Adelaide would be lying if she said that there wasn't a frightfully small part of her that would grin impishly at the thought of how that man she regrettably shared blood ties to would feel about the roguishly charming man that had saved the young woman from some mongrel of a man in perhaps one of the last places she would have typically found herself in. Had it not been for the cold and the dark of night, she would have likely walked right past that burlesque, and unknowingly right past the one man that she'd met in her life aside from her beloved Townsend that was truly genuine. Ah, but did he have that noble heritage? Were there perfectly pressed suits to be found in the closet that he likely didn't have? Did he have a manor somewhere on the outskirts of the city with rolling green hills, or a garage filled with expensive toys? No. Taylor had none of these things that she had come to despise about the men who once sought her out, desired to make the French woman fall hopelessly in love with all the money that they had and all that they could provide for her. Perhaps for other women, they would have eagerly leapt at the chance to have such wealthy men craving their affections, promising them that they would be forever taken care of and catered to as they so desired while butlers would wait on them hand and foot like they were the only thing that mattered in the entire world, but Adelaide was not one of them. She knew that they all had those secret motives, and if there was one thing that she hated most in this world beyond all the fancy cars and thousand-dollar suits, it was all the lies and deception that tarnished the world that she had grown up living in. Each suitor was as shallow, hollow, some more than others yet in the end they were all the same. Just like gingerbread men made with cheap plastic cookie cutters. Only one had ever been able to hide from that ever searching sage eyes, and even then his charade hardly lasted long enough to trap the woman with that untamed soul. It had been close, much too close. Since Julien, she'd been sure to keep those walls high and strong against those imitation charms that could never hold a candle to Taylor.

Even though she knew little of the man who had saved the French woman that would always fiercely refuse to play that damsel in distress despite the fact that she clearly hadn't stood much of a chance against her attacker, she was drawn to him. So yes, while perhaps she took terribly subtle satisfaction in knowing the disapproving look her mother and father would look upon him with, that hardly held any weight over how she felt for him, even if she didn't quite know exactly what it was that stirred there in that wild heart of hers at the thought of him. It was both fascinating and exciting, the way that his hunter greens would gleam as her glittering sage gaze would meet them while the searched for the smallest and most miniscule hints of what she'd seen in all the other men before him only to find nothing but that unexplainable spark. She couldn't help thinking that there was something about him, an unknown whisper in his spirit that called quietly, wordlessly out to her own. With him, there was an easiness that made the young woman feel like she could be all that she was, be her true self. She couldn't place what it was, but when she'd ridden on the back of that Harley with the wind racing through her hair and arms slung snugly around his waist tightly toned with muscle, she'd felt so free... so fearless. Adelaide was not a timid creature in many situations, but somehow he brought out something even bolder in her and oh, how she enjoyed every moment of it. Yet in that same fierce moment, he awoke something gentler that Adelaide hadn't ever shared with another. Even that night with Julien, one of her father's most successful pawns, there hadn't been such a feeling that seemed to warm her in Taylor's closeness. The French woman was far from lacking in compassion or tenderness, but all those false men and that wretched father of hers had hardened her over time ever since the nobleman had considered her fate already decided and she'd been more determined than ever to show him she would not play the part of that obedient and soft-spoken daughter like he wanted. Perhaps it was simply because Taylor listened to her instead of just pretending to understand her, pretending to care about what she dreamed of. Maybe it was the way that he'd opened up himself to her when she dared to test those uncharted waters as she let him look into that past she wanted nothing more than to fly far, far away from. Or just maybe it was how every little thing he said or did, however playful or endearing, seemed to speak of honesty and warmth - something she was so unused to... Whatever it was, it had taken that frightfully rare and fragile trust of hers almost before she'd even been aware of it.

