Passionate Punishment

By Rollin Hand

The Ladies of Heatherton Hall

A struggling American student discovers he is heir to an estate on an odd and obscure English island and finds out he has duties that include the discipline of his own household. Soon Josh and the estate’s lovely Lady Gwyneth have eyes for each other, but when the task of administering bare bottom discipline comes to include Lady Gwyneth, the pair of lovers have an agonizing decision to make.

The Countess and the Magician

It is the spring of 1944 and in occupied France a spy known as The Countess plots to extract information from the German high command. To steal the plans an American agent must go under cover with his assistant Caroline Grey, a pretty English data analyst, as players in The Countess’s lurid entertainment tableaux, entertainments that feature discipline and submission.

Retribution

 Brenda Starling, ace reporter for a Portland, Oregon newspaper, is on to a story, one that involves sinister abductions of young pretty females coupled with painful and humiliating judicial type punishments. Who is doing this and why? Brenda is determined to find out.

Fall’s Creek Women’s Prison

 Connie Bright is a rookie police officer with a mission – to enter the notorious women's correctional facility at Fall’s Creek undercover, as an inmate, and discover the criminal enterprise being run on the inside. But being undercover means she, too, is subject to the prison’s harsh discipline regime. As the true nature of the crime inside the walls becomes clearer, Connie is faced with a question--who is in on it, and worse, who can she trust to get her out?

 Tumalo Bend 1895

 Hank Carson, a prosperous rancher, hires a tutor and governess from San Francisco for his two nearly adult daughters. Diana Fitzhugh soon finds herself falling for the rugged Hank. But can a lady used to the comforts of civilization be happy on a wild west cattle ranch? And what about Hank’s notions of appropriate old fashioned domestic discipline for wives as well as daughters?

 Lady Jayne

 The land of Thracia is under siege. Viking raiders have taken advantage of its weakness while its men are off to war. So in stark disobedience to her father’s orders, Lady Jayne and her cousin, Lady Celia, decide to act as scouts to discover the threat posed by the raiders. The ladies are ambushed by raiders, but saved by a pair of knights who must then deal with the two headstrong ladies. They are not only in need of constant rescue, but require appropriate chastisement as well. Wills clash and sparks fly as the Devane brothers set about to tame both the Viking horde and the Thracian ladies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DT Publications
• Release date: Oct 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781539553434

Rollin Hand

I like to think I write the uncommon spanking story. Not the usual thing-- the summons to the principal's office, the schoolgirl caught smoking, the wife overcharging the credit card. No, I am a writer of erotic spanking fiction, but my stories are different. It's not just about spanking. Instead of a "spanking story" it's a "story with spanking." I try to infuse my stories with interesting plots and interesting characters so that they are fully realized original creations, stories that go beyond the tired clichés so common to the genre. I've been writing since 1999, but when I started I did it mostly for my own enjoyment. It hasn't been until fairly recently that I made an attempt to bring my writings into wider public view. At first I was just a reader, a consumer of erotic spanking fiction. I read all of the classic Victorian literature and the then popular pulp fiction writers of the day like Paul Little and Will Henry. But then I discovered I liked to write. I wrote in two distinct periods, from 1999 to 2003, and more recently in 2010-2012. The writings in the early period can be characterized as an attempt to recreate the style of the pulp fiction writers of the sixties and seventies. In the more recent period I have focused on writing stories with more robustly developed characters and stronger plot lines. The idea was to write so that the story could stand on its own, and not be regarded as a mere  "spanking story" following a stereotypical plot line.  I write in a wide range of styles and genres. My stories are M/F, F/F, and F/M, sometimes with the orientations mixed in the same story. My genres include contemporary romance, domestic drama, college sorority tales, mystery/thrillers, historical romance, western romance, humor and fantasy. Although most of my works are short fiction and novellas, I have written three novel length works, "Atonement" a private eye-type mystery, "Flash Gordon and the Menace from Mongo" a sci-fi adventure, and "LaForge" a supernatural thriller trilogy. These are slated for publication in 2013.  

Book preview

The Ladies of Heatherton Hall

Prologue

The Earl of Carlisle entered the police station, and immediately all heads turned and conversation ceased. It was unusual that the earl would present himself at the police station in person, but it was not unprecedented.

