Remember Me - Regency Brides 03 (21 page)

The one person who she was excited to see was Claudia Baumgartner. The pretty American girl was truly excited for her marriage and wanted to know al about how her family was faring in Golden nay.

Final y North whispered into her ear, asking if she would like to step out to the terrace, and she quickly agreed, so tired was she from the stress of anticipating the evening.

' Are you glad to be back?" North asked her softly, once they had walked outside and found a nice private part of the terrace. He placed himself behind her as she leaned on the railing and linked his arms about her middle, hugging her to himself.

"I am, but I am surprised to find I miss Louisiana, too. I would love to go back one day," she sighed, as she thought of how sad everyone had been on that last Sunday there.

"Of course we'l go back. The Kent plantation is partly mine, too, so I'l want to check its progress every so often." He paused, and Helen could sense he was hesitant to ask her something. "Do you regret we married in Louisiana?”

Helen smiled and glanced up at him. "Not at al . Under the oaks with al our friends around us was perfect." Helen had never felt such love as she walked toward North as he waited for her by Pierre, wearing a proud smile ...

He'd looked so handsome in his dark gray suit and white cravat, and so regal, since it was from his own col ection of fine apparel.

While it was true the congregation had been saddened by the fact that North couldn't remain as their pastor, they were thankful that they'd stayed for three months while they located a new pastor.

If only the members
of
the ton could have seen how North and I lived those
months after we were married,
Helen thought fondly. They had continued to live in the little house behind the church, milking the cow and taking care of the house alone, except for the occasional help from Pierre.

It had been the perfect honeymoon, living so simply and happily together.

There, of course, had been sad moments along their way. The body of the real Hamish Campbel had been discovered by fishermen, and North had the unhappy duty of writing his sister and tel ing her the bad news.

All in al , Helen believed North had enjoyed his time away from the sometimes stressful job of being the Duke of Northingshire, yet she had worried he would somehow change when he returned to that position.

But she should have known he wouldn't. Even though they were back in England and living in luxury and style, North remained the same as he had been when he thought he was a simple preacher.

"What are you thinking about?" North asked as a breeze blew by, cooling their faces and mil ing their hair. "I'm trying to picture how your mother would look if she saw you milking our cow."

North chuckled and then placed a kiss on her ear. "I miss Queen Mary. We were just beginning to get along," he teased. "Now my mother is another story."

North's mother had stil not come around to accepting Helen for a daughter-in-law. But Helen had faith that one day she would.

In fact, Helen's faith had grown tremendously in al aspects as she and North studied the Bible and prayed together. It united and strengthened them so much that Helen knew God could help them overcome anything.

Even the English ton.

Even North's mother, the dowager Duchess of Northingshire!

Helen turned her head slightly to smile up at North and to possibly steal a kiss, but she became distracted when she saw a woman walk to the other side of the terrace and look up into the sky. As the moon caught the curves of her delicate features, Helen could see sadness in her expression and the slump of her shoulders.

The woman was Claudia Baumgartner.

"Now what are you thinking?" North asked as he often did when she became quiet and introspective. He never wanted to be left out of anything...even her mind.

"I'm just thinking about a friend who might need my help." Already her mind was whirling with ideas about what she could do to lift Claudia's spirits and help her feel more comfortable with life in England. She'd just finished reading a novel cal ed
Emma,
about a matchmaker who found Love herself. 'Perhaps that's what she could do for Claudia. .. "

North brushed her lips, bringing her thoughts back to him. You are a very thoughtful friend," he complimented her, smiling into her eyes.

As North Looked at her, al previous thoughts jumped out of her head as she reflected again on just how much she loved him. She turned in his arms and placed her arms around his neck.

"Now what are
you
thinking about?" she asked, teasingly.

"You," he whispered huskily, as he slowly lowered his head to prove his answer true.