Every soul should be the writer of their own stories, the makers of their own fate. This was something that Adelaide had always been a fierce believer in. Through all those silly fairytale stories that her mother would tell the little girl as she lay there tucked warmly in those those warm blankets with the low light of the beside lamp illuminating that large bedroom that had always been hers, despite the tales of princes saving princesses locked away in those high towers beset by a gruesome dragon or beast, the young girl had been so sure that if that princess truly wanted to set herself free, she could. Why was it always a stranger that had to come to her rescue, Excalibur in hand and polished armor shining in the dull light of the moon as they promised to be the champion that she needed? She felt as though those stories never allowed for the woman to be her own savior, as if the sword and armor would be much too heavy upon slender shoulders. It was this undying question that was first borne into little Adelaide and awakened on her that wild spirit that was all her own and for no one to dare try and control. She refused unrelenting to be someone's puppet, especially her father's. She would do what was called for to show those parents of hers that she did, would not be bound by the shallow expectations that they had tried to settle over her. She refused the life that they wanted for her. She fought fiercely against the idea that she would only ever amount to being a pretty little wife to raise children for some man just as false and deceitful as her father. Yes, she knew that a long time ago, it was more than an expectation for women to do all that her parents desired Adelaide to, but those were long since gone with the years that have passed since then. It was frustrating that they wanted to cling almost desperately to those old traditions and ideals, and she'd let them know that every step of the way. There was no swaying the French woman once she'd tasted that very first taste of freedom, and now that she was here in Sacrosanct and entirely her own individual without her ever watchful mother and wretched man of a father, she would make sure that they would never be able to call her back to that cage again. She'd finally found her wings. They'd been kissed by the sky, there was no going back to where she'd come from, not after finally feeling as though she could breathe. Not after meeting Taylor.

Yet, even in the wake of her newfound freedom that only fueled the flames of that defiant and almost rebellious nature in the young woman, she was very much aware that she would have to find a way to establish herself, completely accepting to the idea that she might have to fight to drive those roots ever deeper so that there was no hope of ever pulling them out and away. She could simply live off her wealth if she so desired, it wasn't as though there was the faintest warning signs that suggested this resource of hers to be near running out anytime soon, but that defeated the entire purpose for having abandoned the city limits of Paris and the borders of France. If there was one thing that would only further drive those roots so driven to take hold and never let go, it was to be found in establishing herself without relying on her parents. And while she had all the monetary resources she could ever need, she would take the utmost advantage of it and make something of her own. So many books had been opened and explored over the past few days, ever since she'd made the decision to open her own business and forget her own path to success in sealing this freedom so permanently into place that not even the nobleman would be able to tear it all away from her, and at last she'd come up with the answer she'd been looking for. Now, it was only a matter for executing this plan of hers that she had yet to reveal to Townsend. She already knew he would be skeptical of what she intended on accomplishing, but in the very same moment she also knew that he would not be able to defy her if she had everything in place well enough. The world had yet to see all that was truly the French woman and what she might be capable of, only having had just a taste of that steadfast determination that could never be shaken or shattered. They always say that where there's a will, there's a way, and she had more than enough of a fiery will to seize that very opportunity to secure herself a place here in Sacrosanct. She dared the forces to try and stop her from blazing that trail she was tenaciously determined to make wholly and entirely her own.

