Free Games (Timeless Series) by Sandy Loyd Page A

holds my attention for long?”
    “Bah! Those men are but fools who fall all over a pretty face and soft words.” She dismissed Giselle’s admission with the wave of her hand. “Here, let us get you out of that gown so we can run along. I am sure Mama and Papa will be expecting us.”
    “I like being a pretty face and saying soft words,” she said, laughing at her sister’s accurate description of the men she’d met, while struggling out of the gown.
    “Is that all you are?”
    “Well, no.” Then picking up her blouse and slipping into it, she asked, “But is that not what the men want?”
    “I guess some do and those men are all wrong for you . They know nothing of what is inside of you. They never bother to look deeper because the surface suits them fine. Yet that is the very reason they do not hold your interest for long.”
    Giselle was silent as she turned to allow help with her buttons . Marguerite’s assertion brought forth thoughts of Simon Harrington. He saw her differently than the other men she’d known. Was that why she had found him so interesting? Maybe her sister was on to something.
    “What you say makes sense .” She shrugged, watching her sister’s capable hands move quickly. “I did meet someone last summer while I was in Louisville. He is different.”
    Marguerite stopped buttoning Giselle’s blouse and glanced at Giselle . “Ah, so a suitable gentleman has finally captured your attention, non ?”
    Giselle gave her head a forceful shake. “ Non , it is not like that. He is definitely unsuitable, but he did capture my attention.”
    “You met someone and you did not share the news with me?” Her expression turned curious and her eyebrows rose. “What I want to know is why you chose to keep the information to yourself,” she asked as she finished the last button.
    “Because there is no information to tell . This happened months ago and is irrelevant now,” Giselle said in an irritated tone, turning around and stepping into the split skirt of her habit.
    “Then why do you still remember him?”
    She stopped her movements, holding the skirt in place. “Well, maybe he was worth remembering. At least a little bit.” A smile took over her face as she continued dressing. “But he is also the most infuriating man I have ever met and if I ever set eyes on him again, he will get an earful.” Her voice held much more vehemence than she’d intended.
    “So tell me about him.” Marguerite’s expression turned speculative . “Where did you meet him?”
    Giselle’s soft laughter erupted. “Why the inquisition? There is nothing to tell. I met Simon at a ball. We danced and he escorted me to dinner. But I danced with dozens of men that night.”
    “ Yet you remember only one.” Her sister tugged the skirt, righting it, while Giselle stood still.
    “ Non ! I remember others besides Simon,” she replied, raising her chin and meeting Marguerite’s probing gaze.
    “Seems like a lot happened in such a short time for you to be calling him by his first name,” Marguerite stated patiently, her expression saying she was having none of Giselle’s denials.
    “Oh , please,” Giselle scoffed, waving her hand. “You are starting to sound like a matchmaker and it is unbecoming.”
    “I am simply curious. There is something in your voice when you talk about him.” Marguerite distractedly turned her attention to a gown on a mannequin. She began pinning seams together and making an adjustment on the bodice. “I wonder why, is all.”
    “That is because he has the ability to set my teeth on edge. Simon Harrington is an odious man and I thank God he is not around to annoy me further.”
    “Simon Harrington?” She broke off, thinking. “Why does the name seem familiar? Have you spoken of him before?”
    “The name seems familiar because we met him in Paris . He is an associate of Papa’s. Now do you see why he is so unsuitable?”
    She gave an unconcerned shrug . “I do not remember