The Mansion
Having read the novel by Baroness von Trapp, I got inspired and started to write my very own novelette. I’m not really into writing such long compositions. I’ve done some short stories before, but this is my first novelette. I entitled it THE MANSION. I don’t know, it just popped into my mind… yeah, something like that!
The story touches sadness and hardships experienced inside the beautiful and grand Mansion owned by a martinet by the name of Mr. Gregory Collin. The heroine, Franchesca Willis is a young lady from an opulent British family. Everything was well until the terrible mishap that claimed the lives of both her parents. Manipulated by her guardian, Mrs. Fidelli (the owner of a well-known boarding school for girls), Franchesca is stripped of her wealth and is left to become a conceirge to the authoritative Mr. Collin who owns and lives in The Mansion.
There, she feels terribly low until she discovers sad things about the inhabitants of The Mansion. Mr. Collin for one, had a terrible past. Other characters include Mrs. Lena Woody, the widow housekeeper; Mr. Ralph Williams, the buttler and an old man whose wife left him for a rich banker; and Dr. Christopher Williams, Mr. Williams’ son who returned to his father after years of abandoning the latter. There is also Sr. Margaret Dudley, the very kind and pretty nun; James, Franchesca’s adopted African ’son’ who was sold as a slave from Somalia.
Clinging to God, Franchesca helps to heal the wounded hearts of the people in The Mansion especially Mr. Collin’s. And because of this, Franchesca wins his heart. But she got engaged to Dr. Christopher and Mr. Collin to the arrogant Duchess Valeria Aubriene. With some twists, the story takes shape.
The novelette also has touches of war (World War I) and bankruptcy. The Mansion also shows how faith saves one from absolute despair. Catholicism is highlighted when Gregory and Franchesca helps to build a church. Family values are also touched.
I don’t actually expect my novelette to be a hit. The success of my work would be when I finally finish it and I could read it whole and think to myself: ‘My, I’ve finally molded a life-story!’
