Zelda tilted her head a little to one side and regarded Vicky quizzically. ‘I think it’s very fair. It will make sure he fits in—and that’s important in Germany.’

‘But it’s making him unhappy. There has to be a middle way, Zelda.’

Zelda pushed her breakfast tray away. ‘This is Berlin, Vicky, and we are Remers. There isn’t a middle way. Think how impossible it would be for Max to inherit the Remer steelworks—and all that goes with the steelworks—if he only spoke German with a Yorkshire accent and spent more time in Yorkshire than in Berlin. It would be impossible. No one would wear it, not the Committee of Management, not the workers, no one. And though Paul will never, of course, inherit the steelworks, I do intend that he will grow up feeling a part of the family business and that he will have a responsible part to play in it. And that is why I speak to him in German.’

Vicky stared at her, appalled. It wasn’t Zelda’s hopes for Paul’s future in the House of Remer that appalled her, though she was quite sure they would horrify Paul, it was being so abruptly faced with the realization that Max would have no choice as to his future. He would one day inherit the steelworks and, even before he did so, would be expected to make them his life.

Reading Vicky’s feelings in her eyes, Zelda was more than satisfied at the direction she had steered their little tête-à-tête. When Berthold handed over his position as head of the House of Remer to Josef, both she and Josef were determined it would be on the understanding that Josef’s firstborn son would inherit after him.

Aware she had sown the first seed to that end, she changed the subject, saying, ‘When will you be visiting Yorkshire? If you wait until after the baby is born it will be nearly two years since you were there, and as you won’t want to take a newborn baby across the Channel and won’t want to go without it, by the time you are in Little Ridding again it will be nearly three years since your last visit.’

‘I know. I’ve decided I’m going now, even though it means I won’t be here when your baby is born.’

‘As I plan for the baby to be born in Baden-Württemberg you wouldn’t be with me anyhow. Not unless you move into Schloss Niedernhall for a few weeks.’

Vicky shuddered and Zelda, not wanting the conversation to veer off in another direction, said, ‘Will you be taking Max with you to Yorkshire?’

‘Yes. Of course.’

‘Would you like to take Paul with you as well?’

It was such an unexpected offer, Vicky’s eyes widened.

Zelda gave a shrug. ‘You said Paul was unhappy, Vicky. Even though I know I’m right about what is best for him, I don’t like the thought of him being unhappy. A holiday in Yorkshire will do him good.’

‘And will mean he is well out of the way when his half-brother or half-sister is born?’