in her body as the words came from her. Her cheeks felt warm as Christian stood there, stunned by the news. "Oh Kristine" he walked around the small table and pulled her to her feet and into a hug. She could feel her cheeks flush as she felt him hold her tight against his chest. Christian stepped back from Kristine, but he left his arm on her shoulders. She could see he was still stunned and excited by her words. He turned around and headed toward the door, and as he reached for the doorknob, he turned around "i'm leaving after dinner tomorrow" Christian said before leaving the library, his footsteps were quiet and fast down the hallway. Kristine stood there for a minute. Her heart was beating fast. "I'll go with them, oh god what did i just agree too?" she sat down, and tried to calm herself. The whore was back in her mind, "good, you should get yourself a man while you are out. One that can really pleasure you." Kristine tried to shut the voice up, but she was still thinking about going into town and with her brothers friends, Christian and his friend, Johannes, and Anton, all the guys that worked for her grandfather, they slept just out in the barn. Her heart beat faster in her chest.

She felt like she had butterflies in her stomach, as she waited for them to be ready to leave. They had dinner with her mother and father and grandparents, her brother sat next to her at the table. After dinner Christian had walked outside and Kristine went to the library to wait for him. She knew he had a meeting with the farmhands and Kristine sat down on a chair by the fireplace, the small book in her lap, the red cover with the golden words, her hand was running over the words and her finger on the spine. A knock on the door startled her. Kristine looked up. It was her brother Christian, a wide grin on his face. "ready to leave?" Kristine felt her body move up and her cheeks blushed a bit. "Yes" she answered and stood up. They left the library, the red book in hand. Christian led them outside, through the dark hallway and Kristine followed close behind her brother. The sounds of voices came from outside. The smell of food was in the air and as she stepped out into the courtyard, the sky was pitch black with no clouds. Christian turned to look at her. "We should be back before dawn" he said to her and gave a slight nod to the cart. She could see Johannes in the drivers seat, her heart was beating fast, but she couldn't quite tell what was causing her to be nervous, Kristine got up into the cart, sitting on a blanket between Anton and her brother Christian, they both were facing Jon. Kristine looked at her brother Christian. Johannes smiled and whipped the reins, making the cart move, a shiver ran down her spine and her stomach fluttered at the sound of the reins on the horse, the feeling of it all, the sounds of the men laughing. Johannes had turned back, he looked at them. Jon gave a bottle to Christian, "well let's get started" he smiled as he drank from it, Christian took another drink and then Anton took it and drank it as well. The sounds of them talking and laughing filled the cart, she felt herself leaning on Christian as the cart moved forward, "drink little sister" she heard Christian say and gave her the bottle. Kristine drank from it, it burned as the brandy went down her throat. "Don't let father see you drinking" she said as she gave it to Anton. The sound of his laughter filled the cart, and she saw Johannes turning around to look at them, his hand out stretched for the bottle. Anton gave it to him and he took it. "That was quick" Johannes smiled at her as he drank the brandy. "Let's get this party started" Christian yelled to Johannes, who laughed at that. The road to Aars took a couple of hours and they all talked and laughed. Kristine looked out of the window at the dark night as her companions was laughing the night away, it made her feel warm and she couldn't help but laugh along with them. A small town appeared in front of them and Johannes steered the horses into the village. Kristine looked around. Aars had grown in the last couple of years, it would soon be as big as Farsö or Haubro with the railway coming to the town soon, bringing new life to it, as well as the people moving there. The wagon rolled into town and stopped in front of the hotel. "Get out" she heard the voice of Johannes. "Yes sir" Anton said, "what about her" Jon said, pointing at Kristine. "she is coming with us" Christian said jumping out. She could feel the warm blood in her cheeks as her brother said it and then the other guys jumped out and she accepted the hand of Anton as she walked out and down. Christian looked at her and Johannes drove off with the cart, they stood and waited. Her cheeks were hot with blood, the nerves and excitement. Kristine's legs felt weak and her stomach was in knots as they stood outside of the hotel waiting for Johannes. The other two boys, Anton and Jon stood next to each other talking and laughing. Johannes rounded the corner and smiled. The group cheered and they all went towards the hotel. Kristine watched as they entered, her heart was racing as she went into the hotel with them, the lights were dim inside and there were a lot of people talking and having a good time. Johannes looked at her, "I need your help tonight Kristine" he whispered, and she looked at him. Her body tingled with warmth and excitement, her cheeks burned, "I'm a married man. My wife needs some help, and I think you could be a great help to her" he said quietly. "what?" Kristine was confused. He didn't have a wife? did he? And if he did, how was she supposed to help? He just gave her a slight smile, a playful smile and she nodded her head. "I don't want my wife to be a burden" Johannes said quietly. Kristine looked at him in confusion. "Ho.. how can i help?" she asked softly, trying to ignore her brother, who had just looked over at her and Johannes, "my wife needs help with me" Johannes smiled. Kristine couldn't help but to blush a bit at that comment, her stomach did a small flutter and then she turned away. "leave her alone, Johannes" Christian said smiling with a playful tone in his voice. Johannes laughed and started walking towards the bar. Kristine walked over to her brother at a table in the corner, where he and the others had sat down and was talking about their day at the farm. She sat down next to her brother and looked at the three men that she was with. "Do you need any help?" Christian smiled. Kristine laughed and shook her head no. Johannes came with ale for the whole table, also for Kristine, She looked at the drink. "I'm sorry, i don't drink ale" she said looking to Johannes. "i'm sorry milady, would you like some wine instead." The table erupted in laughter. Christian looked at her and laughed. "well here we drink beer, the drink of the people" Anton said to her. Kristine felt embarrassed, the laughter was too much. She stood up. "Excuse me" Kristine said and turned away from them and walked towards the door. The sounds of laughter from her table faded. Someone grabbed her arm and stopped her. It was Christian, he turned her around. "look, they don't have the kind of money we have and beer is cheap, can't you just drink this one? I promise to buy you wine or something next" he looked genuine in his offer, Kristine just stood there. Her mind was a jumble of emotions, the heat was burning through her body and her stomach was in knots, Kristine couldn't take the teasing and laughter, the sounds of the guys was making her more upset than anything she had experienced in a while. "Kristine" her brother Christian looked at her and Kristine could see he was worried. "Kristine" he said in a soothing voice, "please" he smiled at her. She turned her head away and walked over to her table. "thanks Kristine" Christian smiled and they all raised their glass, "to our little Kristine, for helping us, and joining us for this evening" the boys clinked their mugs.

