Free Errors of Judgment by Caro Fraser Page B

Caper Court. What about you?’
    ‘Oh, here and there. Look, are you rushing off somewhere, or have you time for a quick drink?’
    ‘I was just on my way home. Where do you suggest?’
    ‘Let’s go to the King’s Arms in Shepherd Market and grab a pint.’
    They made their way to the pub and settled themselves at a table with their beers.
    ‘So, what are you up to these days?’ asked Anthony. ‘Still at the Ministry for Arts and Cultural Development?’
    ‘Good God, no. Jacked that in ages ago. Terminally boring, the civil service. Almost as bad as the law.’
    ‘Or merchant banking?’
    ‘Fuck me, that was the worst of the lot,’ observed Edward of his brief and ignominious stint at Morgan Grenfell. ‘Ghastly people, bankers. Never trusted a single one of them. Rightly, as it turns out. City screen-jockeys who’ve made a complete balls-up of everything. Not a day goes by without another bank biting the dust, shares crashing, chaps getting fired.’ He took a long pull at his pint, then added with engaging frankness, ‘Actually, I came into my money three years ago, so there’s not much need to work, to be honest.’
    ‘Lucky you.’
    ‘Well, yes and no. I mean, loafing around is all very well – nice not to have to get up and go to an office every day, but a chap needs to keep busy. I’m supposed to be doing a bit of work managing my father’s estate down in Surrey, but frankly the countryside bores me to death. I spend most of my time in town. I’ve been helping Piers Hunt-Thompson organise a couple of balls. Charity events, debs, that kind of stuff. He’s a kind of society events fixer now, runs that club Pooks in Frith Street.’
    ‘I remember Piers.’
    ‘Of course – you went out with Julia before she and Piers got together, didn’t you? They got married a couple of years ago. I went to the wedding. Massive bash in Gloucestershire. Completely brilliant. I got utterly wasted.’
    ‘I didn’t know they were married,’ said Anthony. Julia had been one of his first loves, a leggy blonde barrister whom he had met during his pupillage. He had thought she loved him as much as he loved her, but she had betrayed his affection with casual indifference. To think she’d actually married that complete wanker, Piers Hunt-Thompson.
    ‘So anyway, apart from throwing the odd bit of dosh at Piers’ various ventures, and helping the old man out, there’s not much to do except go out and have a good time, I’m ashamed to say.’
    Anthony could tell from Edward’s grin that shame didn’t come into it. He’d always envied the way Edward managed to squeeze the maximum enjoyment out of life without feeling any of the guilt which plagued Anthony, that sense that he should be achieving, working for life’s rewards, whatever they might be.
    ‘A good time being …?’
    ‘Oh, you know – parties, clubs, hitting the odd casino now and then.’
    ‘I was just coming from Astleigh’s when I met you.’
    ‘Bit early in the day for the tables, old man.’
    ‘Not what you think. It was in the name of work. I’m acting for them in a case, and I needed to see how they operate.’
    ‘Everything’s about work with you, isn’t it? That’s always been your trouble, Tony. You take life too seriously. Listen, what are you doing for the rest of the evening? I’m meetingsome friends at the Ritz for cocktails. Fancy coming along?’
    Anthony could think of no reason why not. He had nothing better to do, and an evening with Edward was invariably good fun. ‘OK,’ he said, ‘I’m up for it.’
    ‘Excellent. Look, let’s have another here, then head off. What d’you say?’
    ‘I’m in your hands, Ed.’

    After cocktails at the Ritz with an assortment of Edward’s friends, they headed to the Wolseley for supper. Anthony knew most of the others from parties and clubs, rich twenty-somethings from wealthy families. They weren’t necessarily people he much liked, but it gave him satisfaction to know that