A marvelous dovecote and a million books
Sally ParkhurstIn the heart of Victorian England, twenty-five-year-old Laurel defies societal expectations by refusing to succumb to the pressures of marriage. Disinterested in the suitors paraded before her by her fretting mother, Doris, and her father, Graham, Laurel seeks solace in the world of literature and dreams of becoming a writer. Fleeing the confines of her family home, Laurel assumes the identity of a governess and retreats to a secluded dovecote in another part of England. Here, she immerses herself in books, adopting a pen name to share her stories and experiences with her family. As Laurel's tales grow more elaborate and enchanting, her sisters, Eve and Mary, become consumed by jealousy, longing for the freedom and happiness they believe Laurel to possess. However, when Eve and Mary pay a surprise visit to Laurel's tranquil abode, they are met not with envy but with genuine contentment. Through Laurel's imaginative narratives, they come to question the true meaning of happiness and fulfillment, discovering that sometimes, the life we envision for ourselves can be just as rich and rewarding as the one society dictates.