‘Wrong in that we could be happy?’ He gave a twisted smile. ‘No, Nancy. There has always been the possibility that we could be happy. All you have to do for that to happen is to change your opinions.’

She didn’t even bother responding to his last remark. Instead, she said, ‘If I’d asked the question I came here to ask, your answer would have been “no,” wouldn’t it?’

He nodded. ‘Of course. Only a child could have asked such a question expecting any different reply. The Remer steelworks is not a Lebensmittelgeschäft, Nancy. It is a steelworks of national importance. Which is why I was at the Chancellery alongside men like Alfried Krupp and August Diehn.’

‘And men like Himmler and Göring.’ She rose to her feet. ‘It would have been better if the family business had been a grocery shop, Claus. If it had been, we would all have been happier.’

She picked up her bag and still he made no move towards her.

She knew now that he wouldn’t; it had come to an end for them.

‘I shan’t stay in Berlin,’ she said, feeling dead inside. ‘Berlin holds nothing for me now. Like my mother, I’ve come to hate it.’

‘I love you,’ he said, his voice matter-of-fact and without any plea in it. ‘Remember that, will you?’

‘Yes,’ she said, knowing there was to be no goodbye kiss; knowing it would have been beyond the endurance of both of them. ‘I’ll remember.’ Turning away from him she walked towards the door, opening it and closing it behind her without a backward look.

Chapter Seventeen

Yorkshire, Christmas 1935

‘Only two more days to Christmas,’ Vicky said rapturously, rolling over in bed so that she was on her side, snuggled up close against Adam. He was lying on his back and she slid her hand onto his chest. ‘It’s my favourite time of year, especially when it’s snowing, as now.’

‘The curtains are still drawn. How do you know it’s snowing?’ There was amusement in his voice and she undid a button of his pyjama top and kissed a chest that was still broad and well-muscled.

‘I can tell by the light. Even when the curtains are drawn the light is always different in a room if it’s snowing.’

He chuckled, raising himself on his elbow to look down at her, heat in his eyes.

‘No,’ she said firmly, knowing very well what he had in mind. ‘I’ve far too much to do today to spend the morning in bed, making love.’

Before her will power should weaken she swung her legs from the bed and stood up, her lace-trimmed nightdress falling to her ankles. ‘And so have you, my love,’ she said, walking across to the washstand. ‘Will isn’t around to help Paul haul a tree into the house. He and Jenny have gone to Northumberland, to relatives, for Christmas, remember? It’s a difficult job to do single-handed and Paul is going to need some help.’ As she spoke she was pulling her nightdress over her head. ‘Also, I’d like you to buy a sledge. Emily Elise is quite old enough now to enjoy sledging down a gentle slope.’