As Baylor noticed Harrison departing from his calling with Adeline, a lady, who unmistakably was a maid, approached him. She brought the news that Adeline was ready to be receiving him now. As he walked through the door, he felt a touch of excitement. Parts of him truly desired to see Adeline again. But at the same time, he was tinged with nerves. Could he really do this, allow himself to be exposed to a lady he found himself attracted to and captivated by, was this the path which he was supposed to be taking? These nerves and worries faded to the background as his eyes first laid on Adeline, and he was captivated once again by her smile. Now she was in front of him once again, it seemed he had forgotten how beautiful, elegant and graceful she was.
“Lady Delaney,” he greeted her by tipping his hat and a perfectly polite bow, “It is my sincere hope that this visit finds you well. I made a promise to visit you today, and here I stand, showing you I am a man of my words.” Baylor was not one to make false promises, and he wanted to reassure Adeline he was a reliable man, even if she might have some doubts after their initial interaction. “The pleasure of our dance at the ball lingered in my thoughts, and I am eager to explore a connection between us further.” There was a faint yet genuine smile as he spoke these words. His eyes however, they sparkled with a genuine excitement to be in Adeline’s company, something which had momentarily overcame any lingering doubts Baylor had. “Therefore I am most grateful for your reception today and affording me another opportunity.” At any other calling, Baylor would have spoken these words out of mere formality, but he truly was grateful Adeline hadn’t walked away from him the previous day. The way Baylor felt drawn to her, was something he had not experienced often with a lady. Even if there was still a touch of uncertainty and insecurity within Baylor whether he could be the man she desired and deserved, he had realised that he wanted to explore it, and would come to regret it if he did not show himself to the one lady he had found himself pulled towards.
“I wondered if a stroll through the gardens might be something you’d enjoy? A chance for us to further get to know each other, while we enjoy the beauty of nature” Baylor, who found solace in the outdoors, felt more at ease in the gardens, a sentiment they had touched upon the previous day, and he hoped Adeline would share. “Most of my days are spent outdoors in nature, fulfilling my responsibilities working with our horses for the family business since my late father passed away.” There was a touch of vulnerability in Baylor’s voice for the first time during their conversation at the mention of his father.
“As we would enjoy the beauty of these, I must say exquisite gardens, Lady Delaney, I thought it might be a delightful opportunity for you to meet someone quite special to me - Evangeline.” Recognizing the potential ambiguity of what he had said, for Evangeline might be a lady for all Adeline knew, he swiftly added context, “My dearest equestrian companion, I arrived here today riding her. She is ought to be grazing in a field near the gardens. She is quite an extraordinary horse, and a constant and loyal companion who has been under my care for the last 10 years. I hope you would appreciate meeting her.” While Baylor owned multiple horses, including those for his own private use, Evangeline was the only horse he felt a true deep emotional attachment to. She had provided him with emotional support during the most challenging times he faced in his life. Therefore, it meant a lot for Baylor to introduce Adeline to her.
@sunflowerjm - Adeline