Words: 55,037
Characters who were supposed to die and didn’t: 1
This was a surprise! There is a minor character named Tabitha (more Bronte homage) who, I was sure, was going to die at the hands of the 1849 vampire. One day during Nanowrimo when I was stuck, I actually wrote part of Tabitha’s tragic death, or rather, the moment when Bronwyn discovers her blood-drained body. Very touching. Would have brought tears to your eyes.
As the book unfolded though, Tabitha’s death got caught up in a scheduling conflict. The story had a certain momentum, and having Bronwyn and Tabitha stay in Scarborough longer just so that Tabitha could get munched undercut that momentum severely. Tabitha hadn’t emerged as quite the mother-figure for Bronwyn that I expected, either. So Bronwyn leaves Scarborough and goes home ahead of Tabitha, leaving her to pack trunks and come along the next day. By then, of course, it’s much too late. But hurray! Tabitha lives!