Let them disapprove all they wanted. Let those parents of hers dare to think that he was hardly worth their only daughter's affections. Let Townsend look at him in that the man like he was nothing good for the young woman, as though he was nothing but trouble. Adelaide believed that Taylor was more that he seemed. She was so certain of it, just as she was certain the that the sun would rise in the east and set in the west, even though she'd only just seen a glimpse into the bring that he was. If anyone would be able to see the good in him as time passed, it would be the ever stubborn and ever suspicious Englishman. Yes, it would take some time but in the end Adelaide had her money bet on the roguish man that was standing there at the front door as she opened it. Hunter greens gleam as they meet those sage eyes of the young woman, his tenor tones encouraging that smile onto those lips of hers as she closes the door behind him."Indeed it may prove to give you an advantage", she teases softly. Glittering sage eyes do not miss how he tensed at her touch that perhaps lingered a little longer than was needed to ensure that there was no swelling and she cannot hide that daring look in her gaze when she begins to move away from him, his next string of words causing that lilted laughter to tumble so easily and so softly from her then."I have full faith that you will, Monsieur", accented words answer with bright amusement when they finally enter into the living area and the kitchen just on the other side of that place where the fire burned and the two couched sat against each wall. She looked up at Taylor as she resumed cracking those eggs against the side of the glass mixing bowl as he speaks of how many perceived him, a sense of honesty seeming to tell her more than the very words themselves had. She offers him a gentle and almost affectionate smile in that moment as she cracks the last egg, pouring only a small amount of milk into that dish before she turns to return the glass bottle to the stainless steel fridge, closing that door once it's placed back where it belonged and moving over to the vegetables and cutting board."Townsend means well. He simply worries, and that stubborn streak in the man can make him seem harder than he is if nothing else. He will come around with time. I think you'd be surprised to know his past, you might even find common ground there. That is his story to tell you, though. Besides, I made it quite clear last night what I thought of you", she explains gently as she looks down at the vegetables she began to cut and and mince, accented words spoken with clear faith and confidence that the man she'd selected as her unlikely champion of sorts would be able to earn the respect of the only other man in her life she would always care for.

Sage eyes look up from the freshly chopped green peppers as he moves to sit in the bar stool across from her, a brow arching curiously as he clears his throat before asking if there was anything that has could do to help. She didn't need the help and yet, she couldn't help thinking that it might help him shake whatever nerves might have brought on such a tell-tale sign of uncertainty, at what she did not knew though she would almost dare to guess that he still wasn't used to her presence - or something more found him."If you'd like, you're welcome to use that grater on the blocks of cheese. A little of each should do nicely", she answers as she now moved on to the heart dark green spinach, gesturing to the place beside her where the metal cheese grater sat next to a block of sharp cheddar and gouda. She is curious to see if he would come to stand beside her with the acceptance of his offer to help replied with an invitation to join her. He seems to contemplate his next string of words before he seems to finally come to a decision and agrees to partaking in breakfast with her, though his next words leave a coy smile dancing upon those lips."You won't have to worry about that. There might even be enough for Rose and Reginald when all is said and done, though I feel like I should insist that you eat your fill before trying to sneak part of it to them", she teases then as that smile on her lips grows impish in nature, sage eyes glittering mischievously. She'd been able to tell last night how much she enjoyed Reginald, and those words of hers only assured him that she was entirely aware of that. The sound of claws clicking on the floor cause her to look up again and she smiles warmly as she watches Reginald move over to Taylor whose face seems to light up like a child given a treat as that strong hand rubs and scratches the black and tan male's head, that happy face of the dog just as clear as Taylor's as he sat on those strong haunches and leaned into those touches with a soft groan as the man found that favorite spot behind those cropped ears. Hunter greens look over to Rose who still insisted on remaining there by the fireplace with dark eyes far from trusting, the only sign that she'd heard Taylor's voice being the small flick of her ear before she lowered her head onto front paws though seeming to ensure she could still see the man from where she lay. The whole scene amused Adelaide."Winning her may prove harder than winning Townsend, though I'd say she's accepted that challenge of yours", teases the young woman as she continues working on breakfast, amusement flicking in her eyes as they looked back to the red peppers she now began to mince."So Taylor, why don't you tell me something about yourself? Anything of your choice, and in exchange I will match you with something about me. It could prove to be a fun little game before a day of serious work", she says curiously while she continues to work on that cutting board, occasionally setting down the knife to scoop the chopped vegetables into a separate bowl from the whisked eggs, her gaze lifting to meet his.