The night passed by quickly, as she listened to the others talk. It was funny listening to them talk about things and she laughed and enjoyed herself, as she drank the ale with them and then they brought wine for her. Christian got up to dance with the girls that were around. As the large Bornholmer clock struck 1 a.m. something changed in the atmosphere. Kristine looked around, the feeling that something was about to happen, a shiver ran down her back and a sense of dread overcame her. The boys were quiet now, the room was filled with men, old and young, farmhands, farmers and workers. The guy at the piano started playing a happy music. Kristine looked around the room, everybody was looking at a door at the end of the room. The door opened and out came women, the guys around the table got quiet as the ladies started dancing in a line, all of the ladies wore revealing dresses with their hair loose and wavy. Kristine felt her mouth go dry as she watched them dancing, a part of her felt scared and a part of her wanted to get closer, but her heart was racing and her legs were trembling. The guys at the table watched and a couple of them got up and started to dance. Kristine felt nervous watching. The room started buzzing again with talk and laughter. Kristine looked at her brother, he smiled at her and then looked up and waived at something behind her. she looked and saw a girl from the other side of the room wave at her, she smiled back. Christian stood up, "if you will excuse me" he smiled at Kristine. Kristine took her drink and followed her brother Christian across the room towards the woman. "Christian, what it going on" she said following him towards the blond woman. Christian smiled. "Just trust me Kristine, it's okay" he said. Kristine couldn't stop herself from being curious and following him to the blonde. Christian got a couple of chairs and placed them by a small round table. Kristine's heart sank as they got closer, it was the woman, the one from that morning, Christian's whore. Her stomach churned with butterflies, Kristine was scared of what would happen. They all sat down at the small table and Christian got two more ales for him and the whore. Christian turned to her. "Kristine" Christian said smiling at her, "I think you have met this lovely lady." Kristine felt her heart flutter a bit. Christian smiled. "Kristine, meet Ditte." Kristine looked at the woman and her face felt hot with the blush that formed. "it's a pleasure to meet you Kristine, in a more decent setting." Ditte said with a warm smile, a small bit of laughter in her voice, Kristine's heart sank. She couldn't help but smile, as she watched Ditte with Christian. He laughed a little bit and then smiled, "Kristine" he said in a playful voice. She turned to look at him. Her eyes met his and she felt the butterflies flutter in her stomach. Ditte laughed a bit as Christian started to speak to her. Kristine looked behind her towards the table with the others and saw ladies sitting laughing with them. "what did you expect" Kristine thought looking back at Ditte, who smiled at Christian and was looking at Kristine. Her face was warm and she had a big smile, and her cheeks were rosy and her hair was dark brown, with large breasts and a loosely tied dress revealing the top of her breasts. "what do you say Kristine, will you stay and talk to Ditte for a while?" Christian smiled and winked at Kristine, she couldn't help but blush as her mind drifted back to this morning and the thoughts that had gone through her head. He stood without waiting for an answer and walked to the other table. "So Christian tells me you got my book" Ditte said looking into Kristine's eyes, the heat in her cheeks flared, but she managed to look at Ditte. Kristine swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. "He's right, you did." Ditte's voice was warm and welcoming, but her eyes were stern as they looked at Kristine. She couldn't look at her, but Kristine could see the look on Ditte's face. "I didn't want it. My brother just brought it for me." She said softly looking into Ditte's eyes. Ditte looked back at Kristine and she smiled at her. "That's a shame, you could have read it before coming, it's easier that way" she said. Kristine just nodded, a small smile forming on her lips as Ditte's words reached her ears. They were sitting in silence, Ditte's words rang in her ears and Kristine's face grew even hotter than it was. "he said you already teased the farmhands and tenant farmers with your looks." Ditte looked up and down Kristine and smiled. "Well you are pleasant to look at, nice large breasts, small waist, feminine face and beautiful red hair" Kristine felt the butterflies flutter in her stomach, her cheeks burned as Ditte complimented her looks. "thanks" Kristine said in a low voice, she couldn't stop the smile that formed on her face, nor the blush that spread across her cheeks as she spoke. They sat in silence, Kristine didn't know what to say or do. The sound of voices came from the table where Christian, Johannes, Anton and Jon was. "i'm gonna join them" Kristine stood up. Ditte made a motion with her hand and Kristine sat down again. Her mind was racing, why did she sit down. "well we can practice on one of his friends if you want" Kristine felt her heart stop at Ditte's words. "practice what" she said nervously. Kristine felt the warmth of Ditte's hand on her shoulder and she looked at her, a sly smile on her lips. Ditte's face was beautiful and soft, her brown eyes sparkling in the candle light. Kristine looked at Ditte, a look of confusion and fear in her eyes as she spoke, her mind raced with the words and images from the book. "practicing seducing a man" Ditte smiled as she spoke and Kristine couldn't help but stare at her, the butterflies in her stomach started fluttering and she could feel the heat in her cheeks as she looked at the beautiful woman in front of her. "Seduce a man?" she asked quietly, not looking at Ditte, but staring into the distance. Ditte laughed lightly, "well seduce, or tease, whatever you want to call it" she smiled and Kristine nodded her head. Ditte stood up. "well we should join them then" she smiled and started walking to the other table. Kristine followed Ditte as they went over to the others at the other table. Ditte walked towards the table, swaying her hips as she walked, smiling and started talking with the others and Kristine watched the interaction, as she sat down in the lap of Kristine's brother. The girls that was talking to the others started touching places and one started kissing Anton. Kristine sat there watching and she could feel Ditte looking at her from her seat on Christian's lap.

