Errors of Judgment(98)

Gregory Hind cut in. ‘No, quite. And I think we have to be very careful not to make potentially libellous allegations in this committee room.’

Again Sir Vivian inclined his head. ‘I have no intention of overstepping the mark. There are certain other matters relating to this candidate within my personal knowledge, but it is the very fact that I cannot speak openly about them which has persuaded me to refer to events which are already within the public domain, albeit from a few years ago, which themselves raise questions about this candidate’s suitability. I shall say no more.’

The beautiful fluency of Sir Vivian’s utterances had had a somewhat numbing effect on the minds of the committee members, but had at the same time awoken in them concerns which, had they been better defined, might have troubled them less. As it was, they were left with the distinct – or indistinct – impression that Leo Davies was, or could become, a liability.

‘Well,’ said Sir Alastair, ‘I am not entirely convinced that these matters affect—’

He stopped. ‘Then again, the issue of good character is very important, if not crucial …’ He paused once more, frowning. He was conscious of the accumulation of a considerable amount of painfully bloating wind, and felt he could not safely remain in his seat without imminent risk of embarrassment. He badly needed to escape to a lavatory, or to some other private place. ‘I think in the circumstances we shall have to defer this candidate’s application and possibly – I say possibly – return to it another time. Does anyone have anything to add?’

Lady Justice Hunter seemed to be about to say something, but didn’t. Gregory Hind frowned, evidently not entirely happy, and shook his head. The others said nothing.

‘Then perhaps we can end this session here.’

There was a murmuring and a shuffling of papers, and the committee members rose and filed from the room. Sir Vivian, the last to leave, was well satisfied. He doubted very much if Leo Davies would be on the High Court Bench this time next year. Or any year.





CHAPTER TWENTY




Jacqueline and Gabrielle were having coffee on the fifth floor of Harvey Nichols after spending Saturday afternoon trawling the fag end of the sales. The acquisitive companionability of clothes shopping had given way to a mother-daughter lull, and Jacqueline was looking for topics to brighten the conversation.

‘So,’ she asked, ‘are you still seeing that very good-looking man who came to us on Christmas? I’ve forgotten his name.’

‘Anthony? Yes. We’re having dinner at some new restaurant in Mayfair tonight.’

‘How lovely to have a boyfriend who can take you to expensive places.’

Gabrielle shrugged, glancing around the restaurant. Then she asked, ‘What kind of thing did you and Leo do when you were going out together?’

‘Well …’ Jacqueline thought for a moment, trying to extract something suitable from her recollections, which consisted largely of long hours in bed, making love. ‘I suppose the usual things that young people do. We both worked in the day, so it was just evenings and weekends. Nights. Summer nights. There was a pub on the river we used to go to. We just …’ She shrugged. ‘Spent time together. It was only six weeks. Not long. There were a lot of parties. We met at a party.’ She stopped. ‘You know, now that he is in your life, I find it odd to talk to you about those times.’

Gabrielle was silent for a moment. ‘I suppose it must be weird.’ Then she added, ‘You must have been amazingly careless to get pregnant.’

‘I suppose I was. I was on the Pill, but these things can happen. Sometimes it’s a subconscious desire. Maybe that sounds silly?’

‘No.’

Jacqueline gave her a glance. ‘Don’t you be careless.’

Gabrielle smiled. ‘What? Are you saying you wish you’d been more careful, that I had never happened?’

Jacqueline smiled in return. ‘You know I don’t wish that. I could never wish my beautiful, clever daughter away. But it wasn’t ideal. It was very hard for a long time.’

‘You should have told him.’

‘I almost did. But I knew that Leo wasn’t a man who would ever be tied down. There seemed no point. It would just have been messy and unhappy. Anyway, as I say, I don’t want to revisit all that.’

‘OK.’ Gabrielle drank the remains of her coffee. ‘You want to know a funny thing?’

‘Go on.’

‘Leo and Anthony work in the same chambers. They’re old friends.’

‘No! What a coincidence.’ Jacqueline pondered this. ‘Maybe I should invite them both to one of my dinner parties. Would that be fun?’