She took his silence as permission to continue. “Mama is about to immerse herself, and by extension me, in plans for an elaborate, unnecessarily costly wedding. If at all possible, I would like to avoid that.”
“Does not every young lady dream of an elaborate wedding?” Val raised a brow. “I should think you’d wish to oversee the cake, at the very least.”
“This young lady,” Caro said, with a moue of disapproval, “would prefer a small celebration with a few friends and family where she can avoid having her bridegroom paraded before her mama’s friends like the largest fish in an angler’s competition.”
At his wide-eyed response, she sighed. “I do love Mama, but I also know her. She is thrilled at the notion of my marrying the heir to a dukedom and she won’t be able to help herself if she’s given free rein. It’s not in her constitution to let such an occasion pass without letting the world know about this coup. Especially because she’ll see it as a way of proving to those who look down their noses at Papa that his daughter is good enough for any of them.”
“But that may benefit your father.” Val frowned. “And to be clear, his daughter is good enough for any of them, but she’s marrying me.”
“Just the fact that we’re marrying will be enough to quell Papa’s fears.” Caro smiled. “He doesn’t care about proving anything to the ton. He only wants to know that his background hasn’t kept me from making a good match.”
“Then I will see to it.” Val’s eyes warmed. “Given that I haven’t spoken to my parents about plans for the wedding yet, I think it best that we simply do as we wish and let them all follow along.”
“Thank you,” Caro said softly. “Besides, I would not wish a lavish celebration while Effie and your cousin are still missing. And, of course, the wedding must take place as soon as possible.”
He winked at her. “That eager to bed me, are you?”
She laughed, her face heating. “You know very well, you rogue, that the haste is out of necessity to preserve what’s left of my reputation.”
“My father has a connection to the archbishop,” Val assured her. “I should be able to obtain a special license by tomorrow if that suits.”
Caro blinked. That was faster than even she’d imagined. “I suppose…yes.”
“We needn’t marry tomorrow, you know,” he said, taking her hand and rubbing a soothing thumb over the back of it. “I’ll only get the license then. We choose the date.”
“No, of course not.” She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she wanted this marriage. It would ensure that her rash behavior didn’t reflect badly on her parents. And what’s more, she wanted Val. She wasn’t quite ready to open her heart to him again, but she wanted to be with him. Surely that was basis enough for a marriage.
Steeling her spine, she smiled brightly and opened the door into the hallway. “Mr. Newton,” she called. “Lord Wrackham is ready to be taken up to Papa now.”
Turning to Val, she nodded. “Good luck. I expect you’ll be invited to stay for luncheon. Afterward we can go see Langham’s bout.”
He wanted to argue, she could tell, but Newton was there, and perhaps realizing argument was futile, he followed the butler up the main staircase.
* * *
“Am I dressed appropriately for a boxing match?” Caro asked from beside Val. He was driving them in his phaeton to Jim Hyde’s club, where Langham’s match was to take place.
“Never having brought a lady to a sporting event,” Val responded as he steered them into the line of sporting carriages that were gathering outside of Hyde’s, “I cannot really say. You do look lovely, however.”
Her dark green silk gown with its contrasting blue jacket fit her to perfection. He wanted to put his mouth where a jaunty feather curled down from her hat to caress her cheek.
“And you’re sure there will be an opportunity to speak with Langham before the bout begins?” Despite her eagerness to attend the event, it was evident from her wide eyes and glances at their fellow spectators that she was nervous. Val felt oddly protective at seeing the always confident Caro exhibiting signs of unease. He was coming to realize some of her bravado was merely a defense against those who would mock her for her boldness.
“I’ve been to hundreds of these fights,” he assured her. “They almost never begin on time.”
They’d come close enough to the venue now for Val to toss the reins to one of the dozens of street urchins who gathered on days such as this to earn a few coins. Soon enough, he was guiding Caro through the crowd and into the warehouse Jim Hyde had converted into a club.
He was eager to see the massive space where he’d covered countless matches in his role as sporting reporter for The London Gazette through Caro’s eyes. He’d been interested in the “sweet science” of boxing since first learning about it at school, and when he’d had the opportunity, thanks to Kate, to follow its progress for his work, he’d jumped at the chance.
“Stay close to me,” he said over the hum of voices as more and more people pressed into the rapidly filling space.
Beyond her head, he saw Jim Hyde in conversation with Langham. Both men towered over the room, with their large build and unusual height, and Val easily kept them in his sight as he and Caro made their way through the crush to where they stood near a pair of doors in the far wall.
When Val and Caro reached the two men, Hyde grinned down at Caro. “Miss Hardcastle, I haven’t seen you since the Lake District. What a pleasure to welcome you to me club.”
The big man executed a perfect bow over Caro’s hand.
“Mr. Hyde.” She smiled warmly. “I am looking forward to my first boxing match. I must compliment you on your magnificent club. It is really quite impressive. I had no notion it would be so fine on the inside.”
Her reaction didn’t surprise Val. He supposed most ladies unfamiliar with such venues thought all sporting events took place in grimy rooms that smelled of sweat, with rats darting around corners. The sweat was correct, but Hyde wouldn’t countenance having rats about the place.
“It don’t look like much from the outside,” Hyde agreed without rancor, “but I made sure to do what I could to make the inside as fine as any boxing saloon in England.”
“Miss Hardcastle.” The Duke of Langham also bowed over Caro’s hand. “I can’t say I was expecting to see you here this afternoon. I hope you won’t be too put off by the damage I intend to inflict upon my opponent.”
Caro glanced around them, craning her neck. “Is he here? I don’t wish to place a wager until I’ve had a chance to see both of you and make an assessment.”
All three men laughed. “That would be me, Miss Hardcastle.” Hyde grinned sheepishly. “I’m retired but every so often I find meself with a hankering to get back in the ring. So friends like ’is grace oblige me.”
Val watched in amusement as Caro looked from one man to the other and back again. “Are you sure you wish to go through with this, your grace?” she asked Langham, glancing between the two men in alarm.
In truth, Langham and Hyde were well matched, despite the several stones by which Hyde outweighed the duke. Langham was younger and, despite his aristocratic ancestry, had done his share of brawling. Still, a novice like Caro wouldn’t be able to see that.