Ditte moving on Christians lap and Kristine could feel herself getting wet, watching Ditte. Christian started kissing her neck. Ditte moved up and kissed his cheek. Christian pulled her closer, their lips meeting. Kristine could feel her stomach churn and a heat inside her, watching her brother kiss Ditte, his lips touching her and then Ditte's lips. Her hands started rubbing over Christian's body, caressing him. "oh my god, Ditte, stop that" Christian laughed and tried to pull her away, but Ditte laughed and continued touching Christian's body. "No Christian" she smiled. "but what about me?" she laughed as she tried to kiss him again and Kristine could see he was trying to keep Ditte away, but Kristine was looking at her, feeling the wetness inside. Ditte leaned closer, pressing her lips against his and Kristine could feel the butterflies in her stomach, fluttering with excitement, seeing her brother kissing Ditte was exciting, as well as arousing. Christian looked at her. "What's the matter?" he asked Kristine as Ditte kept kissing his neck. Christian leaned in closer, pressing his lips against her lips, his tongue teasing hers. "Oh god" Kristine moaned. Christian laughed and pulled Ditte closer, "oh god, please, let's go to your bed Ditte" he said kissing her deeply and then pulling her off his lap and towards the door in the back. As Christian pulled Ditte past Kristine, she heard her whisper, "now it's your turn." They disappeared towards the door laughing. Kristine stared after them, her mind spinning with everything she saw and heard.