Well, where is she? he asked. Jenny Mears, one of my staff—where is she?

Beggin’ your pardon, lordship, but they’ve already taken her to the birching chamber, said the duty sergeant, breaking the silence. They all knew she was in service at Heatherton Hall. There’s a few of them due for a flogging this morning and she’s one of them.

The butler had informed the earl that morning that Jenny Mears, his wife’s personal maid, had been accused of shoplifting. The shop owner had appeared before the magistrate to lodge a complaint and Jenny had been arrested. At an all too brief hearing Jenny had pled guilty to pilfering a locket. The magistrate had sentenced her to twelve strokes with the island birch rod. Once this information had been conveyed to the earl, at the urging of his wife, he had called for his carriage and had hurried to the village.

You must do something, said the countess. Jenny is such a sweet girl and I love her like a daughter. Indeed, the earl understood. With all due haste he sped to the police station. He hoped he was not too late.

Take me to her, said the earl.

The duty sergeant nodded to a constable who escorted the earl down a corridor and across a courtyard to little used wing of the jail. The birching room was a large converted storeroom. What sunlight there was streamed though tall windows, illuminating a peculiar piece of apparatus that stood at its center. The flogging frame was a sturdy structure made from heavy timbers that sported an upright section joined to an angled section. The prisoner lay across the top of the upright section and her upper torso was secured to the angled portion, forcing her to bend forward and present her buttocks for the whipping. And it was already in use. A lissome female miscreant was bent over, her bared bottom on display. Her skirts had been pinned up, her long drawers lowered. A beefy wardress was in the process of selecting a birch rod from a bucket in a corner. The earl’s eyes flitted about the room. The female was not Jenny, for Jenny stood against a far wall with two other young women, flanked by guards. Her eyes were wide with fright and her breasts were heaving. Several witnesses were in attendance, probably victims who had made the complaints and were thus entitled to see justice meted out.

The earl regarded her with narrowed eyes, a look of disapproval on his face. Then he saw that activity in the room had ceased, as if awaiting a signal from him.

Please proceed, he said. It will do her good to witness what is about to happen, he decided.

The wardress selected a rod. Comprised of a dozen whippy switches, it was nearly three feet long and bound at one end with twine. She swished it about, testing its flexibility. The whining sound made the secured prisoner flinch and she turned her head, staring at the instrument, her eyes wide with fear. The wardress took her position to the side of the prisoner and extended her arm, gauging the distance, aligning the rod for a first stroke.

The chamber went deathly quiet. The wardress drew her arm back. The rod hung suspended in mid air for a second and then descended in a blur of motion. A sharp thwick announced the rod’s impact on the girl’s fulsome buttocks. Her bottom cheeks quivered and she uttered a shrill scream. A second stroke caused her to scream louder. A fine tracery of red lines appeared on the white flesh. The girl stamped her feet and tried to wriggle.

Please, oh please! she begged. But another stroke fell on her twitching behind causing her to cry out again in anguish.

The flogging proceeded. The earl watched Jenny’s reaction. She quailed in fear, wincing sympathetically as the young woman in the whipping frame absorbed stroke after stroke. The young girl’s buttocks clenched and relaxed as if trying to shake off the excruciating sting, but the wardress always seemed to catch those jiggling orbs in a relaxed state, making them ripple as the rod landed. From time to time Jenny’s eyes darted about, eventually coming to rest on the earl’s face and then begging, imploring the earl for mercy. For she knew she was next.

When the prescribed twelve strokes had been meted out, they unfastened the sobbing girl and returned her to a place against the wall to wait with the others.

A constable read from a paper in his hand. Jenny Mears, bring her forward. A pair of strong arms clutched her from either side and started to propel her toward the frame.

Stop, said the earl raising his hand. I invoke the tradition of Oakton Island. I will attend to the chastisement of the girl myself. I wish her released to my custody.

The Tradition, as it was called, had held sway on Oakton Island as far back as anyone could remember. The Wardress nodded to the guards. Release her, she said.

Jenny, come with me, said the earl, offering his hand. He escorted her out of the police station.

Thank you, oh, thank you, sir, said the frightened girl when they were safely away in the carriage.

