So now, when he danced with D'Arca, although he was polite and maintained eye-contact, he felt no particular need to speak with her; it wasn't necessary- it wasn't required of him. The dance was for the benefit of others; he was doing nothing more than fulfilling an order on the part of the Emperor and despite Reece's words earlier that week suggesting the logic in forging an alliance with the influential D'Arca's, Luke wouldn't be led or cornered, either by his Master or his advisor.
She held his eyes intently as they danced and he didn't look away, used to the curiosity of others by now, so that all he could hear above the distant music was the sound of their breath as they danced, and the light tap of their feet against the polished floor.
Eventually those entitled to do so joined them and the floor began to fill, though they always enjoyed a clear space about them, everyone remaining politely distant. When the music finished, Luke released D'Arca and took a step back, inclining his head again before turning to leave.
"Perhaps..." D'Arca's hastily-spoken word brought him about and she immediately lowered her head in apology; one didn't generally talk to The Heir's back, or continue to speak when he had clearly made to leave, her decision to do so also part of that unspoken language, subtle messages even here. She held tenaciously to her guns, lifting her head as he turned about, dark mahogany-brown eyes inviting. "Perhaps The Heir will dance again tonight?"
"I very much doubt it." He would have turned away, well aware that he was being played, but some sense of genuine regret on her part made him add, "It's hardly my strong point."
She flashed a smile which lit up her face, "I thought The Heir danced beautifully."
Luke couldn't help but smile, drawn in by her charm but hardly blinded by it, "I'm afraid I dance as well as you lie, my Lady."
"My heart wasn't in it- until now." D'Arca said, clearly hoping to echo his own restrained distaste at such protocol, but the moment was lost and Luke backstepped slightly, voicing what could easily be taken as either acceptance of her white lie or tacit admission of his own feelings.
"As you say, Lady D'Arca."
Luke bowed slightly again, aware that the music could not continue unless he made clear either his intention dance or to leave the floor, and this time D'Arca had the good grace to back down, curtsying again as he turned an left without looking back, his mind already elsewhere.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
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Hallin burst into Luke's bedroom, making Mara start awake, scrabbling vainly to disappear beneath the sheets. Luke didn't even move, but then he probably already knew he was coming.
"Up! Get up! Quickly!" Hallin didn't even pause, rushing about the room, picking up Mara's clothes.
Since he clearly already knew she was in here, Mara finally stopped trying to hide beneath the sheets, instead watching the surreal scene unfold before her in the early morning light, the slender medic rushing about like a dynamo as Luke finally turned over from his stomach, gruff voice very pointedly unamused, his Rim accent holding sway.
"This had better be so good..."
"Chancellor Amedda's on his way here. Now." Hallin added, glancing about to check that he'd missed nothing.
Which was enough to wake Luke up, but he still pushed calmly upright, covers tangled about him, letting his legs drop over the side of the bed and dragging his hand through unruly hair, "And what- am I receiving him in my bedroom?"
Hallin stopped dead, Mara's clothes still bundled in his arms, "Well I'm glad one of us thinks this is funny."
"Wait- why is Amedda coming here?" Mara asked of the Emperor's Primary Aide.
"And how far away is he?" Luke added, voice still husky from sleep.
"He's still several minutes away- we had..." Hallin paused; he didn't look meaningfully at Mara but he may as well have done. "...prior warning."
Mara heard Luke sigh very lightly and knew that he was thinking the same as she; Hallin had already said and done too much- not only had his actions clarified to Mara that his trusted position was such that he already knew about Luke and herself - and was evidently so trustworthy that he would now attempt to cover it up - but he'd just all but admitted that Luke also had an informer in the Cabinet or Council offices.
"It's fine Nathan." The tone of Luke's voice was more awake now- and clearly very eager to get Hallin out of the room before he made another gaffe, "Mara will stay in here; you'll ask Wez to arrange for someone he trusts to go and get her uniform and she'll leave later as if nothing happened. She'll take her clothes back separately."
Mara was still frowning, worried by the Chancellor's coincidental arrival, "Does Amedda often come here?"
Luke half-turned. "No. Only formal business as the Emperor's official representative."
Mara turned back to Hallin, eyes sharp, "Did your 'friend' say why he was coming?"
Luke cut in before the medic even began to reply, obviously not wishing to allow a very twitchy Hallin under Mara's close scrutiny, "If Palpatine knew you were here I think he'd be here himself by now and if he wasn't sure, sending an official representative isn't exactly subtle; neither of us are likely to get spooked into making a mistake."
Mara shook her head, uneasy at the coincidence, "Still..."
Luke turned on her, and just for a second she could see the contention in his eyes; 'you wanted to risk this', but he stopped himself long before he spoke, turning back to Hallin, voice even and measured, "Go and tell Reece to show Amedda to the White Drawing Room."
"No- wait; show him to the Morning Room." Mara corrected, knowing it afforded no line-of-sight to Luke's private rooms.
Luke turned, eyes quizzical, and Mara's mind whirred for a second or two, but she had no reasonable excuse for this, so admitted the truth; "There's a concealed passage in the rear wall of the storeroom in your Music Room; if I can get to that, I can come out three storeys down."
"Into the staff quarters?" Luke was trying to keep his voice casual though Mara knew this would be of great interest to him.
She nodded, knowing that he would store that piece of information away for future use, but knowing also how useful it could be for them both from now on, "In a side corridor in the kitchens. If you can get me a clear route across the main hallway."
Luke turned immediately to Hallin, mind back in the moment, "Who's on duty?"
"Clem and Vassigo. Vassigo's your close guard, but Clem's in the main cupola." Hallin recited from memory, knowing the latter was in the main crossroads, an easily-monitored central point popular with the guards because it offered a clear view down the four wide hallways which reached to the far corners of the sprawling apartment, meaning it would bar Mara's exit whichever way she chose.
"I could cut through your office." Mara said of the common shortcut used to avoid the long, grand main hallway and massive central atrium, "Then... what- through the State Dining Room and-"
Luke was already shaking his head, "You'd still need to get through the Grand Hall and the Gallery then cross the main corridor to get to the Music Room- plus you'd need to cross it again close to the main entrance and close to Amedda. Too many chances." Instead he turned back to Hallin, considering.
"Clem will take a private comm whilst on duty. When Mara's ready, you go to the staff wing and comm the guard room opposite- ask for Lieutenant Clem. Make sure the comm can't be traced."
Clem was one of the many more general bodyguards attached to all high-ranking individuals in the Palace, Mara knew, whose brief tended not to extend outside the Palace walls, though they were generally attached to a single individual or household. As always seemed the case with individuals of high status, an inordinate number of people seemed to find it necessary to be in Luke's apartments at any given time- bodyguards, personal aides, secretaries and servants. She remembered how he'd resented it when he'd first arrived, viewing it as little more than a method of not-very-covert surveillance - which was at least partially true of all people of rank in the Imperial Palace. Now he seemed completely at ease with it; but then, he had carefully surrounded himself with people he trusted- and those he didn't trust, he clearly made it his business to know very well.