‘Josef believes that if Hitler comes to power he’ll ride roughshod over the Versailles Treaty and implement full-scale rearmament, so he’s a party member. If the House of Remer is to ever go into armament production again, and enjoy all the profits that will come from such production, he has to be. But being a party member means he has to be seen to be in agreement with all this hating-the-Jews nonsense.’

She rammed a Sobranie into its short ebony holder.

‘And the nonsense includes other racial groups besides Jews. Gypsies are considered to be something less than human. Poles and Russians are completely personae non gratae. Anyone who can be described as a miscegenate is a social pariah.’

‘A miscegenate?’ It was such an ugly word, Vicky knew it was going to have an ugly meaning.

‘It means someone of mixed blood. Someone with Jewish blood in their veins. Or Romany blood. Or—‘ she inhaled deeply and then blew smoke out through her nose—‘or Native American Indian blood.’

Vicky’s eyes widened in shocked understanding.

Zelda gave a mirthless laugh. ‘The instant I told Josef he might as well include me in his list of social undesirables he went into a frothing-mouthed manic fit of fury worthy of Hitler himself. That was three years ago. He’s calmed down a good deal since, but he’s terrified of anyone finding out. And whereas he was once proud of the way my looks turned heads, he now lives in fear his Nazi Party cronies will mistake me for a Jewess. So to spare him embarrassment I spend more and more time at Schloss Niedernhall and he see-saws between still not being able to keep his hands off me and railing at me for something I can’t help.’

‘And what about the politics of it? What if the National Socialists don’t get an avalanche of votes at the next election? Won’t that mean their rise to power is severely curbed? And if it’s curbed, won’t Josef and the bulk of other Nazi Party members become disenchanted and hitch their wagon to a different star elsewhere?’

‘Maybe.’ Zelda’s voice was no longer angry, it was merely taut and tired. ‘Whatever the outcome of the September elections, the damage where Josef and I are concerned has already been done. And there’s been damage to his relationship with Lotti, for she’s still firm friends with Hester Dresner and he won’t allow Hester in the house.’ She shot Vicky a wry glance. ‘It makes things a little awkward when Hugo is with us.’

‘Hugo?’ Vicky looked startled at the new direction the conversation had taken. ‘I imagine Max and Nancy would find Hester not being made welcome just as offensive as Hugo does.’

‘Oh, I’m sure you’re right.’ Zelda, as always, was recovering her equilibrium fast. ‘But Max and Nancy aren’t in love with Hester, are they? Hugo is.’

On the lake two yachts were tacking, leaving white spumes in their wake. Looking at them with the sun in her eyes, Vicky blinked.