The book flashed in her mind and she thought of the women and men. The women and their lips, and how she wanted to taste the same. Kristine watched the door and turned towards the table. She could see that Anton and Johannes was gone. Only Jon was left, talking with a blond haired girl, slim and delicate. Kristine's eyes scanned the room, searching for a place to be alone for a bit. She saw the table behind the piano in the far corner and made her way over to it. "what are you doing?" the woman said sitting down next to Jon. Jon smiled and winked at Kristine as she walked by. She walked up to the table and sat down at a corner and watched the two talk and laugh, Jon leaning in close, kissing her neck, as she caressed him. Kristine pulled the little red book from her pocket, and opened it at chapter 1; "The easiest way for a woman to seduce a man, is by flaunting her breasts. Men love a woman with large breasts" the chapter read. Kristine could see that the chapter had illustrations showing a woman with big breasts and a man, his dick in her hand. "Sit on their lap and talk about how strong they are and how handsome" she read from the chapter, as Jon put his arms around the blonde's shoulders and kissed her deeply, as the girl moaned into the kiss. "Sit in his lap, move closer to his manhood and say nice things" the chapter read and Kristine could see that the man in the drawing smiling. Kristine felt her stomach churn, she had never been that close to a man before, especially to someone as large and muscular as Jon. She sat and watched as he continued to kiss her neck. The man in the book was muscular too and the woman's breast were touching exposed to his face. Kristine saw Jon and the blond girl stand and walk towards the back door that Christian and Ditte had went through before. Kristine sat there in the room watching the men and woman interact. She looked at the book, and opened it, as the sound of voices and music came from behind her. Suddenly she saw a large dark haired man walk towards her, she closed the book and hid it under the table as he approached. The man sat down in the chair next to Kristine and looked at her, as she turned to face him. He smiled at her and his blue eyes were bright. Kristine blushed. "Are you a shy little one, miss?" he said with a playful tone. She just stared at him and he laughed a little. He looked around and then he leaned closer and whispered in her ear "don't be so shy" his hand reached under the table and he put it on Kristine's thigh. "oh, what's this, what you're reading?" he asked with a grin, Kristine just sat there, with the heat burning through her body. She felt his hand moving up her leg, over the fabric of her skirt, Kristine felt a heat in her chest, she couldn't breathe as she watched him, as he slowly caressed her leg and thigh. "Well i like young shy girls" his voice was harsh, he had a large dark beard and graying hairs on the side and his breath smelled of tobacco and ale. "you have the most beautiful eyes, young one" he said, as he moved his hand further up, over Kristine's dress. She closed her eyes. Her mind went blank, she could only think of what the book had said. She stood and slowly walked over and sat on his lap.

"Do you really think so, that my eyes are pretty?" she said, her voice low, she could feel the man's hand on her thigh, stroking the fabric of her dress. His hand slowly moved further up and down her thigh. His hands were large, Kristine felt like she was hugging a troll from the woods. "Yes they are beautiful, like a gem" he said and his hands were on Kristine's breast. Her breasts were full, large and firm in her dress. She could feel his large hands feeling on her bosom, giving a small squeeze. "Your hands feel nice" she said in a soft voice and felt a wetness between her legs.

