Ghastly walked into Bespoke Tailors, frowning at why the shop door was unlocked. He stepped in and closed the door behind him, moving slowly into the back room. When he was sure no one had broken in, he relaxed. He flopped down on the sofa, until he heard water running. He frowned, climbing the stairs to investigate. He entered his bedroom and noticed that the bed was made, and Tanith's clothes were draped over the back of the chair in the corner. He grinned. She hadn't left yet. He walked over to the bathroom and put his ear to the door. Tanith was showering and he could hear her voice as she sung quietly to herself. Ghastly grinned. He walked back downstairs and decided to go work on some outfits he had designed.
Ghastly kept his head in his work as he heard light footsteps on the stairs. Tanith walked downstairs, her blonde hair clinging to her scalp and a clean white towel wrapped around her body. She rubbed at her hair with another towel, walking into the room. Ghastly looked up at her and smiled. Tanith jumped back as her eyes found Ghastly.
"Jesus Christ," she said, putting a hand to her chest. "You scared the hell outta me!" Ghastly laughed and got up from his desk, walking over to her. She smiled. He put both hands to her face and kissed her, as she put her hands to his waist. He moved back, looking into her sparkling eyes. He moved his hands to the top of her towel, slowly prying it from around her. She put both her hands up to his chest and stepped back.
"I can't," she said. "Not right now. I have to go and see Erskine, he said he's got some business he needs to discuss." Ghastly moved backwards, dropping his hands to his sides. He grunted.
"By business I'm sure he means you." he mumbled, looking at the floor. Tanith smiled sympathetically, moving her hands to his face, kissing him gently. She left the room and ran back upstairs to get changed. Ghastly sighed. He knew Erskine liked her, and he wasn't even sure how Tanith felt about him. He also knew Erskine would try anything to get Tanith, but Ghastly wasn't about to let the love of his life go, not even to his friend.
Tanith skipped back down the stairs, pulling her coat over her, her sword in its sheath. She walked into the shop where Ghastly was working, and he stood up before she left. She turned to him.
"Just don't-" Tanith put a finger to Ghastly's lips. She stood on her tiptoes and moved forward.
"I'm all yours." she whispered in his ear. Her hands caressed his face and she kissed him, finding it difficult to let him go. Ghastly smiled as she pulled away and left the shop behind him. He watched her from the window as she pulled her hair out from her coat and let the wind take it.
Ghastly looked up from his desk as Skulduggery Pleasant walked into the shop, removing his disguise but leaving his hat perched on his head.
"Here for your suit I presume?" Ghastly said, standing up.
"How do you know I didn't just come for a friendly chat?" Skulduggery replied, and Ghastly raised an eyebrow. "But yes, I would also like my suit." Ghastly grinned and moved into the back room, taking Skulduggery's new suit and handing it to him. "Wonderful." he said, his voice like velvet. The two of them stood together, Ghastly swaying slightly with his hands in his pockets. To say they had been best friends for over 400 years, they still found themselves in awkward situations that neither one of them could get out of.
"I heard you had yourself a little date last night." Skulduggery began. "Who was the lucky woman?"
Ghastly glowered. "Valkyrie." He muttered.
"What?" Skulduggery replied, sounding a little alarmed. Ghastly's eyes widened.
"Good God, no." he exclaimed. "I meant Valkyrie's obviously told you." Skulduggery's shoulders lowered as relief flowed through him.
"Ah yes," he said. "That she did."
"You're not here to talk to me about it, are you? Because, you know, that probably wouldn't be such an exciting conversation, for you."
"Oh, of course not. That's a conversation I think I'd gladly miss, it'd be quite awkward." The two of them stood in silence for a moment. "So how was she?"
"Skulduggery!" Ghastly said, his head snapping towards him. Skulduggery raised his gloved hands and Ghastly calmed down. "Pretty good." he mumbled. If Skulduggery had lips, or a face, Ghastly was sure his friend would be smiling.
"Going to marry her?"
"I think it's a bit too early to be asking her."
"You've thought about it for the past 6 years, I don't really think it's too early." Ghastly glowered.
"I don't know how she feels." he murmured.
"You've done the dirt and she stayed in your shirt and your home all day, according to Val, and you don't know how she feels? I think it's pretty clear to me." Ghastly was silent for a moment.
"Yeah, you've got a point."
"I always do." Skulduggery said, picking up his suit. "Right well, I'll leave, before this conversation gets any more awkward. Thanks for the suit." Skulduggery put his disguise back on and walked out the shop.
"Skulduggery? Thanks." Ghastly called after him and Skulduggery nodded. Ghastly stood silently, and thought of all the ways he could possibly propose to Tanith Low.