The earl looked her in the eye. Don’t thank me yet, Jenny. There is still the matter of your punishment which I am duty bound to carry out. When we arrive at the Hall you are to go into the garden and cut six supple switches twenty inches long. Strip them of shoots and buds and inform the butler when you have done so. You may then go and wait for me in the library. You have been spared a public flogging, but mark my words, you will be punished severely and afterwards you will go into the village and apologize to the shop owner.

As Jenny nodded in assent, she could only imagine that she would have difficulty sitting for several days. Spared a public whipping for a private one. She supposed it was preferable, but it wasn’t for her to say. On Oakton island tradition ruled above all else, and everyone did their duty.

Chapter 1

Josh put down the hammer and wiped his brow. It had been a long day and they were barely done with the framing. And he had classes to go to tonight. Better brew some coffee if I’m going to stay awake in Professor Hoskin’s strength of materials class, he thought. It was tough, trying to hold down a full time construction job and going to college at night. Being in a five year program in civil engineering and having little money, working by day was the only way to make ends meet. He was broke all the time as it was, living expenses sucking every last dime he had. It was why he lived in a crummy apartment, ate crummy food and never dated anyone. So someday I’ll be rich. Yeah, right. But he knew construction. From the foundation to the roof. At least knowing a trade was something.

It was a good thing that the semester was coming to a close, and he could work a full eight hours without worrying about falling asleep flat on his face in the middle of a lecture. Being an Army ranger had taught him how to stay awake, but that stint had certainly set his education back. That is why at thirty one he was still trying to get that degree. The GI bill helped, but he still had to support himself.

*****

The name on the letterhead was one he’d never seen before. He wrested the mail from his box and climbed the rickety stairs to his ‘deluxe apartment,’ a 500 square foot efficiency in a crumbling brownstone. The name on the envelope read ‘Bowland, James and Carruthers, Solicitors’ and it was from an address in London, England. What the hell? He didn’t know anybody in London fricking England. He tore it open and read.

Dear Mr. Fairchild,

This is to inform you that Cranston Heatherton, your fourth cousin twice removed has passed away. According to the original deed of transfer of Heatherton Hall in fee tail from James Carlisle to Albert Heatherton in 1836, the estate and all its lands reverts to the heirs of James Carlisle in the event that the heir of Albert Heatherton die without issue. That event, sadly, has transpired. Sir Cranston Heatherton died without leaving a male heir, thus triggering the reversionary interest. While this may seem odd, it is still the law on Oakton Island, the ancestral home of Heatherton Hall. Our research into this matter has finally determined that you, Joshua T Fairchild, are the last living descendant of James Carlisle. Accordingly Heatherton Hall, its lands and its rents, now belongs to you.

We urge you to get in touch with us immediately as there are many details which require your attention.

It was signed Charles Bowland, Solicitor.

Josh scratched his head. This had to be a joke.

*****

But later, as a few phone calls established, it was not. He had really inherited some country manor on an obscure island off the southern coast of England. The meeting in London with Charles Bowland confirmed it. And that is why he was now on a ferry making its once-a-day trip to Oakton Island -—and Heatherton Hall. Bowland’s knowledge had been sketchy. He had little information about the status of the estate, other than ownership which he had followed dutifully on behalf of his original clients, the Carlisles.

One thing I do know, of course, is that Cranston Heatherton died without a male heir. He had an only child, a daughter. I understand she lives at Heatherton Hall along with Cranston’s mother. I don’t know what you intend to do. You are, in fact, the owner as the reversionary heir. There is also a staff that takes care of the manor. I will tell you that Oakton Island and its inhabitants are a bit odd. They stick to tradition. It is as if the modern world has passed them by.

Josh took it all with a grain of salt. He was really just curious and anxious to see what he had. It was all so unbelievable-—some accident of ancestry and he inherits

an estate. He figured he’d just look it over, sell it, and that would be that.

*****

The name of the village was, appropriately, Carlisle. Heatherton Hall, he was told, was three miles to the south on a ten thousand acre tract. Thirty thousand people lived on Oakton Island, and most were either farmers, shepherds or fishermen. Oakton Island was not without its attractions, however, and one was the natural beauty of its shoreline. But with such natural beauty came modern problems, and chief among them was real estate development.

