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British army “spider” hut. She had the highest-ranking wartime commission in the women’s services – acting-temporary brigadier. None of us made it above colonel.’
    â€˜Or even major,’ Adam added. ‘She’s going into private practice when . . . well, you’ll see.’
    Marianne had meanwhile been appraising the pony. ‘A creature like this should be worth a fortune in Hamburg,’ she said. Then, to Felix: ‘That’s where I was living since the liberation, until we got married last month. D’you know it?’
    The two men glanced in dismay at Felix, whose heart fell. How could he make them understand he didn’t require their solicitude – or not in such small ways as that? If they wanted to pull strings to get him commissions, a free studio, a pension or two . . . fine. But not all this pussyfooting – as if he still had feelings , for heaven’s sake.
    â€˜Hamburg!’ he said. ‘My favourite city – what’s left of it! I suppose it had to be done. Ironic, though, that it was the most anti-Hitler city in all Germany. He got a very poor reception there.’
    â€˜You’ve seen it?’ Willard asked.
    â€˜Several times. I went there for medical tests. And convalescence.’
    â€˜Not during . . .’ Adam faltered.
    â€˜No.’ He chuckled drily. ‘Not during . Funnily enough, I, too, was there last week. We must just have missed each other.’
    When they realized he was joking they laughed. Too much.
    Adam cut in: ‘As I was saying – Willard was with us the day you were liberated. In fact, Tony and I were present as guests of the American section of AMGOT .’
    â€˜I remember,’ Felix said – which embarrassed them because, as Adam had been about to add, Willard had been on the far side of the camp at the moment when he and Tony had realized that the Felix Breit they were helping was the Felix Breit. And Felix had lapsed into a near-coma by the time Willard arrived.
    â€˜Liberated?’ Marianne asked.
    Adam explained. She reached across him, squeezed Felix’s arm, and looked ahead, rather fixedly.
    They reached the bottom of the slope below the forecourt and turned left, facing a reluctant pony up the hill. The watery sun cast shorter shadows on the slope ahead of them and soon their outlines were lost in the blunted, lacy penumbra of new, half-formed leaves on the overarching trees.
    â€˜So what’s with this Great Secret out here in the boondocks?’ Willard asked Adam. ‘Tony was very cagey. It had better be good.’
    â€˜It’ll be interesting, anyway,’ he replied. ‘Interesting to hear what you think of it.’
    â€˜And that’s all you’re going to tell us?’
    â€˜Until I can just say voilà! Tony and Nicole are there already, waiting for us – so I can promise you a wonderful high-tea, conjured out of nothing.’
    â€˜Yeah – that’s another thing I meant to ask: She was back in Trouville, you two were in Hamburg – how did those two get together again?’
    â€˜He went back and found her. Couldn’t face life without her.’ He paused and asked Marianne, ‘Why the grin?’
    â€˜When you said “went back and found her”,’ she replied, ‘so was it with Willard and me.’
    â€˜All last winter,’ Willard confirmed. ‘I used to sit in my office staring at the Mystic River, seeing her face in every ripple.’
    Adam levelled an accusing finger at him but said nothing.
    Willard said it for him. ‘I know, I know. You done tol’ me!’
    â€˜What did he tell you?’ Marianne asked.
    â€˜Never mind.’
    â€˜I told him he was a fool if he ever thought he could go back home and forget you.’
    â€˜Adam – how nice! When was that?’
    â€˜Right after . . .’ he began and then fell