The book said it was best to tease, so Kristine pulled her body closer and placed a small kiss on his cheek, like the girl Jon sat with. She pulled back a little, as she looked at him and she could feel his large cock hard against her dress. His hand continued to caress her breasts through the fabric. The feeling of his hard cock against her made Kristine feel funny in the stomach, but she sat closer to him and felt it get even harder and bigger. His hands continued to rub her breast through her dress. "Your hands feel very nice on me" she whispered to him. His other hand started stroking Kristine's back through her dress, she shivered under his touch. The heat in Kristine's face increased, as she sat there on the man's lap. She looked around the room, her mind swimming with unknown feelings. She closed her eyes, feeling the mans touch through her dress and on her back. Kristine bit her lip as she felt a strange heat in her core. The man leaned in close to Kristine, and kissed her neck, sending a shiver through her body, and the strange heat spread through her. She heard a man say something, her eyes locking on the door at the end of the room. Christian was standing there calling her name, half smiling half in anger, like he couldn't decide if it was funny or he was angry. Ditte was standing behind him. Kristine saw a strange smile pass her lips as Christian let go of her hand and walked towards her. Kristines face burned hot with a blush. Christian put his hands on her shoulders and Kristine saw his smile was gone and a look of anger took its place. His hand held onto Kristines shoulders tightly.

Christian grabbed her hand, she could feel a hardness in his grip she had never seen towards her, and led her outside. They walked through the courtyard towards the carriage that would take them home, Christian was quiet and his grip tightened around Kristine's arm. He looked at Kristine as he pulled her to the carriage, and he sat next to her. "Wha..? what did i do?" Kristine stammered. "What about the others?" she looked at Christian, feeling shame. "He cannot be serious," she thought looking at her brother trying to calm himself. "He started this, he wanted this," her mind was racing, "It was his fault this had happened." she looked to the floor of the carriage. The butterflies were gone and now a deep dark hole in the bottom of Kristine's stomach started to form, they were just sitting in an eyrie silence. Christian moved in front of Kristine and he turned and faced her, she saw he looked like he had aged twenty years in the few minutes since he had grabbed her by the shoulders, Kristine looked into her brother's eyes and they looked sad. "i'm sorry sis" he said in a voice so low Kristine almost missed it. Kristine swallowed, feeling the butterflies slowly return.

"i.. i'm sorry Christian, I.. I didn't mean to be with him" Kristine whispered looking into Christian's eyes. He sighed, and leaned his head down on his sister's shoulder, she felt his hands grab her waist, as she looked down at him, he pulled her closer to him, her breasts pushed against him. Kristine wrapped her arms around her brothers head, feeling him holding her tight, feeling him shaking and breathing in deeply, her hand caressed the back of his head, her fingers running through his hair. She closed her eyes and thought back to the evening before, thinking back to how it all began, Christian and the others were laughing, talking and joking with Ditte and the others, they had been sitting for some time talking, drinking and smoking. "i'll get the others" he said not looking into her eyes and went out of the carriage. "you stay here." He disappeared back into the hotel. Kristine was left sitting alone, wondering. "did he not give her the book? for her to experience this?" she thought to herself, "did she do something wrong? is she too much like him?" She felt the butterflies return, and Kristine leaned her head against the wall of the carriage and closed her eyes. Kristine was not sure how long she sat like that, but suddenly a voice came from outside, the voice of the man she had been sitting with. "Where are you going girl?" He said in a playful tone. "The lord will be back for her," another man said. "And who the hell are you?" Christian's voice rang through the courtyard and the men laughed, Kristine's stomach dropped. "Where do you think you are going? Maybe it his sister." A third voice said, Kristine felt a lump forming in her throat, as she listened, not moving, she just sat there with her eyes closed. "leave her alone" She heard Anton's voice. "You're drunk!" Christian's voice again, and then Kristine could hear footsteps. Kristine opened her eyes and saw Anton open the door, giving her a sheepish smile, Jon, Christian and Johannes following. Anton climbed inside, Christian followed. "Sorry for that," he said closing the door behind him and sitting opposite to her, Kristine felt her body trembling as she stared at them. The carriage rocked into motion and Johannes yelled, "next stop Mölgaard." Kristine looked out the window and saw the large burly man standing lifting his hat as they moved past him, giving her a menacing smile.

