These Vicious Masks: A Swoon Novel(87)
“Instead of a visit every time you are hurt, how would you like to accompany us and rescue some new friends?” I asked.
Oliver’s eyes danced with excitement. “Really?”
I nodded. “Miss Grey, where did you say that asylum was?”
Her head snapped up at that, though I could not tell if it was in excitement, trepidation, or both. “B-Belgium. In the south.”
Well, I had always wanted to see the Continent. I turned to Miss Grey and Oliver. The muscles of my mouth contorted to a smile for the first time in a month.
“All right. I have no other plans. Let’s go save a life.”
FIRST AND FOREMOST: to the Swoon Reads team, thank you. This process has been a dream, and we are still pinching ourselves to make sure it’s . . . not a dream, actually. Jean, thank you for believing in us. Lauren, thank you for all your cheerleading, late hours, and answers to our silliest questions. Emily, you’re such a delight and we know this book wouldn’t be what it is without you. Rich and KB, thank you for our cover. It’s better than we could have ever imagined. And finally, Holly: What would we do without you? Thank you so much for picking up These Vicious Masks and for the handholding and hours of editing since. We are a little in awe of you, and eternally grateful. To the rest of the stunning Swoon Reads team, thank you so much for all your efforts on our behalf. We appreciate it more than we can say here.
But before our manuscript ever reached the Swoon Reads site, we had many wonderful readers and cheerleaders. First, Laura Gillis who spent hours championing us and helping us rewrite. Thank you, Laura, for all your time and support. Kyra Nelson, thank you for your notes and advice and for being Mr. Braddock’s earliest fan. Elliot Handler, thank you for answering our endless medical questions and for being the first person to read that messy first draft, making us believe it really could someday be a book. To our other friends and family who read this book at various stages and gave us hope, ideas, and enthusiasm when we were lagging: Beth Latz, Peter Richman, Alex Ricciardi, Zelda Knapp, Eric Messinger, Calaine Schafer, Frederika and Isabella Reinhardt, Vanessa Santos, Erin Keskeny, the Floe family, Dayle Towarnicky, Cayla O’Connell, Katie Owen and, surely more. We love you guys a lot.
To the creative, hungry, funny, and kind people we have met on Swoon Reads, we are so thankful for your feedback and comments and ratings. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be a part of this community and 100 percent impossible to do this without you. Thank you.
To Lee Jackson, Judith Flanders, and the person at Google Books who scanned all the nineteenth-century texts, thank you for creating amazing and accessible Victorian resources. We don’t know how we could have dealt with the historical research if you didn’t exist.
To Jude Morgan, Kelly would be an entirely different person if it weren’t for your writing. Thank you for inspiring her with every book you write.
Finally, to our ever-patient, ever-supportive, and number one fans: our parents. Thank you. We love you. Having a writer for a child must be deeply nerve-wracking, but thank you for never giving up on us—or letting us give up on ourselves.
For anyone we forgot, it’s because we hate you.
No, no—kidding! We’re saving you for book two. Hope you understand.
Lots of love,
Tarun and Kelly
From the diary of Miss Laura Kent, soon to be Mrs. Laura Edwards
Friday, 2:00 p.m.:
This is it! This is the week my life will change, irrevocably! (Nick taught me that word last month. He was feeling not quite the thing one morning and said he has made some choices the evening before that would change him, “irrevocably”!)
You see, my dearest diary, this is the week that Mr. Edwards will finally notice me, at the play on Thursday! I will be everything he could ever want in a wife!
Mrs. Laura Edwards
Mrs. Laura Edwards
Mrs. Laura Edwards
Saturday, 10:00 a.m.
I have it! The red dress! Or—no, that should be for the dinner on Monday.
Mrs. Laura Edwards. Mrs. Laura Edwards. Mrs. Laura Edwards.
Sunday, 4:00 p.m.:
Evelyn Wyndham is here! This is truly, the most absolutely perfect and wonderful week.
Sunday, 9:00 p.m.:
Dearest Diary, it is my greatest suspicion that Evelyn and Nick are in love! How wonderful would that be! We can have a double wedding! After Evelyn finds her sister, that is.
Mrs. Laura Edwards. Mrs. Laura Edwards. Mrs. Laura Edwards.
Monday, 7:00 p.m.:
Dearest Diary, I accompanied Evelyn and Nick today in their search of her sister, who is missing, and I have not told a soul, no not one! Even though it is a very large secret and I am quite desperate to speak of it. I feel rather like a spy! I wonder if Mr. Edwards will notice how mature I have become this week.
Thursday, 8:00 a.m.:
’Tis Thursday! ’Tis the most glorious day of the week! I have nothing to wear!!
Thursday, 2:00 p.m.:
Have tried on every dress I own. Narrowed down to a favorite fifteen.
Thursday, 4:00 p.m.:
Favorite five, though it was extremely difficult.
Thursday, 6:30 p.m.:
Evelyn will help me woo Mr. Edwards!!
Friday, 2:00 a.m.:
Evelyn did not help me with him. she is quite dead to me.
Friday 3:00 p.m.:
I am feeling very badly about saying Evelyn is dead to me.