Well accustomed to his discussing business affairs with her, she said, straight to the point as usual, ‘But we have no shipyards.’

He grabbed hold of a spindly legged gilt chair and dragged it across to her desk, flicking his coat tails aside before sitting down.

‘Oh, but we have.’

Her beautifully arched eyebrows rose.

Josef seldom smiled, but he did so now.

‘My father knew years ago, when Krupps began making berths big enough for battleships, that the Kaiser intended building a navy equal to that of the British navy—and that the day would come when even Krupps’ vast output would need supplementing.’

‘And without making it public knowledge he bought a shipyard?’

Josef nodded. ‘And excess waterfront in which to expand.’

‘Where?’

‘Hamburg.’

In mutual satisfaction their eyes held.

‘And what about Berthold?’ she asked after a little pause. ‘Is he happy about the House of Remer building battleships?’

Josef gave a snort. ‘Berthold has had no part in the negotiations—and the less he knows, the better.’

‘But his name will be on the contracts?’

‘Of necessity, yes. It won’t be a problem, Zelda.’

‘No. I know.’ She regarded him with sensual pleasure, loving the barely restrained power she always sensed about him. ‘And what do you think Vicky’s reaction is going to be when she knows the family firm is building battleships?’

‘Little Bo Peep?’ Josef gave another snort. ‘Why should she ever know? She married into the family eighteen months ago and to the best of my knowledge thinks the wealth she enjoys comes solely from the manufacture of steel-plating. That we actually make things with the steel we produce hasn’t occurred to her.’

‘No, but it will. You underestimate Vicky, Josef. She isn’t stupid, only young and still naive. And she won’t like the idea of Remer shipyards building battleships, even if the battleships in question are for defensive purposes.’

He said nothing and at the expression on his face, her eyes widened. ‘They are for defensive purposes, aren’t they?’

‘But of course.’ He shrugged. ‘A strong navy is the best defence any country can have. Look how well a strong navy has served Great Britain. All Germany intends is to reach parity with Great Britain and end Great Britain’s long run of naval supremacy.’

He rose to his feet and stepped behind her chair. ‘Battleships are like armaments, Zelda. They are a product, just as the ovens we make are a product. Making them doesn’t mean they will be used.’

Before she should retort that the ovens the House of Remer produced were used in kitchens all over Germany, he bent over her slightly, slipping his hands beneath the loose bodice of her tea gown, caressing her with skilful fingers.

She caught her breath, sexual need flooding through her. For the last few weeks, ever since her pregnancy had become so advanced, they had not made love. ‘Soller says it could bring on premature labour,’ he had said and, as always when Josef made a decision, he had not moved from it.