Tommy answered the kiss with hunger, wrapping her arms tight about Philippa.

Their other kisses had been kisses of perhaps and mayhap and maybe. This was the first kiss of yes. The first kiss of always and forevermore. It was a kiss to savor, and also the first of many just like it. The future stretched far and bright, lit with a constellation of kisses.

“Oh!” Philippa pulled her mouth away, breathless. “I almost forgot. I have a gift for you.”

“Please tell me it’s not the cigar slowly turning into sludge in your glass of port.”

“It’s even better,” Philippa promised. She held up a finger. “Wait here.”

Tommy waited in bemusement as Philippa sprinted into the adjoining dressing room and emerged with a brown paper package.

“I did forget you’d walked in with that,” Tommy admitted. “What is it?”

“Open it and see.” Philippa handed her the parcel.

Tommy sat on the edge of her mattress. She untied the twine, then unfolded the brown paper.

It was a handsome leather book, brand-new and expensive, with a gold monogram embossed onto the cover. She ran her fingers over the gilded “TW” in awe.

“It’s gorgeous,” she murmured.

Philippa bounced on her toes. “Open it!”

Gently, Tommy lifted the cover. The first page was blank. She turned it. The second page was blank, and the third, and the fourth. The entire book was pristine and empty.

“You brought me…a blank album?”

“It’s for your maps,” Philippa said. “They shall live jumbled no more. See these little folded bits? They’re corners that can be glued at the exact dimensions you need. Each map slides right in, allowing it to be easily mounted and just as easily removed when it is needed for a mission. If you’d like, I’d be happy to design a cataloging system for you. We could work on it together.”

A laugh of delight escaped Tommy’s lips. “It’s stunning, and thoughtful, and useful. Rather like the bluestocking minx who arranged it for me.”

Philippa gave her a shy smile. “Shall we take it downstairs and organize your poor homeless maps at once?”

“No.” Tommy placed the album on the side table next to her bed with care and then opened her arms for Philippa. “I have other ideas. Prurient, obscene ideas.”

“Mm, tell me more.” Philippa pulled off her half-boots and launched herself into Tommy’s embrace. “Or better yet, show me. I love to practice what I learn.”

It took no time at all for their clothes to be piled upon the floor.

“Our life doesn’t have to be scandalous.” Tommy kissed Philippa’s breasts. “We can be two eccentric spinsters who happen to live together. Just like Agnes and Katherine.”