fidelias watched him go and waited until the doors had closed behind him to turn to the slave girl he offered her a hand , and she took it , her fingers warm and soft , her expression uncertain fidelias straightened his posture , bent , and placed a formally polite kiss to the back of the slave 's fingers `` your grace , '' he said `` high lady invidia may i convey to you my heartfelt admnation `` the slave 's expression flickered with shocked surprise then she threw back her head and laughed her features changed , subtle and significant , until the woman standing before him appeared to be several years older , her eyes holding a great deal more wisdom her eyes were grey , like ashes , and her hair had delicate feathers of frost all through it , though her features looked no older than a woman nearmg her thirtieth year-all of the great houses had that kind of skill at watercraftmg ( or nearly any other form of furycraftmg one could name ) `` how did you guess ? ''