at one point she leaned toward him so only he would hear and said , `` thank you , ash . raising his head , he loosened his grip and stepped back . was this what it was like to be on the other end of someone trying to cop a peek up your skirt ? how could i be so dense to your feelings ? i deliberate for ages before picking out a simple black silk dress . i thought we 'd discover he 'd died , as you 'd supposed , but he 's in paris ... somewhere . 