She looked up to see the butler staring at her with wide eyes, Tag’s face visible over the top of Mr. Winston’s head.
His eyes were narrow slits as he stared back at her and Charleston.
“I will.” She straightened her shoulders, energy sizzling through her.
Tag stormed around the butler, not waiting for the formal invitation to enter the room. “I recall making a similar offer last night and I was not met with the same favorable reaction.”
“He proposed?” Lord Charleston croaked, scrambling up from one knee. “I’d heard he’d been showing interest.”
“Had you?” Minnie narrowed her gaze. Had Charleston only been prodded into action because of Tag? She didn’t care. She turned back to the ornery duke who was glowering down at them. “And you did not propose.”
“I didn’t?” He tossed his hands in the air. “What would you call it then?”
She stood, taking two steps towards him and tilting her head back so she was looking into his face. “You told me to decide.” Then, without thinking, she poked him in the chest. “What sort of proposal was that?”
Tag grunted at the sharp jab. Minnie had a point. And not just her finger. “Do you know how many women would love to have any sort of—”
“Stop right there.” She poked again. “I’m not any woman.” She took a step back, crossing her arms. “Your proposal gets less romantic by the second.”
Damn it all to hell, she had him again. “I can’t spar with you. You’re too quick for me.”
Her shoulders relaxed, just a bit, dropping down. Her mouth softened too. Which immediately reminded him of how soft her lips were against his. Her tongue darted out to lick them and he watched the pink tip skim along the supple flesh. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve said to me.”
“It is not,” he grumbled.
Charleston cleared his throat. “So you’ve another offer?”
Minnie’s pressed her lips together. “We are attempting to establish that now, my lord.”
“You have another offer,” Tag said, shooting the other man a glare. How dare Charleston waltz in here and try to take back the woman he’d rejected months ago? “And you’ve got some nerve showing back up here. Have you no shame?”
“Your Grace.” She touched his arm and sparks skittered along his skin. “It’s all right.”
“It isn’t all right.” He turned to Charleston. “You broke her heart. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Charleston flushed a bright shade of red. “I did not intend to hurt you. I just couldn’t…”
Minnie let out a sigh. “Stop. You don’t have to do this. I’m not upset with Charleston anymore. I understand why he did what he did.”
“You do?” he asked as he turned back to her. He’d like to understand. How did a man like Charleston let a woman as magnificent as Minnie go? “The man should have kissed the very ground you walk on.”
She nodded. “We’re all weighted down by our pasts. Our previous problems keep us from seizing our future.”
He shook his head. It was as though she’d looked into his soul.
“You’ve always understood me,” Charleston gushed, standing too. “But I’m ready now. Ready to put my past aside and marry the woman I was always meant to.”
Tag couldn’t speak and his pulse raised as he stared at Charleston. The man was stealing his life right out from under his very nose.
“My lord,” Minnie whispered. “That was very heartfelt and I can’t tell you how much—”
“No.” He grabbed Minnie’s arm and pulled her so that he was positioned between her and Charleston.
“Your Grace.” Her chaperone stood, huffing out his title. “That is unacceptable.”
“I quite agree,” Charleston added.
“You’re done speaking.” Tag held up a hand without looking back at the man who fell silent.