The old timers don’t like these developers, said a fellow traveler on the ferry, a salesman who made frequent trips to the island to sell dry goods. The young people don’t either. They’ve been protesting.  It’s all about the birds and the animals and such-—they want to protect the shoreline. Some of it gets out of hand. There are arrests. Then he chuckled. So some of these kids leave the police station with a hot bottom.

What do you mean? said Josh.

You don’t know, do you?

Josh shook his head.

Oakton Island still has the birch as a punishment for certain crimes, just like the Isle of Man. But the Isle of Man abolished it in the 1970s. Not Oakton Island. No, sir, these kids still get their bums swished.

Josh took that in with some amazement. And he grew more amazed as the procedure was described to him.

They make up a bundle o’ real whippy switches, see? Then they got a frame and they strap ‘em down real tidy. Their trousers come down or their skirts go up, and then it’s a good dozen or so with that whippy rod, right on the bare breech.

What? said Josh. Girls, too?

Girls too, the salesman nodded. They got ‘em this matron. A stout one, she is. I’ve heard she’s worse on the girls than on the lads.

Well, if that doesn’t beat all, he thought. This place is different.

Josh had not announced his coming. He thought it best to arrive first, get the lay of the land, and then ease into it. The current residents had to be apprehensive about the turn of events and, honestly, Josh wasn’t sure what he was going to do. So he checked into a local bed and breakfast. After a late lunch, he decided to take a walk.

And walked right into a protest. A crowd of youths with signs were shouting and chanting in front of a newer building, all glass and chrome. The sign on the building’s front said Seddon and Company. Josh assumed that this was the developer.

A man came out and waved at the collection of twenty or so young people, telling them to disperse. They merely shouted back. Voices became more heated. Objects were thrown. Not a minute later a police car showed up, then a paddy wagon. Three or four constables began to chase down the protestors. Everyone scattered. Another squad car arrived from a different direction and officers poured out. Josh heard a voice coming from behind him.

Here, take my arm—like we’re out for a stroll.

Startled, Josh looked at who was speaking to him. It was a young woman with curly shoulder length blonde hair who had appeared at his side. She looked to be in her mid to late twenties. And pretty. Very pretty. The blonde inserted her arm in his and tugged him away from the melee.

Damn coppers! They brought in reinforcements. C’mon. This way, she said, tugging him down an alley. Amused, Josh went along, looking over his shoulder for the pursuit. The girl glanced around apprehensively, then pulled him into a corner.

What do you need me for? He was amused but nonplussed. He had to laugh. Here he was, newly arrived and being pulled along by this attractive woman who was apparently one of the protesters.

Cover, she said. Then she gasped as two police entered the alley. Quick! Kiss me, she said, grabbing Josh and planting a big smack on his lips. She reached around and pulled him close. Do it like you mean it! she whispered and renewed what seemed to Josh like a pretty passionate smooch.

He responded to the feel of her body pressed against his and embraced her. It was a nice feeling. So nice that he enthusiastically reciprocated on the kiss too, and she tensed up, now surprised that he responded with such fervor. They were locked in a clinch when one of police shouted.

What are you two doing there? Were you with those demonstrators?

Josh looked up and turned toward the officers, gallantly shielding her with his body. He drew himself up and stated as indignantly as he could, Certainly not. We were out walking, just looking for a quiet place to ...

The officers laughed. We know what you two were about. Go find a room then. They turned and left. Josh breathed a sigh of relief and said, Well, miss they’re gone. I guess I .... He turned to find no one there. His mystery girlfriend had run out the other end of the alley. Josh furrowed his brow, confused. What the hell was that all about?

*****

Eventually he found his way to Heatherton Hall. The place was huge. It was all stone and probably covered over fifty thousand square feet distributed over three stories. The house stood in a picture postcard setting with a view of the ocean and was surrounded by lush green hills. The grounds were manicured and gorgeous. This place was worth what? Millions? He was stunned.

Josh decided that the direct approach was the best. He strode up and knocked on the door. It was opened by an older gentleman in formal wear. He looked Josh up and down with apparent disdain.

The tradesman’s entrance is in the rear.

