‘Preposterous!’ Joseph shook his head. ‘I was not born to be a king, any more than Lucien here, or Louis or Jérôme.’

‘I disagree,’ Napoleon replied. ‘Any one of my brothers is worth ten tsars, or any ruler placed on a throne by right of birth. Why, one only needs to look to Britain to see the proof of that. King George is insane, and his heir is an irresponsible libertine. Are there not a hundred, a thousand, better men in Britain with the ability to rule? So, when the time comes, I will make kings of you all.’

‘Whether we wish it or not?’ asked Lucien.

‘I need allies I can trust. As Mother says, what better bond is there than blood? Are you with me?’

Lucien thought for a moment, and shrugged. ‘You are my brother. Of course I am with you. As long as you are no tyrant.’

‘And you, Joseph?’

His older brother grinned and raised his glass. ‘To the bitter end.’

‘The only end I recognise is everlasting glory.’

‘Everlasting?’ Letizia pursed her lips and darted a glance at Josephine. ‘That will only happen if you produce a successor.Without an heir the whole thing falls apart.’

‘There will be an heir,’ Napoleon said firmly. ‘It’s just a matter of time.’

‘Time is very much the issue,’ his mother said. ‘You have been married for over ten years now. Josephine, remind me. How old are you?’

The Empress winced but did not reply as Letizia leaned towards her and tapped her finger on the table. ‘Forty-two, I seem to recall. Am I right?’

Josephine nodded.

‘Well, forgive me, my dear, but isn’t that a little late for child-bearing? ’

Napoleon rushed to his wife’s defence. ‘Older women have given birth to healthy children, Mother. There’s still time.’

Josephine stared at him across the table and said flatly,‘Older women? Thank you.’

‘You must have an heir,’ Letizia insisted.

‘And I will. Josephine has borne two healthy children—’

‘That was a long time ago.’

‘And she will produce more.’

‘When?’ Letizia asked sharply.

‘When the time is right, Mother.’

‘And if she doesn’t?’

‘She will,’ Napoleon countered fiercely, although he knew in his heart that there was little chance of it.

‘She has to, if she is to justify being the wife of the Emperor of France.’

‘That is enough!’ Josephine banged her hand down on the table, startling the others into silence. ‘I will not be spoken of in this manner. Do you understand? I will not. Tell her, Napoleon.’

Napoleon stared back at her, then glanced towards his mother.

Josephine’s lips quivered. ‘I will not take this! What right does she have to speak to me in this manner?’

‘What right?’ Letizia drew her thin frame up in her chair. ‘The right conferred on me by bringing thirteen children into this world, eight of whom have survived. Not just two.’