CHAPTER FIVE

Kristine sat in her room looking out over the courtyard. The snow had fallen all night and a white blanket had covered the yard and roof of the barns. "it's so beautiful" she thought looking at the snow slowly falling. She closed the book in her hand and stood to take a better look out of the window. "Kristine!" Her father called her from downstairs. Kristine made her way to her door and slowly made her way downstairs. Her father stood by the fireplace warming himself as she entered the living room. "You called father?" Kristine could feel the warmth from the fireplace as she entered the room. The hot air in the room was like a blanket being wrapped around her. She looked to her father. He was standing by the fireplace. His arms crossed over his chest. Kristine walked over and sat down in her usual spot by the fire. He smiled. "What's wrong, father?" Kristine asked. He walked over til the chair across from her. "I know you and Christian have been spending more time together lately... but." He looked up at her, his grip on the armrest making his knuckles almost turning white. Kristine looked at his hands, noticing his knuckles were red from the grip, as if they were frozen in place. "What is wrong?" Kristine asked, looking to his face. "Christian is joining the officers academy." He looked to her eyes. Kristine felt mer stomach turn. She stood up from her seat, looking down to the floor, trying to understand what she heard. "what..?" Kristine said looking up to him. Her eyes began to tear up as she stared at her father. "he... why?... but?" she stammered. They had been close since the episode at the tavern, something had clicked in Kristine and they had something together now. She could discover what was written in the book without soiling herself with intercourse. In the last couple of months she had almost mastered the art of seduction, with the help of Christian and Ditte. They now had something to do together, finally. She had fun with him, Ditte, Anton, Jon and Johannes. It would all be ruined now. He would go to Kjöbenhagen and she would be forgotten here in Mölgaard. She couldn't do it on her own. Kristine started to feel a lump forming in her stomach and a heaviness in her chest. The tears started flowing. "but... why?... he.. he..." She looked away to hide her tears from her father. "He cannot stay here and a military career is a good career." Her father's voice was stern. "He cannot be a military officer if he doesn't leave home." Kristine's mother reached her hand over to her shoulder, gently grabbing it, rubbing it gently. "Kristine..." She said. "it's for the better, for both of you" Her mothers soft voice continued where her fathers had ended. "But why? i thought he was gonna be a steward like you, father?" Kristine said finding her voice again, she could feel anger slowly growing inside her. She was not ready for him to leave.

"He needs some disciplin" her grandfather, General Allan Möller, said in a voice that would leave no room for arguments. "It was all his own fault. He uses too much money on alcohol and women. He will go to the military, theofficer's academy." General Möller walked over and put a hand on her fathers shoulder. Kristine didn't understand, how did they know. They had been so careful with the trips. She was so lost in thought she didn't even realize he had spoken to her until her grandfather said "Kristine! I know you're sad, but we cannot let your brother become a drunkard or a whore-master." Kristine's heart was racing and her palms sweaty. She stood up and tried to hide the fact she was shaking, not only with sadness but fear and anger too. "may i be excused?" Kristine asked looking at the Persian carpet on the old oak floor. The fire crackled, its embers glowing brightly. Her grandfather and mother nodded. She curtsied and went up to her room. She locked the door and threw herself onto her bed, trying to hold back the tears.

