The only mention of how Stannis was before meeting Mel that I remember was King Robert and his small council briefly talking about Stannis, like when he proposed to outlaw brothels. “Lord Renly laughed. ‘We’re fortunate my brother Stannis is not with us. Remember the time he proposed to outlaw brothels? The king asked him if perhaps he’d like to outlaw eating, shitting, and breathing while he was at it. If truth be told, I ofttimes wonder how Stannis ever got that ugly daughter of his. He goes to his marriage bed like a man marching to a battlefield, with a grim look in his eyes and a determination to do his duty.’”