Duchess in Disguise

She came towards him, and he took her hand, turning her slowly so that they appeared to be dancing, even before the orchestra started playing again. He noted the rich lace of her outer dress, coupled with a deep blue that was almost purple as she moved, and the tightly fixed cap which concealed most of her hair, except for a few strands of gold that were escaping from several plaits at the back. The cap was also of blue, and it matched her eyes, which in the dim light of the tavern had seemed black, but which he could now see were of a similar dark blue to her dress. She looked up at him, part expectation, part deliberate delay, and he snatched at her other hand, trying to pull her towards the centre of the room.