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Errors of Judgment(109)

By:Caro Fraser


‘I suppose it’s all about knowing your limitations. Caspar said he’s redistributing last night’s pot, so everyone gets their stake back. Tom’s pretty chuffed, since he was about sixteen thousand down.’

‘Well, it was twenty thousand I couldn’t exactly afford to lose either.’

‘So – no winners, no losers.’ The waitress arrived with food, orange juice, and two fresh champagne cocktails. ‘Excellent,’ said Edward. ‘All we need now is a round of toast, and some brown sauce.’

When they left the restaurant a couple of hours later, after sifting and yawning their way through the Sunday papers, Anthony got Edward to drop him off at Gabrielle’s flat. He stood on the corner and watched Edward roaring off, bellowing farewells, the chilly air tousling his hair. Anthony went into the building and rang the bell, but still there was no answer. He contemplated making the twenty-minute walk to her parents’ house in Ennismore Gardens, but decided against it. If she couldn’t be bothered to take his calls, why should he go chasing after her? He walked home, stopping at Waitrose on the way to pick up groceries, and spent the rest of the day catching up on chores and preparing for an interlocutory hearing the following day.

It was late on Monday afternoon when Jackie rang Leo in chambers.

‘You’ll think me very stupid, calling you like this. I was actually trying to reach Gabrielle’s boyfriend, Anthony. But they say he’s in court.’

It was a forcible reminder to Leo of a situation which he had so far failed to address, either emotionally or practically.

‘Very likely,’ said Leo. ‘How can I help?’

‘Gabrielle hasn’t been answering her phone for two days. I spoke to some of her friends, and they haven’t seen her or spoken to her either, even though she’s meant to be at lectures today. I know she was going to some party with Anthony on Saturday. I thought he might be able to help because, frankly, I’m worried.’

‘I’m sure she’s fine. Probably just lost her phone.’

‘Maybe. But I have to know she’s all right. Could you have a word with Anthony? Just ask him to tell her to get in touch?’

Leo hesitated. ‘Gabrielle hasn’t told Anthony I’m her father, you know. He’s going to wonder what she has to do with me.’

‘Oh, Leo – I don’t really care! Why is this some big secret? Daniel has no problem with people knowing, so why should you? Tell him you’re an old friend of the family, if you like – whatever. I just have to find out that Gabrielle is all right.’

He could hardly refuse. Anyway, the situation was bound to turn into some kind of ridiculous charade, if someone didn’t say something soon. Anthony might as well find out now. In a way, he was glad that matters were coming to a head.

‘I’ll speak to him when he comes back from court. He shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes or so.’

‘Thank you.’

Leo put the phone down. He was possibly about to jeopardise the happiness of two of the people he cared most for in the world. But he had no choice. How Anthony would react, what he would say or do, was anyone’s guess. Leo got up and strolled to the window. Halfway through January, and the days were beginning to lengthen slightly, dusk falling a little later each day. As he gazed down, he saw Anthony come from the cloisters and across Caper Court, still in his bands, his red robing bag slung over one shoulder. Leo sighed. Time to grasp the nettle. He went downstairs to the clerks’ room to intercept Anthony.

He found him going through the post from his pigeonhole, while Henry bent his ear regarding the fees on a new case.

‘I’ll have no problem justifying the fees, Mr C, but whether I’ll get them or not is another matter. Still, I always work on the principle that if you don’t ask, you don’t get.’

‘Well, do your best, Henry. I’ve had to do a bit of financial belt-tightening recently.’

‘Anthony, have you got a minute?’ said Leo. ‘There’s something I need to talk to you about.’

‘Sure. I just need to put this stuff away.’

‘That’s OK. We can go to your room.’ On the way upstairs Leo asked, ‘What was all that about belt-tightening? Don’t tell me you’re still losing a fortune gambling.’

‘No,’ replied Anthony. His manner was curt, but as they reached his room, it relented. ‘If you want to know, I’ve given all that up. Or at least, I’ve decided to. I’m not sure how easy it’s going to be. To be honest I got myself into a hell of a mess. Mentally, I mean. It was getting obsessive.’ He slung his robing bag in a corner of the room. ‘I really wanted to talk to you about it – you know, that evening when you found me here going through my bank statements.’