Agnes' cheeks are bright pink from the exertion, and Blanche grins so much that she has to duck her head away and squeeze Pamela's hand a little tighter. They look awfully silly but she's rarely seen Agnes so happy, so animated. It's the second hand warmth of a friend's happiness that makes the skin under Blanche's collar itch. She keeps telling herself that until they return home.

Poor Eunice yawns the whole walk back and Beryl takes her by the arm, slipping down the steps to the service entrance and leaving them together at the front door. Blanche expects them to part company then, for Agnes to wish them goodnight and be done with it but she's still smiling and tugs a little on the elbow of Blanche's coat.

"Thank you." she says, and Blanche doesn't see anything but the rouge of her lipstick. "Thank you for coming."

"Agnes, I wouldn't have missed it for anything."

Agnes seems touched, in more ways than one. Blanche doesn't have time to register the kiss on her cheek until well after it happens and Agnes stoops to kiss Pamela as well. "Goodnight." she says, running up the stairs in those silky shorts.

Blanche doesn't sleep well that night, palm pressed to her face as if she could imprint the impression of those lips.