A prison camp in Germany, 1943
After the birth of their child, Felicity truly believed that she would never see Heinrich again. But there was one more meeting that fate had in store for them. It was 1943, and Felicity had been deported to a German prison some months prior.
She was thrown into an interrogation cell not knowing the reason why. She sat on the tiny cot and waited anxiously. As the door swung open, she did not recognize the silhouette that stood before her. A man entered and the door slammed shut behind him.
"What do you want with me?" She asked.
"It is me, Felicity." The Baron whispered.
"Heinrich? You came."
He sat down on the bench next to her and wrapped her in his arms. "Oh liebe Felicity. I had to see you." Even in the dimly lit cell, he could make out a bruise on her face. He shuddered, knowing first-hand that horrible things happened in these prisons. Felicity winced as he caressed the bruise gently with his fingers.
"I've been told I am impertinent," she explained simply.
"Never." He smiled. "I'm sorry, Felicity, but the order to deport the English-born from the Channel Islands came directly from Hitler. There is nothing I can do to get you out of here. But I will make it clear to your jailers that this-" he indicated her bruise- "is not to happen again. You will be treated humanely."
"Thank you."
"Would that I could bring you to Vichy as my mistress. But Maréchal Pétain is very concerned with family values. Travail, Famille, Patrie. Though that does not stop the champagne orgies that happen in propaganda office of the Hôtel du Parc. Say what you will about my having invaded your home, but I never let that happen at Sous les Chênes."
"For which I am most grateful. Tell me, do you have any news of Phil?"
"I knew that you would ask that first thing. From the cursory records I was able to access, Mr. Brotherson is still alive. Beyond that, I know nothing."
"Thank you for that. It gives me hope. And your son?"
"Still in the Luftwaffe. Fortunately, I have regular letters." He paused before addressing the burning question that brought him here. "Felicity, speaking of our sons, I need to know. The prison records indicate that you arrived here alone. What became of the child you were carrying?"
She lifted her hand to his face and she burst into a smile, the first in ages. "We have a beautiful daughter, Heinrich. Her name is Eugénie Rose. She remained at Sous les Chênes."
"You named her for that spy, Eugène Lasalle? Of course."
"James' idea. You can cut down a tree, but Eugénie is a living memorial."
"Hmph. I always wanted a daughter. I kept my word, you know. I set up a bank account in Switzerland in Senator Dorr's name, but no funds have been drawn from the account."
"James is very proud. He will never take your money. He is absolutely devoted to the girl; he sees it as penance of a sort for giving Eugène Lasalle over to you."
"I am sorry that he has to bear that burden, but I am glad that the child is well-cared for. This war has gone on too long. I am truly sorry that it had to come to this. You don't deserve to be locked in here."
"Just hold me, Heinrich. Please."
"A few minutes more, Felicity. Then I will have to leave you. I am just passing through."
"Are you going… home?" Felicity asked hesitantly, and the Baron nodded.
"I have a two-week leave."
"Your wife must miss you terribly."
"Yes." He admitted. "But I had to see you. It is important to me to know that I have a daughter, even though I cannot claim her as my own. I am grateful to the senator for keeping her safe."
She snuggled deeply into his chest as if the uniform he wore didn't exist.
"Felicity, one day, we will end this war, and I hope that it happens sooner rather than later. When it does, perhaps you will be able to send me news of her through my banker in Switzerland. I trust the firm with my personal affairs."
"I shall try my best, though James and I are agreed that Eugénie should never know the truth."
"I understand. Thank you in advance, Felicity, for anything you can manage. Once you are freed, of course."
"If I am freed," she said, despairingly.
"Believe it, Felicity; you will be free one day." He rubbed her back for several more minutes.
Leaving her there was the hardest thing he'd ever done; yet he knew that he could not walk out with her. It would be tantamount to treason against the Reich; he would be sent to the eastern front and Felicity would be shot. He truly did not know what he would have done if he had found his love-child in the prison as well.
He managed to kiss her hair one more time and then steeled himself to leave. "I have to go. Forgive me." He raised her hand to his lips.
"Goodbye, Heinrich."
"Be strong, Felicity."
"Always." She responded.
1960
Felicity Dorr shuddered into her pillow as she remembered that day in the prison. It was the last time she'd seen Heinrich von Rheingarten. Now after all these years, he'd come back to find their daughter. She ached to see him again, but however could she reconcile that with the love she shared with her husband who had uprooted himself for her happiness?