Philippa’s mouth sent Tommy into an explosion of pleasure, riding out the shockwaves. Only when the spasms calmed did Philippa finally cease her sweet torture. Tommy hauled Philippa up and into her embrace.
They collapsed into each other’s arms and held on, legs entwined, the softness of their breasts flush against their racing hearts.
38
Philippa snuggled into Tommy amid the rumpled sheets. She never wished to leave this bed. Here in Tommy’s arms, Philippa felt content and safe, satisfied that her life was finally going exactly as it ought to.
Tommy laid her cheek against Philippa’s forehead. “What if we closed the canopy and stayed in bed for the next fortnight?”
Philippa cuddled closer. “Your wish is my command.”
“AllIwish to do,” Tommy murmured, “is love you forevermore.”
Philippa lifted her head and widened her eyes. “What a happy coincidence! AllIwish to do is to loveyouforevermore.”
“Then so we shall.” Tommy grinned at her. “An entire wing of this house is unused. Which means there are plenty of extra rooms if you’d rather not be in the same corridor as the rest of my noisy, meddlesome siblings.”
“First,” Philippa said, “I adore the idea of being heckled by your noisy, meddlesome siblings. Second, I want to be as close to you as possible.”
“My bedchamber and your guest chamber are adjoining rooms. We could make it permanent,” Tommy offered.
“May I still sleep with you from time to time?” Philippa teased.
“Actuallyusingyour bedchamber is completely optional. I hope you do spend every night right here with me.” Tommy stroked Philippa’s hair. “You’re not worried what people say?”
“Your siblings and staff already know the truth, and no one else has any reason to know where I sleep. I shan’t hide myself or my love for you in my own home.” Joy bubbled inside Philippa. “Oh!—must my bedchamber be a bedchamber?”
“It can be a gambling den or a circus for otters if that’s your preference. We’ve more than enough money to outfit your rooms however you like. What is your heart’s one true desire?”
“A study,” Philippa said dreamily. “A big, beautiful study, with sunny windows and a large desk and a comfortable armchair and a special bookcase for my collection of illuminated manuscripts.”
“You have scandalized me,” Tommy said. “But I acquiesce. You are to have the bluestocking study of your dreams. And if you like, the largest salon on the ground floor of the other wing can be converted into a library.”
“I don’t havethatmany books.” Philippa thought it over. “Yet. You’re right. That’s an excellent choice.”
“I was thinking you’d have room for your reading circle,” Tommy said with a laugh. “You needn’t give up your friends just because you’ve become a Wynchester.”
“No.” Philippa’s voice scratched. “But they may be obliged to givemeup. A few of them already have. When they find out I’m no longer in Mayfair…”
“They’ll no longer wish to be friends with you?”
“No,” Philippa admitted. “They still love me. But they must obey their parents, and after the scandal with Northrup, I’m no longer fashionable.”
“Scandal doesn’t last forever,” Tommy promised her.
Philippa let out a slow breath. “It’ll last long enough to ruin my chance of building a network of neighborhood reading libraries.”
Tommy frowned. “Are they literal neighborhoods? Do you have directions?”
“We didn’t even get that far,” she said glumly. “I was still working on finding sponsors. Once we had enough pledges and patronesses, we could work on determining specific addresses for the little libraries.”
“OrIcould work on it,” Tommy said. “I can help you map the best locations for each community. If your patronesses don’t have to be society ladies, you might discover other possibilities. There could be a solicitors’ office that would like to sponsor a location, or a dressmaker, or even a publishing house.”
Philippa threw her arms around Tommy and hugged her tight. “Thank you. I would love that above all things.”
“I hope not aboveallthings,” Tommy said. “I have a gift for you that I hope you’ll like.”
“You do?” Philippa let go in surprise. Tommy’s help with the library project was more than gift enough. She did not want for anything else.