And as she would look into those hunter green eyes the belonged to the man that captivated her so, she only found reaffirmation that she was where she wanted to be, where she belonged. The more that she searched those depths of Taylor's with no true knowing of what it was she might be looking for, she would almost believe that there was something there that told her he wanted to be there with her every step of the way. Better still, as those glittering sage eyes would look back up to him from beneath those thick lashes as they found something she had yet to find a name or meaning to, the young woman found herself wanting him there beside her as well. She could not deny that there was a near instant connection of some sort between herself and the roguishly charming and handsome man, something that only seemed to encourage that wild spirit of hers to soar ever higher as it awoke a warmth and fondness that she hadn't felt towards another. It was surprising and perhaps even startling to think that while she knew little of him beyond what he had shared with her, something broke through those thick walls she'd built in a matter of sheer hours and caused her to open up to another unlike she ever had before. Townsend knew of her wants and her dreams, knew how she despised her father and the path that her parents had tried to guide her down when it was not the one she wanted to follow. What he didn't know though was the darker thoughts and emotions that has roared in the deepest recesses of her heart. He had always been true and loyal to her, he had been that companion in her life that she could rely on and find her second wind in if ever she felt herself faltering beneath the crushing weight of those melancholy comforts her mother and father doted upon her. And yet, with Taylor, there was something that surpassed that affection she felt for the Englishman. She'd seen glimpses of his own demons the night before, and they'd hardly been less than her own monsters that raged in her past. It was amidst the turmoil of a time lost to the past however recent or far that seemed to intertwine them together, drew the young woman even more to him than she'd ever been inclined to allow herself to feel with a man, with anyone. Where there once was suspicion and wariness, with Taylor there was an easiness and warmth that vanquished what was once so present in Adelaide. It was new, but not in a way that made her fearful but rather in a way that returned to her the laughter she'd lost so long ago with no hope to recover.

Familiar and ever growing fondness dance across her feminine features as he gives her that smirk, hunter green gaze gleaming with playful intent as those tenor tones of his remark on how he was glad that she'd left Townsend at home that night and how all she needed to do was ask and he would muse her with that roaring machine once more. An amused smile finds her lips in that moment as her own eyes gleam. In truth, she hadn't intended on going out so late without his faithful company, but she'd needed some time to herself or else she might have snapped at the Englishman otherwise, and she always felt that pang of guilt when she did. It was not to any fault of his that her insistent father seemed adamant the keep her under his thumb somehow, even if it were only a matter of letter communication since she refused to provide a telephone number or physical location that he cols try and use however he might dare to consider as a possibility. All the same though, she'd needed to walk off that disdain that had worked its way into her thoughts that night, and she regretted nothing of that choice of hers, even nearly coming to consider that drunkard thankfully though it didn't quite reach that point. He speaks again in regards to her confidence that he would manage to earn a kinder look for Townsend, and her smile softens then."On the contrary, I think you give yourself to little credit", she counters teasingly yet almost affectionately though she leaves it at that. He goes on to express his confidence that she had enjoyed herself on that back of that Harley before giving her a charming wink that has her returning a sultry smile as sage eyes glitter impishly as they had that night when he'd nearly challenged her with that first ride."And just where would you take me, dear Taylor? Some place where the city lights look like fallen stars?", lilted accented lyrics soft and smooth purr daringly in reply as she pauses in her task of mincing, leaning towards him as he stood there beside her, thick lashes blinking slowly up at him, long and flowing dark chocolate locks framing her face and cascading over her shoulders. As she returns to her original place after lingering there so very close to him, he speaks of not needing a suit of armor, his features softening as he tells her that he was just glad that she hadn't been harmed during that rough handling she could have very much lived without, her own expression softening in turn though she says nothing in that regard.

