"He probably did not want you to have a month's worth of time to plan an escape from it." Some of her hair falls out, and he resists the urge to tuck it back in. It's easier given his hands are already busy with a task.

She is remarkably still, but he knows why. Shara goes through it more than he does, but they all have those moments where people filter in and out to get them dolled up appropriately for fancy state functions. It's easier to just let them do their thing and then make his own adjustments after.

His hands are very warm, and he's made aware of this because his fingers keep brushing against her cool skin as he carefully does up the buttons. He doesn't notice the mirror, unaware that she is watching him, so he thinks the very soft smile on his face when she mentions the cocoa is a private one. "Now is the perfect time of year for it, even if it's still quite warm out."