For the first time in longer than she could remember, she could feel that pang of fear. It was not something that the fierce French woman was used to experiencing, and in truth she was fairly certain that the last time she'd ever felt fear rather than frustration or defiance was perhaps when she'd been a little girl. After all, when one had grown up knowing nothing but the constantly guarded gates of the LaBelle estate, hardly ever having left those protected and well-groomed grounds when she was younger, what was there that she needed to fear? She can only remember one particular instance readily, that having been a spring afternoon when she'd decided to climb into her favorite tree for the first time only to find that she'd gone a little higher than she'd walked. She must have only been about eight years then... Luckily for young Adelaide, her best friend in the entire world had been there with her to help her out of that tree, Townsend having encouraged her to jump and promising that he would catch her. He had been a strapping young man of fifteen years old then, and she had always wondered how it was that he hadn't gotten and grief from the other boys his age always having to keep tabs on some petite girl that could hardly manage to hold still for very long. Back then though, she hadn't really thought about it and if anything, when her parents and the other boys and girls her age did not want to muse her with those imaginary treks up the highest mountains, she'd always been able to count on dear William. However, when she'd managed to get herself stuck up that oak tree, she'd cried and told him she was too scared to jump out of that tree, that he might not be able to catch her. If ever there was a time that she would look back on their time together and be thankful for the Englishman, it was that day that would always warm her heart. He had waited so patiently, encouraged her gently like any good big brother figure", and finally she took that plunge. Never had she felt so scared in her life, but sure enough he had kept his promise and she'd landed safely in his arms, even as he tumbled backwards and landed on his back to ensure that Adelaide was not the one who was harmed in the rescue mission. She would surely have been lost without him in her life then, and his constant presence only grew more and more crucial to Adelaide as they grew up together. Perhaps it was knowing that she had him that had allowed for her to never feel a fear like that again.

Yet there was that sensation that seemed almost foreign to her, and better still it was almost unsettling to think that she would be fearful of the unknowns that flickered in those hunter green eyes of the man that she was so captivated by. It was not that she feared him, but rather it was the intensity of those feelings that seemed to manifest in her that causes her to hesitate only briefly. It was undeniable, this sudden bond that seemed to connect the two of them. It was new and fascinating, exciting and yet she was uncertain. She didn't know everything about Taylor yet, and somehow still it felt as though they'd known each other for so long all in the matter of hours. The easiness with which she was able to confide in him things that she had even hesitated with Townsend simply for not wanting to worry him more than he already did about the dark-haired woman, it was unheard of for Adelaide to be so trusting. He offers her that easy note of laughter again and she pushes away those fleeting thoughts, short-lived questions on just what he would grow to mean to her. She only offers him a coy smile in return to his words, and she finds herself compelled to rise to that challenge he posed her with, in typical Adelaide fashion. As their conversation shifted towards his asking her for help to find what it was that he had to give, his gaze seems to soften, deepen even at the words that usher softly from dusty rose-colored lips. A warmth washes over her in that moment as he looks away and back to the black and tan dog at his side for a moment and the in just that moment, she knew she would want to be there for him in all the ways that he would ask of her. She allows for her thoughts to drift into quiet wonderings of the man she now sits beside at that table, allowing for the men to exchange those words before Townsend takes his leave and Taylor turns back to her, his tenor tones answering her own lilted lyrics and she smiles softly to him as his strong shoulder brushes gently against her own and she returns that playful gesture as she rises from her seat and moves to sink and cleans her tableware before moving towards the hallway, his reply causing her to glance over her shoulder then."Sooner than later, mon cher", she agrees sweetly to him before she moves towards the stairwell.

Climbing those stairs, she can hear the sound of running water to tell her that he had finished his meal and would likely be making his way out once he'd finished. It was endearing that while he was a guest, he would clean after himself. Surely those stuffy suitors never had to lift a finger after their own mess. Quickly dismissing those less than pleasant thoughts of her past, she makes her way into the bedroom to retrieve that book on running businesses before turning on her heels and making her way back down those polished steps, through the hall, and out through the back door. She sees Rose lounging under the awning, turning her mottled head towards her. Curious, Adelaide turns her sage gaze out to the yard to find that Reginald seemed to take rather well to Taylor, moving to sit beside the man who stood next to the Englishman. As she moves to sit in one of the floral pattern chairs, crossing one leg neatly over the other with that book in her lap, she observes them for a moment as they move to stand by the mahogany fence where the lattice was broken."Indeed...", remarks the Englishman in his british accent to whatever greeting the man beside him had given."See about repairing that lattice with the materials you find in the shed. And afterwards, you will be tending to the hedges along the side of the shed as well. They need to be made even. Surely you can manage this much, sir?", he says to Taylor, waiting there for a moment to see if the man had any questions before turning his attention to see Adelaide there with that book now opened, arm lowered to stroke the proud head of Rose."Miss LaBelle, surely you can do your reading in the house where it is warmer?", he queries with an almost exasperated sigh. The young woman doesn't bother to lift her sage gaze immediately, lingering over that page for a moment more before she finally regards him with an amused smile."I could, but I'd rather be where I can observe the talents of Monsieur Taylor. I need to be sure of my choice, do I not?", she challenges him teasingly in reply, though it was clear that she had no intentions of going inside, her words true despite there being more to them than what she intended to let on. Displeasure was written entirely too well on his face but he says nothing more as he turns to leave Taylor to do as he'd told him, moving to towards the garden where he begins preening the plants precisely. Offering a coy smile to Taylor, she turns back to that book, slender hands continuing to caress Rose's head while Reginald occupied himself with watching Taylor curiously.