He seems to hesitate beside her once she takes away the grated cheese and begins to start in on the cooking, inwardly becoming more aware of the fact that Townsend would be returning anytime soon, hoping quietly that just maybe he would have had some sort of mixup at the post office to delay him still or if perhaps he had yet to find a decent bakery he liked. She is drawn from that thought though as Taylor moves to take his seat again at the bar as she prepares the skillet, Reginald clearly happy for the continued strokes of the man's strong hand again, Adelaide only glancing towards Rose to see her dozing with those eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of the fireplace too much to be bothered with what Reginald was enjoying. Their conversation shifts then and she listens, listens like she had wished someone would have run listened to her back then, and as he seems to give her even more, tells her why he'd done what he did, Adelaide could only find that fondness for him growing, feels an anger in her heart that she'd reserved just for her own father expand to encompass the image of Taylor's father and how poorly he'd treated the man sitting at her bar though she is careful to keep that compassionate light in her sage eyes instead. What he'd done, he'd done for his mother and for that there was no shame in Adelaide's eyes. He pauses for a moment and again his handsome features soften as his string of words show her that he truly did understand, and what resonates even deeper within the French woman is his final sentence, something that she was not accustomed to hearing and so a gentle, thankful smile dances upon her lips now in return to his warm smile that shatters the tinge of pain she'd felt in pouring out those hurt feelings she'd held all this time. Before she can thank him or even usher a single syllable of appreciation, he is leaning over the bar and takes her hands in his own and she feels her heart race at his touch. It was not hungry or greedy like the many suitors who'd dared to reach for her in the past. It was... well, she didn't know exactly what it was but it was enough to make her feel a warmth she'd never felt before. His words reach out to her now and they do more than touch her ears. They touch her heart and soul, they take that warmth and that fondness and they intensify them as those sage eyes are held by his hunter green gaze. She searches them to find the lies, seeing only truth and compassion, and for the first time it is hard for her to breath as she feels him manage what no man ever has. That trust that had once been a sliver was now so much more, and when he smiles and goes on to tell her that he was already planning that first road trip she almost can't bring herself to believe him... and yet she does. Finally, she finds her silken voice again, squeezing his hands gently in wordless reply."Taylor...", she breaths softly for a moment as she tries to wrap her mind around his words."I would love that. More than you know. And I might just have to take your word for it", she says softly.

Removing the skillet from the heated element after almost reluctantly sliding from his gentle hold, retrieving three plates though her sage depths find his hunter greens again as he reveals more of his family, tells her of his successful sister and how he felt he could never amount to anything close and had therefore stopped trying. She feels her heart hurt for him when he tells her that he had nothing to give then, and now it was Adelaide who moves closer and reaches out to place a soft hands on his shaven cheek."You do have something to give, Taylor. You just haven't found what that is yet. You'll find it...", she nearly whispers to him then, though she has to stop herself before she said what her heart nearly compelled her to, how she wanted to help him find that something... Maybe even be that something to give him that fire. She doesn't though and as she grabs the coffee mugs and begins to poor the coffee, she hears a soft exhale leaving Taylor and sage eyes locked with hunter greens again. There was something dancing there within those eyes of his as he seems to lean towards her before suddenly it is reconsidered and replaced by a sheepish grin, running a hand through his hair as she too has become aware of the garage door opening and a vehicle turning off. Had he been about to kiss her? Taylor speaks once again and moves to help himself and all Adelaide can do is smile gently as she hands him his coffee mug. Little did he know that she would have let him, but that was for another time. She goes to retrieve a third for Townsend before fixing hers with cream and sugar before serving herself when the door to the garage opens only to click closed moments later and the Englishman enters into the living area, pale blue eyes instantly falling over Taylor with suspicion as he sets the two pieces of mail and plastic container filled with lemon tarts on the counter."Good morning, sir Taylor. I expect you'll be ready for a day's work in the next few moments?", british tones inquire nonchalantly before he turns to Adelaide who is handing him his own coffee she'd also prepared as he liked it."Thank you, Miss LaBelle", he says graciously as he takes a sip of the warm liquid. Adelaide then moved to sit beside Taylor at the table in the breakfast nook."You should be pleased to know that Monsieur Taylor was rather earlier for his shift today, Townsend", she states matter-of-factually before taking her fork and starts eating. The Englishman lifts a brow as his hardened eyes return back to Taylor."Is that so? Well, hopefully he can repeat this feat tomorrow morning", he answers before finishing his coffee and moving to the door that led the backyard."After you've indulged yourself of Miss LaBelle's good graces, do meet me over by the garden, sir. The sooner we begin, the sooner we'll be finished", he says over his shoulder as he opens the door, beckoning Rose and Reginald outside before giving Taylor one last look and fixing Adelaide with a warning glance and follows suit, shutting the door behind him, leaving the pair to finish their breakfast though she was certain those eyes of his would be watching closely as they always did.