Some people have said to me, ‘Oh, why don’t you make that develop,’ but I'm not sure whether in real life it would develop." McCall Smith also found that the unfulfilled nature of the relationship was good for the novel, commenting that "Erotic tension is much sexier than fulfilment" and that reading about other people not getting what they want is interesting because "It's the story of all our lives."
Some individuals have suggested to me, "Why don't you make it develop," but I'm unsure if it would actually develop in real life." McCall Smith also discovered that the unfulfilled nature of the relationship was beneficial for the novel, noting that "Erotic tension is more alluring than fulfillment" and that reading about others not achieving what they desire is intriguing because "It's the story of our lives."