announcements. What was he doing?
“Oh yes.” Diana clapped behind her. “This is going to be fun.”
“I’ll remember this,” Minnie hissed back.
“Not very long ago, I met Miss Minerva Chase. Since then she’s changed not only my life, but my outlook on my past, present, and future.”
“Oh, this is wonderful,” Minnie’s mother called from the crowd. Minnie couldn’t even search to find her mother. She was looking at Tag, her eyes already misting over. Was he about to publicly declare his feelings?
“I’ve resisted marriage. But this woman has changed all that. She has made me want to be a better man. A man who can love with his whole heart. Miss Chase,” He turned to her then. His eyes soft around the edges as his hands gripped hers. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I love you more than words can ever express and I’ll do my utmost to prove that to you each and every day.”
Minnie opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Not only had he declared his feelings but he’d done so publicly. Her eyes itched with unshed emotion. She knew how difficult it was for him to express emotion after what he’d been through. She moved closer, wanting to be near him. Not only had he declared his love, he’d done it in front of fifty people. “I…” She tried but her tongue stuck to the top of her mouth. “I…” She gripped his hands tighter. For the first time in a very long time, she was tongue-tied and shy
Diane nudged her from the back. “Spit it out.”
“Yes,” She managed to push out. “I’d be honored to be your wife.”
“Thank the lord,” her mother yelled from the crowd. Then louder. “My daughter’s going to be a duchess.”
Laughter and cheering rose about them, but Minnie only looked at Tag.
“I love you, Minnie,” he said softly. “I have for a while. I’m just not very good at saying these things. You know my past.”
This time a tear slid down her cheek. “You did a marvelous job for a man who struggled.” Then she leaned in closer. “Meet me at the garden gate tonight and bring a blanket.”
He smiled, leaning in close. “If you insist.”
Her mother rushed up, wrapping her arms about Minnie and breaking the moment. But Minnie watched Tag watch her. She could see the love shining in his eyes. Tonight she’d show him exactly how much his proposal meant to her.
Tag stood by the garden gate for the second night in a row. He hadn’t brought one blanket, he’d brought seven or eight along with a few pillows. It was just cool enough that all the windows were closed, affording them some much-needed privacy, but warm enough that they could be outside.
He’d hardly thought of anything but her since this afternoon. Everything had come together in his mind. What she needed, why he’d been holding back, and how it was time to let his past go.
Minnie had already showed him the path to a life filled with love. She’d protected him, comforted him when he’d been hurt, stood up for him against Lady Abernath. Now it was time for him to show her that he was capable of learning and willing to set his past hurts aside.
He’d hoped that he’d reciprocated her strength in love today and he knew, he hoped, what it meant to be a good husband.
She appeared on the path, the moonlight making her easier to see than she had been last night. A crisp white night rail billowed around her and his breath caught. Not only did she look beautiful, her hair in a simple braid, but she’d dispensed of all her layers of clothing. The implication of that choice tightened all his muscles.
She didn’t say a word as she reached for him, her hand sliding into his, and he pulled her close, wrapping an arm about her waist. “Are you cold?” he murmured just before he captured her lips with his own.
“No,” she said between kisses. “I’m lovely. Just perfect.”
Wrapping his other hand below her buttocks, he lifted her into his arms continuing to kiss her in long leisurely strokes of his lips against hers. Minnie wrapped her arms about his neck, sliding her hands into his hair. “What you said today. Did you mean it? You really love me?”
Tag leaned back, assessing her. “It’s not like you to be insecure.”
“I’m not.” She smiled as she brushed her nose against his. “I just want to hear you say it again.”
He laughed and, reaching the blankets, lay her down. “I love you, Minnie. I plan to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much.”
She sighed, settling back onto his makeshift bed. “See. That wasn’t so hard.”
He settled his weight on top of hers. “Would you like me to show you all the ways I care?”
“Oh yes,” she breathed, her legs spreading to allow his to settle between them.
He kissed her again. This time the touch wasn’t slow or light, it was filled with all the passion building inside him.