He might have been just any man, but for his eyes.
"No," she whispered.

"Of course not.

I don't like your tie." It seemed to depress him, that.
She felt elated at the thought that he would see her for the first time amid surroundings where she would shine.

Folk came forward to meet her with that charming air of protective deference that he had adopted towards her.

He might have been some favoured minister of state kissing the hand of a youthful Queen.