Uh, I’m not selling anything. You see, I’m Josh Fairchild. They tell me that I, well, sort of inherited this place.

The man raised his eyebrows. From inside came a voice. Griggs, please invite the gentleman in. An older woman, perhaps in her seventies, appeared in the foyer inside the door. The man addressed as Griggs ushered Josh inside, where the woman gave him a long look, sizing him up.

We have been expecting you, Mr. Fairchild. Although I must say we did not know quite what to expect. Is it typical of Americans to barge in unannounced?

Josh realized that this had been a dumb idea. I’m sorry. Maybe I should come back at a better time. I just wanted to see the estate. I had no idea.... He turned to leave.

No, no. Come along, said the woman, motioning for him to follow. You are just in time for tea. She turned. Where is your luggage?

When he explained that his luggage was at the B&B in Carlisle, she said she’d send a man to fetch everything. You should stay here, Mr. Fairchild. After all, you are the heir and thus the Earl of Carlisle.

This was another revelation. He was an Earl? What was that?

He was shown the way into the parlor and a silver tea service was brought in by Griggs. The woman introduced herself. She was the Dowager Countess Lydia Heatherton, the mother of the late Cranston Heatherton who was, in turn, the father of Lady Gwyneth.

Lady who? asked Josh.

My granddaughter. A feisty handful, if you must know. Oh, here she is, late as usual.

At the sound of footsteps Josh turned toward the door. What greeted his eyes was a lovely young woman about his age with curly blonde hair wearing a long dress that did little to hide the delectable figure underneath.

You! she exclaimed.

You! said Josh. It was the girl from his morning adventure, the one he’d kissed.

Have you two met? asked the countess.

Um, sort of, Granny. After a fashion. She shot Josh a look that said ‘don’t you dare tell.’

Lydia Heatherton raised her eyebrows at that, but did not pursue it. Instead she proceeded to explain about the estate, its lands and its employees and the tragedy of Cranston’s death. Then she said, Now tell us who you are, young man.

Josh told them about his youth in the American Midwest, which was rather ordinary, his military service and his struggle to pay his way to earn a degree in civil engineering. He told them he’d had no knowledge of his lineage or that he was related to anyone in England, adding that the inheritance had been a total shock. All the while, he felt the countess sizing him up and Lady Gwyneth eyeing him curiously as if he were some strange breed of animal she’d never encountered.

Well, young man, I hope you’ll do. These are troubling times for Heatherton Hall what with all these real estate people. And my granddaughter is not helping, she said directing a withering look at Gwyneth, by throwing in with these ruffian protesters from the mainland.

The look told Josh she wholeheartedly disapproved of those tactics. Little did she know. Then she announced that tea was at an end. Dinner would be at eight. Josh was to dress accordingly. Perhaps Cranston’s clothes would fit, she suggested.

So at precisely eight o’clock a formal dinner was served by an assortment of what Josh was told were footmen.  After that there was brandy in the study and more conversation about Heatherton Hall and Oakton Island.

You can appreciate that it was quite a shock to learn that an American was the heir of James Carlisle, said the countess.

You can appreciate that I was as shocked as you were, said Josh. At that point all retired for the evening. The new earl’s head was still swirling as he was shown to his room, a one thousand square foot suite with a monstrous four poster bed. 

When he awoke the next morning sun streamed in and birds were chirping.  Josh beheld the beauty of the grounds and surrounding hills through the immense floor-to-ceiling window that dominated one wall. Wow! All I can say is, wow! he thought. He decided to stay at least a while and figure out what to do next.

The next few days were an education, mostly at the hands of Gwyneth, who was friendly but guarded, and Lydia who instructed him on island culture and the history of the Heathertons and Carlisles. Josh was beginning to feel more at ease, and less like a stranger.

One morning Gwyneth took him on an extended tour of the estate. They walked through a pasture and up a ridge that provided a commanding view of the countryside.

It’s beautiful here, said Josh, as he surveyed the surroundings.

Yes, it is a special place to us. Not only because of its beauty but because of the people. We support generations of farmers and shepherds who live on the land and work it. It’s a business, the largest one on Oakton Island.

You’re afraid it all goes away with these developers moving in.

"Yes. And what