Caspian di Telmar is only a young man, but then again, so is Edmund. So are they all. What Caspian lacks in experience, he makes up in money and allies inherited from his late uncle. He better learn how to use them, else there's going to be people like Edmund phoning in the middle of dinner calling in a favor promised years ago for reasons they all worked hard to keep out of the papers.

"Caspian," Edmund says, "would you mind finding out some information for me?" Like Caspian actually has the option to say no.


There is a knock on the bathroom door, and then there is Susan's voice. "Ed, are you going to hide in there all night?"

"Can't a man have some privacy?" Edmund calls out, cellphone flattened against his shoulder.

"Well, you've been in there twenty minutes. Lucy wants to know if you've fallen in."

"Funny, Su. Look, I'll be out in a minute."

"We're about to open another bottle, Edmund."

"I said I'll be out in a minute." He waits for Susan's footsteps to fade, then he says into the phone, "Look, I gotta go."

"Me too, man," says Caspian.

"We'll be in touch soon."

"Doubtless," and there's something wry in Caspian's tone that Edmund has to roll his eyes. "Merry Christmas to you and yours," Caspian says.

"Back atcha, buddy."

Edmund hangs up.