‘I know they are—and they’re also exceptionally young to be married. Hugo is still only twenty-two and Hester is only nineteen. I don’t think you’re going to have the satisfaction of seeing me married off for another decade at least.’ He hesitated and then said, ‘Are you giving similar advice to Nancy, where Claus is concerned? Or is that a different kettle of fish entirely?’

She didn’t look towards him, but he knew that her face had clouded over. ‘Nancy doesn’t listen to advice from anyone, you know that. And she’s unhappy, Max—and I wish that she wasn’t.’

He frowned. ‘Are you telling me that her living in Berlin and seeing more of Claus isn’t working out?’

‘How can it?’ she asked as she drove into the outskirts of Little Ridding. ‘She’s living with Lotti and her friends and, much as I love Lotti, her lifestyle isn’t exactly an organized one, is it? And Nancy likes life to be ordered. The real problem, though, is that she’s discovering Berlin is a very different city to live in than to visit. And she’s a political animal. Whereas someone else in the same position might be able to turn a blind eye to the hideousness of what is taking place in Germany now Hitler is Chancellor, Nancy can’t. Writing about it is her bread and butter. She’s attending Nazi rallies and instead of turning her back on all the viciousness, she’s going out of her way to witness it in order to be able to write about it. It’s causing great tension between her and Claus. Until it’s resolved there will certainly be no wedding between them.’

‘And you’re relieved?’

She turned her head, her eyes once again meeting his. ‘Yes,’ she said with utter frankness. ‘I’m relieved.’

He was silent and she returned her attention to the road ahead of them. After a little while, she said, ‘Nancy’s situation is too like the situation I was in when I was her age. She’s a Yorkshire girl in love with a Berliner who is heir to one of Germany’s biggest steelworks. If she marries him she’s going to be tormented by a great division of loyalties. For me, the division became too great when war broke out and the House of Remer began producing armaments, which I knew were to be used against Britain and her Allies. Though we’re not now facing another war with Germany, I know from the little I’ve gleaned from Berthold that the House of Remer is contravening the Versailles Treaty and is producing armaments again. If Remer is, then bigger steelworks such as Krupp will be doing so as well—and on a far vaster scale. It isn’t a situation Nancy could ever comfortably live with. And that’s why I’m relieved there’s been no marriage yet and why I hope there won’t be one.’

She drew into the small car park behind the station. ‘Let’s change the subject,’ she said, not wanting to say goodbye to him on such a bleak note. ‘Have you heard the news about Ilse? It seems she’s a little girl no longer. She’s been going to parties given by Hugo’s embassy friends and has got herself an admirer, Count Nicholas Schulenburg, Ernst Schulenburg’s son—Ernst was best man when Zelda married Josef—as well as another type of admirer. A very influential one.’ She switched the engine off and turned towards him, wanting to see his face when she told him. ‘Gustav Gründgens is taking an interest in her.’