Remember Me - Regency Brides 03 by Kimberley Comeaux Read Free Book Online Page B

Campbel . I am Hamish Campbel , the vicar of this hot, muggy spot of America." He recited this to himself to try to lift the odd confusion that had come over him since he'd awakened. For a moment ...he felt different somehow. Not at al like Hamish Campbel , the humble, poor preacher of Golden Bay.
    He remembered thinking that his servants would answer the door. He wondered why he would automatical y think he had servants to see after him. Did he once have them in England and Scotland?
    Once again, several loud raps sounded on his door. North grudgingly pul ed himself out of bed and quickly donned his plain, wrinkled clothes.
    When he final y opened the door, he was surprised to find a tal , slim, black man dressed in a fine brown suit with a darker brown-and-black-striped vest over a snow-white shirt and expertly tied cravat.
    "Bonjour, Monsieur Campbel ," the man greeted in a crisp, confident tone as he bent in a short bow. "I am Pierre LeMonde, a freedman from New Orleans and currently in the employ of Mr. Robert Baumgartner. I am versed in al manner of household chores and have been at Golden Bay to teach their household staff the correct methods in which to carry out their duties. I not only speak excel ent English but also French, which is my first language."
    Slightly bemused by the lengthy, confusing speech, North automatical y responded to his last statement without any thought. "Bonjour, monsieur.
    Heureaux pour vous rencontrer, " he replied in French, tel ing him he was pleased to make his acquaintance.
    "Et vous aussi, "Pierre answered, and North understood him to say that he was pleased to meet him, too.
    But he didn't know how he knew this.
    Would a simple preacher know this? Was this something one learned at seminary or university? "I'm sorry, monsieur, but are you al right?" Pierre asked, bringing North's attention back to the present.
    "I think I am a little unclear as to why you are here," he told him bluntly, stil shaken from discovering yet another odd piece of the puzzle that didn't seem to fit in with what he knew of his life.
    "Miss Helen Nichols informed her employers you were in need of … how shal I say . . . domestic help." North grinned at the man's. effort at being tactful. "She told you about the fiasco with the cow and chickens, did she not?" Pierre put his hand against his mouth and let out a little cough. ' Uh-hum. Wel yes, monsieur, she did."

    North laughed as he stepped back and motioned for the man to come into his smal house. "I wil take help any way I can get it, even if I have to promote my embarrassing moments to get it."
    Pierre smiled broadly as he entered the house. He inspected the room and then quickly turned to look at North with the same critical eye. "You are not what I imagined you'd be," he said final y, his deep tone thoughtful.
    Intrigued, North cocked his head to one side as he asked, "Why do you say that?"
    Pierre shook his head as he shrugged his slim shoulders. "I have been in the employ of some of the richest families of south Louisiana. English, Spanish, and French-it does not matter. They al had the same quality about them, the same air. They spoke differently-they walked differently than the average man or woman." He motioned his hand in a sweeping gesture toward North. "You possess these same qualities."
    North scampered to remember what Helen had told him. Did she say his family was or had been wealthy? Oh, yes. She had been very vague as to the exactness of his financial status. So instead he went with his intuition-what he felt deep in his heart. "I am from a wealthy family," he answered, praying it was not a lie.
    Pierre lifted an eyebrow as he nodded his head slowly. "Then that explains it.
    And you gave up your comfortable life for God's cal ing," he reflected aloud.
    "Very noble."
    If only he could feel the cal ing, North thought sadly. He must have felt the zeal that had caused missionaries and preachers through the centuries to leave their friends and