The Watches of the Night

by Darcy Lindbergh

  Thanks to Amy for her work as a beta, and especially for introducing me to John Yorke's guide to dramatic writing, Into the Woods, and for our endless discussions over story structure and analysis.

  Thanks to Moony for her work as a beta as well, particularly with finding the Victorian voice through the haze of all my modernity and anachronisms.

  Thanks to Erin, even though she'll never read this, for not even blinking at the things I get myself into. You're my person, friend.

  Thanks to Wendy, for asking me to participate in this project. Publishing original work was always a 'someday, when I'm really ready' kind of dream – thank you for bringing someday up to now.

  Finally, thanks to the Sherlock Holmes fandom for all the enthusiasm and acceptance I have found with you over the years, for listening to my stories and asking always for more, for your own creativity and dedication and thoughtfulness, and for all your stories which have inspired and improved my own. When I was alone in the darkness, you opened your arms and gave me back my words. There's nothing so beautiful as that.

  About the Author

  Darcy Lindbergh has been a Holmes enthusiast for years, devouring and enjoying every adaptation she can get her hands on. Aside from writing original fiction and fanfiction, she enjoys cross-stitching fine art patterns, compiling extremely long to-do lists, and blogging about life, the universe, and Holmes and Watson on Tumblr (@watsonshoneybee) and Twitter (@darcylindbergh). She lives in the American Midwest with her dog, a beautiful good girl who is also called Darcy.

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