It had been so much fun the last couple of months. Kristine had finally been able to have some fun ,real fun. Her brother and his friends were teaching her all kinds of things and now it would all be gone, her brother, her friends, everything. "Why do we need a military officer?" Kristine said to her self, the tears had dried but the heaviness in her chest remained, Kristine could feel her eyes burning with sadness and the lump in her throat was growing bigger. Her hands were still sweaty and her palms still sweaty and clammy, Kristine stood from the bed and went to her window and opened the curtains looking out over the courtyard, she wiped the tears from her cheeks. It was starting to get dark, but there was a strange silence. Kristine was so used to the sound of hoofs, wagon wheels, and boots crunching over snow. She thought of her 19th birthday a month ago, how they, after dinner, had snuck out to Farsö to the new Hotel to have fun, drink and laugh. There was no whores there and yet they had so much fun that night, dancing and talking to the guests of the hotel, it was one of the best nights of Kristines life. And now it would be all be over. The tears came back as she remembered. The day after Christmas too, they had gone to Aars that time and they boys had their fun while Kristine had hers, teasing the men left behind either being too poor or stingy to pay for a whore. Ditte had told her a lot of what it in tails being a whore in a small town. How some men would be stingy and pay a couple of kroner only for the opportunity to get into one's bed. Others would pay a few hundred to fuck them from behind. "it's better in Kjöbenhagen, i heard that one night can pay more than a whole season here," she had said one evening. Kristine remembered that night, it had been fun and Kristine had never felt so free. She remembered Ditte sitting next to a large dark bearded man and she had whispered in his ear while playing with his beard, while Jon was sitting with his legs open, Kristine on his lap, letting him feel her leg through her dress, while Ditte was kissing his neck, while Johannes was sitting opposite to another girl on his lap, her face was inches away from his. She saw a grin form on Johannes's face. He moved his hands to her waist and Kristine saw the girl dress slowly being lifted. He put his hands under it, as the girl closed her eyes, moaning softly and laughing, as if she was getting touched for the first time in her life.

Kristine's mind replayed all the fun nights laying on her bed looking at the ceiling. There was a knock on the door, Kristine sighed and walked over to it, "I don't want to talk," Kristine said and her sister, Sarah's voice came through the door. "I have some news that may make you feel better," She said. "can i come in?" Sarah asked, "Sure" Kristine opened the door. Her little sister, 16 years old, was standing outside. Sarah looked up at her, Kristine had not noticed. But she had grown, and was almost as tall as herself. Her big blue eyes stared at Kristine. She moved aside and Sarah walked over to the bed, sitting on it, Kristine sat opposite on a chair. "Grandmother said that we need a new maid" Sarah said excited. "Anna can't do it alone anymore, not all of us anyway." Sarah gave Kristine a big smile. "We can help chose, Grandmother says" Sarah looked at Kristine for a reaction. Kristine looked at her, Sarah looked like she had something she wanted to tell Kristine, but couldn't decide if she should or not. She gave a smile and asked if Kristine would like to choose. Kristine smiled. "we will have some fun while we choose, what do you say?" Sarah smiled. Kristine stood and hugged Sarah, "i'd love to." Kristine was smiling for the first time that evening. Sarah stood, "i'll go down and read with Mikkel" she said. Kristine noticed Sarah's eyes locking on something on the table besides Kristine. Her heart sank, "the book!" Kristine thought, panic spreading through her body, she turned to look at the book, Sarah was looking at it too, she was trying to look uninterested, but she couldn't take her eyes off the book. "Is that a new book?" Sarah asked, trying to sound uninterested but failed. "ye..yes.. It.. it was a birthday gift," Kristine stuttered, she was thinking, her mind was racing. Kristine saw that Sarah's eyes were darting around, as if looking for an answer. "From.. From Father?" Sarah asked. "Y... no, from Christian," Kristine was trying to get her thoughts together, but all she could think was "I'm getting sloppy" over and over. Kristine picked up the book and turned around, "You can read it when i'm done, sister" she gave Sarah a smile and Sarah smiled back. Kristine opened a drawer and put the book in, hiding it from the world and then turned to Sarah. "I'll be down soon." Kristine smiled to her, "you're going out?" Sarah asked. Kristine was still panicking inside, she wanted to hide the book. She knew she had been sloppy, the last month or so she had been getting sloppier, forgetting the book on the table in the mornings. "Not today, no," Kristine replied, giving her a smile. Sarah turned around and went out, Kristine heard her walk downstairs, "i have to be more careful" she thought.

Kristine had decided to go downstairs, she saw her brother standing by the fireplace talking to her father, her mother was standing beside him, with a serious look on her face, she walked up to her mother. Her brother was saying something to her. Her mother was staring into the flames as he talked. She had a sad look in her eyes as he talked. She looked away from him, turning to Kristine as she approached her, her brother looked over and stopped talking. Kristine saw him look into the fireplace.