Shallow Grave (42 page)

Well, that was the way the bones had fallen. Ain’t nothin’ but weery loads, honey. He was here, that was the important thing, warm and alive and wrapped around her in her bed, and that was worth the price. She could feel he had relaxed now: his breathing had steadied, and she thought he was falling asleep. But then he said suddenly, diffidently, and in a perfectly wakeful voice, ‘Should we get married, do you think?’

That was one out of left field, if you like! ‘Are you in a position to ask me, sir?’ she said, temporising.

‘Well, I will be, one day. When I am, if I ask you, do you think you’ll say yes?’

She started to smile, unseen in the darkness. ‘That’s a hypotheoretical question, as your Mr Porson would say.’

‘I wasn’t thinking of asking him,’ Slider assured her.