The Dorr's home was rather rustic compared to the grandeur of Sous les Chênes, but it was comfortable and had extensive grounds. Heinrich smiled as he saw multiple greenhouses in the distance behind the main house. Philip escorted Heinrich into the house where Felicity and Eugénie were waiting. Felicity had a hard time concealing her joy at seeing him again. He noticed how her eyes creased as she smiled. "Greetings, Mrs. Dorr." He removed his hat and crossed the hall to kiss her chastely on the cheek.
"Please, Heinrich, I am still Felicity." Gesturing to the nervous young woman beside her, she said, "And I believe that you met Eugénie yesterday."
"Yes. I am glad that you and your parents agreed to meet with me. I brought you chocolate. I'm sorry. I don't know what it is that one does in these circumstances."
"Nor I, sir." Eugénie said as she accepted the box of chocolate. "Thank you."
"Eugénie." Heinrich said her name out loud as if he was trying it out. "It was for the best that you remain with your mother and senator Dorr, of course, but please know that I never stopped wondering about you."
"I see," she said uneasily. Seeking to break the tension, she added, "people call me Genie for short."
"Genie, then." Heinrich smiled as he recognized in her facial expressions a female version of his beloved Manfred.
They repaired to the dining room for tea and though the conversation consisted of pleasantries at first, Heinrich and the Dorrs found that they had much to speak of- many years of catching up. Though Philip was uncomfortable with the entire proceeding, even he had to admit that he had built the stone wall at the new orchard by hand using the skills that Mr. Brotherson had learned from von Rheingarten. Eugénie listened for some time, but when she decided to speak, she did so with the brazen curiosity of a teenager.
She asked Heinrich, "Have you ever killed anyone?" Genie lets things simmer for a while then goes straight to the point- she's her mother's child all over, Heinrich thought.
Heinrich drew in a deep breath that betrayed the answer to her question. "I was a young soldier during the Great War. As I rose through the ranks it was inured in us that what we were doing was right. Germany suffered a bitter defeat, but I still believed in my country- my homeland. During the second world war, I became the commandant of St. Gregory still believing that our acts of war were justified. It took the grief of losing a son for me to challenge these ideas. Later, learning that my surviving son too had been shot down while I was basking in a thermal spa at Vichy was for me... what I believe you call a turning point. Many suffered at our hands- or worse." He glanced at Felicity, acknowledging her time in prison. "I have done many things that I regret very deeply."
"Am I one of those things?" Eugénie asked.
"No," he answered definitively, "though I do regret leaving your mother in a difficult situation." Felicity reached across the table to squeeze his hand in reassurance, but she dropped it as she caught Philip's glare.
Being honest with his daughter gave Heinrich the courage to ask Eugénie a question of his own: "I know that this is all very new to you, but have you given thought to the future?"
"Mum wants me studying horticulture and botany but I prefer business."
"My unsolicited advice is to do both." He cleared his throat. "I would like it if you would come to Germany one day to learn about the vineyard. It will be yours one day." Eugénie looked over at her mum, who nodded as Philip scowled. "You may choose to sell it, or you may find that you are interested in running it yourself."
"I will have to give that some thought," Eugénie said. She was not sure what her father- who raised her-would think, though the look on Philip's face was clear.
Felicity asked, "Phil, would you mind if the Baron and I took a walk?" Philip stared back at her as hard as stone. "Just a walk, Phil."
"I promise that nothing untoward will happen," Heinrich said. "I fear your father's right hook. Did he tell you that he knocked my front teeth loose many years ago?" Heinrich then tapped on his teeth. "Porcelain."
Phil and Genie exchanged glances. "Our dad wouldn't harm a flea!" Eugénie exclaimed.
"He would if it meant defending your mother."
"It's true." Felicity said, remembering a dark night. To the victor go the spoils. "You deserved that, too." She said to Heinrich and then looked again pleadingly at Philip.
"Go ahead." Philip finally conceded.
"Thank you."
The two headed into the orchard, and once under the cover of trees Heinrich took Felicity's hand. "The years have been good to you, Felicity. Thank you for today. It has been a beautiful glimpse of what might have been- the life that we could have had together."
"Yes, it has." She admitted. "As devastating as it has been to have all this come to light after so many years, it is good to see you. I never thought I would see you again after the prison, and I hate to think about that time. Thank you for coming to me one more time under happier circumstances, for coming to meet our daughter."
"Yes. You have done a wonderful job raising her, you and the senator. I owe him a great debt."
"James is a good man. Prison changed both of us, separately, yet we grew together. Our marriage is much stronger than it ever was before the war. And you? Do you have a good marriage?"
"I do. My wife spends most of her time caring for our son. But I have my vineyard to keep me busy. We love our son, and I am luckier than many who lost their sons in the war. I admire my wife very much, she is very strong to have dealt with so much pain and loss. Along with my business trip I promised her holidays in England after so many years sequestered at home. The height of hypocrisy, I know. Because here I am with you, and all I can think about is asking if I can kiss you one more time."
"You needn't ask, Heinrich." She leapt up to meet his lips, more spry than most sixty year olds would be. He responded passionately. Finally breaking apart to catch their breath, they gazed into one another's eyes. Heinrich wiped away the tears that formed in her eyes and looked up at the leafy canopy of the oak trees.
"These are impressive oaks- most appropriate as I have often dreamt of kissing you at Sous les Chênes. How's your French, Felicity?"
"Passable. Should I be getting on with something?"
"At least we are at peace, kissing under the oaks, sous les chênes. Unlike when I kissed you under the chains of war, sous les chaînes. A cruel double entendre."
"Ah, but our kisses here must still be secret, for we are bound by other chains- she indicated her wedding ring. Please, Heinrich, kiss me again before we ought to get back. It won't be long before Philip comes looking for us. I don't wish to cause him or James any more grief." Heinrich responded, running his hands from her hair all the way down her back. At last he brought his lips to rest on her forehead.
Holding hands, they started back together. As they reached the clearing at the edge of the orchard, she dropped his hand and together they walked into the sunlight towards the house.
"I must be getting back to London," he said to Eugénie and Philip. "I was wondering, Genie, if it would be all right if I write to you occasionally?"
"Yes, of course," she said. "Thank you for coming to find me. If you hadn't, I never would have known..." Her voice started to tremble.
"Until we meet again, then, liebe Genie. Be good to your parents." He turned to Felicity and kissed her hand. "Goodbye, Felicity."
"Have a safe journey, Heinrich." She said with an air of formality, trying to hide her tears from her children.
It was their third goodbye, and though each time their parting seemed permanent, Felicity and Heinrich had come to know that they would be forever linked through their daughter. There were no more endings for them, only a new beginning. They may no longer be lovers, but one day, they would share grandchildren.