Lack of Affection
After practice, Irene requested a bath and bathed herself with sweet-smelling soap. While she dried off and brushed her hair, she put on the lilac oil that Henry seemed to love so much.
As she looked in the mirror, a smile appeared on her face. It was their first evening as husband and wife in the Duke's Tower. She hoped Henry would notice the effort despite not wanting to wear a dress. Perhaps he would be more affectionate to her just as he was before.
She wore a light purple tunic with silver beading along the neckline. It was a design from her mother's efforts to make her look like a woman despite her refusal to wear a dress. She had declined a maid's help to get ready and tied a braid in the side of her hair so it would remain tamed despite the fun likely to happen.