Remember Me - Regency Brides 03 by Kimberley Comeaux Page A

your turn, sonny."
    This time North responded with a jerk as if he had awakened from a dream. He quickly stood and looked around nervously. Stiffly, he walked to the pulpit and put down his Bible and notes. . . .
    It seemed like an eternity passed as he slowly flipped through his Bible, adjusted his papers, then cleared his throat at least four times.
    "Has he ever done this before?" Josie whispered, stil too loud. A smattering of laugher trickled from the people sitting around them as they heard her comment.
    "Shhh!" Helen sounded sharply as she prayed North would be able to calm down and begin his message.
    Final y he read the scripture passage they'd chosen together.' His voice sounded steady and strong as he read expertly from his Bible, and Helen started to relax.
    He was doing fine. Of course, he could do this! He was, after al , a duke!
    Unfortunately, poor North didn't have any idea who he was or what he was capable of. For after he read the scripture, he looked up at the crowd, looked back down at his Bible, and ... Nothing! He seemed unable to speak another word.

    ***
North was so seized with self-doubt that he couldn't seem to get another word out! He just couldn't seem to fathom why he had chosen the occupation of clergyman when he was so obviously afraid of speaking in public.
    Wouldn't it be something that comes natural y? he wondered hurriedly as he struggled to get bold of his panic. But then nothing else had come natural y. Not taking care of animals, providing for himself without the help of a servant, and certainly not writing sermons. Why should he believe this would be any different?
    Nothing felt ,right. His col ar was too tight, his shoes were actual y a lime too big, and he thought he might have gotten a splinter in his hand when he stepped up to the pulpit and ran his palm on the top of the wooden surface.
    Read! Just read your message. It is al written out for you, he told himself so sternly that he feared he'd spoken it aloud. But when he looked at the congregation, they merely seemed curious and puzzled as' to why he was just standing there, not saying anything.
    He didn't want to tel them of his memory loss, because they would believe him to be crazy. If he didn't control his fear, they were going to come to that conclusion anyway!
    Taking a deep breath, he prayed he would find a peace and be able to proceed.
    And miraculously God must have heard, because he was able to take a deep breath, his heartbeat slowing down so he could focus.
    He lifted his gaze and saw Helen's concerned eyes fastened on him. A feeling like North knew he'd never felt before seemed to hit him square in the chest and straight to his heart. But it didn't make him more nervous; instead, it gave him a greater peace, knowing she was there to support him.
    He smiled at her and quickly moved his gaze about the room so as not to let anyone think he was flirting with a woman in church and in sight of everyone.
    When he briefly looked back at her, she was returning his smile, looking quite relieved that he seemed to be al right.
    He looked back down at his notes and began to read. He kept trying to stop and make comments on what he was reading without having to look directly from his notes, but he couldn't seem to think of anything. So he read. And read.
    And read.
    He didn't once look up.
    He finished the sermon in what he was sure was record time for a clergyman. In fact, the whole thing including the scripture reading could not have lasted more than ten minutes.
    When he final y spoke the last words on his page, he looked up to find everyone staring at him with sort of a dazed expression on their faces. Not knowing what else to do, he quickly bowed his head and said a closing prayer, which sounded amateurish at best.
    The members of his congregation were as polite as they could be as they filed out of the building, shaking his hand as they passed him. Every once in a while someone would actual y tel him that his sermon was good,