After sleeping on the streets in back alleyways, the promise of sleeping in something like a chair by a fire was an unimaginable luxury. Before, she had been sleeping on the floor at Dorian's which always left her feeling stiff, but even then she was unwilling to complain. It was always shocking to recall that she didn't just used to have a bed, but a nice one- large and soft with overstuffed pillows and a bed warmer prepared by the maids in the winter time. Part of her still secretly longed for it, but her standards were substantially much lower these days.
Still, she was quite ready to curl up in that chair, but her awareness of the second rule that Michel had made meant that sleep was going to be hard earned. Barely flinching in surprise as he started examining her scalp without invitation or warning, Mabelle didn't even have the pride to be offended at his unspoken suggestion of her possibility of having lice, though silently relieved when he hadn't said anything to suggest she did. At least it was one less problem to worry about, and one less reason for him to change his mind (which she was still bracing for.)
At least the weak amount of caffeine in the tea might help motivate her for the daunting task of trying to figure out how to bathe without freezing, and Mabelle blew softly into the mug before attempting a sip. The tea was soothing to her still sore throat, coughing lightly as she tried drinking too much at once. She didn't anticipate the lack of privacy to be much of a problem, as she was used to being seen naked even if never by him, and she didn't suspect he'd have much interest in watching anyway. But as an everyday thing, she could see where it might present some problems. While he could tell her to leave anytime he got sick of her presence, she couldn't ask the same of him.
"I..." Mabelle took another long sip of the tea, careful to swallow properly this time. "How are... you. Your eye. Lack of. I mean," Mabelle suddenly blundered, aware there was a good reason that neither of them had brought it up yet, but unable to hold back any longer.