Fall 1941

Only a few short months later, James was peddling swiftly along the windswept roads on his bicycle to escort the midwife to Sous les Chênes.

When he'd become a father for the first time, young James was barely twenty years old. He spent the night in the parlour with his own father and other senators who were smoking cigars, pouring brandy, and clapping the lad on the back as they awaited a little Dorr. How they'd howled with joy when "it's a boy" was announced!

This time, James was old enough to know better. There had been nannies and supplies in abundance for Philip; this baby would be his and Felicity's responsibility in a time of austerity. He was sat outside the room that he was forbidden to enter. "It won't be long, now," Delphine the maid had told him when he'd shown the midwife to his wife's room, though to him it seemed like an eternity. Felicity's low howls reminded him in a terrible way of the moans he'd heard coming from the interrogation rooms of the POW camp.

Later, as Delphine presented him with a gurgling baby girl, he asked to see his wife. "Soon; the midwife is still working," she said. He sat alone with the gurgling bundle and felt the enormity of fatherhood engulf him.

Delphine came back out with a sack of bloodied laundry. James grew pale at the site. "Were there complications?" he asked.

"No, everything went smoothly. She is a big baby, though, especially given the size of her mother."

No way to pretend that you were pre-mature, then. James thought as he looked down at his little bundle.

"Can I see her now?" He mustered.

"A few minutes more, senator."

At last, James was admitted to the bedroom and planted a kiss on Felicity's forehead before sitting by her side, still holding their daughter. "She's a girl, James." Felicity murmured.

"And a beautiful girl she is. I want to call her Eugénie," he said.

"Eugène Lasalle. Always with us?" Felicity cringed at the suggestion.

"It's important to me." James said.

"All right." Felicity wearily conceded. "Eugénie Rose, then." For the roses in Brahms' lullaby and all the time that Heinrich and I spent in the garden...

September 1942

Not being able to work at the Senate grated on James' nerves, but it gave him the opportunity to become a doting father to his little girl. He spent most days with Felicity and Eugénie, and though the news of the war was always bleak, the Dorr family seemed to coalesce during the occupation. James couldn't stand knowing that forced labourers were building fortifications on his island, but his home and family always served as a refuge. It was almost a relief to not be involved in the government.

After the British took German civilians as prisoners in Iran, Hitler decided to take revenge on the only British citizens he had under his thumb: the English-born residents of the Channel Islands. The island-born themselves were spared, but those born on English soil like Felicity were to be deported to a prison in Germany. James had hoped to keep Felicity safe as the wife of a former senator when the deportations started, but Obermeister Flach had other ideas. That fateful day he surged into the drawing room at Sous les Chênes with a cadre of troops.

"It is time to go Mrs. Dorr. I wish to allow you to leave in dignity."

"I can't leave my baby." Felicity said, cradling Eugénie. "She is still nursing."

"Of course. The child will come as well."

"Over my dead body! You will never take my daughter!" Felicity cried.

James tried to reason with Flach. "Please, Obermeister, we have always collaborated with you and the commandant."

"You mean the former commandant. But no matter. These orders come directly from Herr Hitler. Not even your Baron can save you now. Men! Apprehend her."

The soldiers moved to apprehend Felicity, who crumpled to the ground around her baby.

"No! Stop! The child was born on St. Gregory; she stays!" James choked on his words, knowing that by saving his daughter he was consenting to the Nazis taking his wife. He watched the soldiers drag his wife to her feet. "I'm so sorry, Felicity. Trust me with Eugénie. I will keep her safe. She can't go to a prison."

Felicity was sobbing but managed a "yes, James." James approached her to kiss her one last time and take the babe from her arms. "I love you." He whispered, not wanting to be overly sentimental in front of the soldiers who held back Felicity's arms.

"I love you, too, James. Take care of our sweet Eugénie."

The baby began to shriek as the soldiers marched her mother away. James held Eugénie tightly and began to weep himself.

Delphine the maid returned home that evening from her errands in the village frustrated and unsure of what to tell the senator. "I'm sorry, sir, but I was unable to find a nurse for Miss Eugénie. I will start some mush for her."

"No nurse, in all of St. Gregory? Rubbish. I supposed that I will have to take care of it myself."

The next day, James Dorr went to the estate of his colleague Senator Martin, whose tenant farmer's wife had recently had a child. He explained the situation of his wife's deportation.

"I'll pay you whatever I can. Please, Mr. Robidoux, would your wife nurse my daughter?"

Mr. Robidoux was suitably embarrassed but not at all shy about sharing his views.

"I'm sorry, senator. I respect you and believe you to be a noble man, but my wife will not suckle that Nazi bastard."

James Dorr stood still from shock. No one on 'his island' had ever dared refuse him anything. Despite everything the Nazis had taken from him- including his wife- no betrayal stung more than when it came from his own people.

That was the day that St. Gregory stopped feeling like home to James Dorr.

1960

The fire crackled in the fireplace as James tried to answer Eugénie's questions as simply and tactfully as possible. "This war turned the world upside-down and nothing made sense anymore. To this day, I am filled with hatred for Baron von Rheingarten. But he entrusted to me the most extraordinary little person I have ever met- you."

"And mum? Does she hate the Baron as much as you and Phil?"

"I can't answer that for her. But she's taken this rather hard, I'm afraid. She was quite hysterical when Phil rang. She is devastated by what you and Phil must think. Phil said he'd come first thing in the morning; Hannah will mind the store. Mum's taken a sleeping pill to help calm her down. She promised me that we'll all have a decent chat in the morning."

Eugénie nodded.

"Please remember that no matter what, Eugénie Rose Dorr, I am your father. I always have been, and I always will be."