Games (Timeless Series) by Sandy Loyd

somewhere? Is he in town?”
    Ignoring Giselle’s dirty look, Marguerite bestowed a pretty smile . “ Non , I have not met him, but Giselle has.”
    “ Really? I wonder if he’s still in the game.” When he turned to look at Giselle, his eyebrows lifted higher. After eyeing her, he grunted. “Where did you meet him? Surely not on the farm. Although I know he’s passed through Louisville now and again. It would be nice to see him on one of his trips.”
    Her reluctance would raise more questions, so Giselle smiled and said, “We met at a ball in Louisville several months back. I danced and talked with him. He remembered you, Papa.”
    “Thinking of him now brings back memories of my life before your mother and I met.” He put his hand over his wife’s and squeezed. “But the minute I first laid eyes on your mother, I knew my days of intrigue were over. So you danced with him, huh?”
    Avoiding his speculative gaze, she looked down at her cup, studying the flowers intently, and shrugged . “ Oui , he seemed nice enough.”
    “Nice enough doesn’t describe Simon,” Marcus said, chortling . “My God, what I would give to have been a fly on the wall and see the two of you deal together. I’ll bet sparks flew.”
    Annoyed by his remark, she glanced up and caught his amused eyes . “Papa, you warned me away from him. Do you not remember?”
    “Yes , and I recall that was right before we left Paris.”
    “Well , it seems to me nothing has changed since then. He is still unsuitable. Since that is the case, I cannot see why it amuses you so to imagine us dealing with each other now.”
    Her father’s bark of laughter filled the air . “A lot has changed since then. Back then, he was much too experienced for a green girl like you. Not that I had to worry about him. He’s got some principles. It was you I worried about. But I don’t know why. You’re much more deadly to the opposite sex, and I pity the men who get caught up in your web.”
    “Papa! What an outrageous thing to say.”
    “Outrageous, maybe . But true nonetheless. I know my own daughter, for heaven’s sake. You do tend to be a bit fickle.”
    Stunned into silence, Giselle could only stare at him . Finally, in a wounded voice, she said, “I am not fickle. I admit I like to flirt and I adore the attention my beaux give me. Why is it a man can do so and no one calls him fickle? I am just enjoying myself while waiting for the right one to come along. How is that so wrong?”
    “It’s not wrong.” Sighing, he placed his hand over hers . “It’s part of you and I love every flirtatious bone in your body. But I do feel you see it as a game. I know you don’t mean to stomp on the feelings of those men who become enamored of you. After all, they are grown men who should know better than to be led around by the nose.”
    “Papa!” Giselle laughed at the mental picture her father’s statement brought forth. “I do not lead them around by the nose. You make them sound like fools.” She turned to her mother for help. “Mama, tell him I do not do that.”
    Sophie shrugged . “Well, not so much the nose, but the ears? Maybe?” she said, with a little chuckle. “I have often wondered how you accomplish such a feat with a few words and a look.” When Giselle rolled her eyes, her mother laughed again and came out of her chair to give Giselle a hug. “It is who you are. And I, for one, would have you no other way.”
    “Aye, your mother has a point there . I guess if I were to warn anyone now, I would warn Simon Harrington.”
    “Oh, hush, Marcus . You act as if the men have no will in the matter,” Sophie said as she sat back down.
    “You’re right, Sophie . I probably don’t have to warn him.” Chuckling, he turned to Giselle. “I certainly don’t think you’d have him by the nose, like all the others.”
    “You two are dreadful . I did not come all this way to see my family and expect to be insulted.”
    “I’m not insulting you