Spring, 1941
The halcyon days of Felicity and Heinrich were abruptly ended by a telegram from Berlin. Heinrich stared at it in disbelief, devastated to learn that he would be leaving- but relieved to know that he was not going to the front. Nevertheless, Felicity was shattered when he shared his news with her in the drawing room that evening.
"I didn't ask for this, Felicity. I swear it; I had intended to leave Sous les Chênes, not the isle of St. Gregory all together. True, I had asked an old school mate to make some informal inquiries on my behalf, but it seems that Herr Hitler is impressed with my record here. It is a model occupation, after all."
"A model of brutality and repression, yes, you can be very proud of yourself." She snarled. "I hope that you enjoy hobnobbing in Vichy." She knew very well that the posh spa resort-turned-capital of France was not the ideal milieu for one as disciplined as Heinrich. He was well suited to lording over the tiny island; now he would work alongside the French government as it collaborated with Hitler.
He placed his hands firmly on her shoulders. "Don't be like that, Felicity. We both knew this day would come. Senator Dorr will be released in a month's time and you and your family will move on with your lives. It is for the best that I not be here to stand in your way."
On the night before he was to depart, there were many final details for Heinrich to attend to as he passed the role of commandant to Obermeister Flach. One letter troubled him more than the rest, however, and it had nothing to do with governance. He went through several drafts before sealing it with wax. As he did this, Felicity entered his office in her night clothes.
"Mrs. Dorr, you should not be here."
"I don't care. I need to see you, to hold you one last time." She tried to giving him a loving look, but something prevented it. "And take off that monstrous uniform before you come to my bed." She turned on her heels to scurry away, but he called after her.
"Wait, there is one last piece of business to attend to." He handed her the envelope that pained him so. On the front he had scrawled, Senator Dorr. "You will give this to him, yes?"
"Only if you can assure me that I will not regret it."
"It is a peace offering between us, even if our nations are at war."
"All right."
Heinrich did come to Felicity's bedroom one last time. She gave him a sad but brave smile as he regarded her lying on her side with a pillow propped under her stomach. "I want you one more time," she said, reaching for him. He joined her on the bed, side-lying behind her, kissing the nape of her neck down and along her collarbone as his arm wrapped around her front. They made love tenderly. He did not sleep afterwards despite his exhaustion. Heinrich traced his hands all over her body, wanting to memorize the feel of her to take with him. His caresses kept returning to the mound protruding from her stomach. Felicity awoke.
"Try to get some sleep, Heinrich," she said. "It's for the best. You've said so yourself."
"I know. But I am sad that I will not know my son."
"How do you know that he is a boy?"
"I have fathered two sons; you also have a son. I felt him move; he is strong within you. Yet he will be different from my boys; he will speak English. He will not know of his German heritage. Would that I could impart that to him now."
Heinrich lowered his voice and began to sing softly a melody that Felicity recognized as Brahm's lullaby.
Guten Abend, gute Nacht,
mit Rosen bedacht,
mit Näglein besteckt,
schlupf unter die Deck:
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
wirst du wieder geweckt,
morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
wirst du wieder geweckt.
The haunted melody made her cry. The two clung to each other as tightly as they could. Just before dawn, Heinrich got up and dressed. "Oh, Heinrich," she whispered. "I will miss you."
He laid a final kiss to Felicity's belly, then to her lips. "Fare thee well, liebe Felicity."