Chapter Four

"Dinner is Served"

The acknowledgment speeches were completed and everyone started making their way to the dining hall. The seating would be random, however, I hoped I would be lucky enough not to be seated next to Senator Burtoni. I wasn't in the mood to argue anymore with her tonight.

Before stepping into the area, I decided to go ahead and confront my personal assistant. Dormé had a bad habit of putting me in uncomfortable situations. She meant well, but her attempts to help me always seemed to turn into some type of calamity.

Just as she stepped forward to move with the crowd, I grabbed hold of the top of her ear and drug her to the side.

"Ow!" she complained loudly. "What was that for?"

"I want the truth," I demanded. "While you were out today, you obviously didn't go shopping as you told me you were. What are you up to? And what did you mean 'all my hard work will be for nothing?'"

The young woman didn't look the least bit intimidated. It was annoying but was also one of the things I liked about her. She was confident, outspoken, and brave. What I needed right now, though was honesty, and that was one of the virtues she lacked, I was sorry to say.

"I did shop. I brought home those hairpins, didn't I?"

My gaze turned suspicious and dangerous. The girl was walking a thin line and she had to realize it! She wasn't stupid.

"All right! I bought those things months ago. What I did today was everything that was necessary to bring you and Master Kenobi together. You're just going to have to trust me."

Did I mention calamitous?

"On whose authority did you make any of these decisions?" I countered harshly. "I don't recall telling you I needed help in that area…"

A long raspberry sound of disbelief came through her lips. "Mi'Lady, you are 26 years old and you aren't getting any younger. You've had a crush on the man for the last ten...eleven years? You haven't done anything about it! I consider it my personal responsibility to ensure your happiness. Just let me try. That's all I ask."

I swear. "If you embarrass me one more time, I'm contacting Tanner to pick you up and take you home. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mi'Lady," she finally said more seriously. "Just keep in mind that I know what I'm doing. Really, I do."

"Based on what?" I demanded to know. "Your pH.D. in psychology or sociology? When did you become an expert in human relations?"

"I don't need to be one," Dormé flippantly replied. "I read the manual."

"The manual," I uttered incredulously. "I didn't realize anyone had written a manual about falling in love."

"Don't be silly," she argued. "Of course not, but I'm referencing something pretty close to it. 'The Art of Seducing Someone,' by Professor Trebor Nerg, who happens to be an expert on the subject."

"I've never heard of him or such a book," I told her honestly. "My prior warning stands. Any more trouble out of you and I'm sending you home."

I felt as if I were having to deal with one of my nieces back on Naboo, who were four and seven.

"I understand completely, but listen to this."

From within the folds of her gown, Dormé pulled out a mini-reader and swiped the screen several times before she got to what she wanted to show me.

"Here it says, the completely contented person is difficult to seduce. They are happy with their life the way it is and aren't looking for anything. Obi-Wan is currently unhappy, so don't waste this opportunity!"

My leveling stare didn't seem to be making an impact. "Please tell me you didn't have anything to do with Anakin making…"

"Master Kenobi! How nice to see you this evening!" Dormé called out just in the nick of time.

With a narrowed glare, I asked my assistant to go find our seats at the dinner table and then spun around, relaxing my face into a more pleasant expression.

"Senator, what's this I hear about my Padawan?"

Obi-Wan had opted to wear the lighter shades of his brown uniform this evening, which I thought complimented his auburn-touched hair far better than the darker browns I most often saw him in. But what was with the formality? I thought he had given up calling me 'Senator' long ago. Perhaps he'd decided to use the old habit because of the circumstances.

I was too embarrassed to answer his question or to share my suspicions with him, although I refused to lie to him. There had to be another way and I was forced to quickly think on my toes.

"It seems you and Anni had a misunderstanding earlier, that's all. I was asking Dormé if she knew anything about it since the two of them are as thick as thieves lately."

Obi-Wan turned his head to gaze into the dining area where we both saw the pair appear to be speaking conspiratorially with one another.

"The boy has a tendency to push, but he still has some growing up to do. Besides, I'm not the only one that seems to be having trouble with their company tonight. What was all the commotion about during Amedda's speech?"

I fought and failed to keep color from rising to my face. "Dormé is just, well...Dormé," I said, hoping that would explain enough. "She also has a tendency to get under my skin at the most inconvenient moments."

"Apparently, we have more in common than I realized."

The words he'd just said and the way he said them did nothing to lessen the blush on my face.

"Perhaps we do," I replied lamely. If I were brave, I would tell him we needed to spend more time together to delve into that very subject. To study and identify exactly what we did have in common. But I wasn't brave. Not in this type of situation. Instead, I smiled and excused myself to go sit down at the table.

"Padmé," Obi-Wan said just as I started walking away. I loved the way he said my name. It sounded so much friendlier than 'Senator.'

"Yes?" What was I supposed to do? Smile and bat my eyes? I tried, although I suspected I was failing at that as well.

"Are you all right?" he asked, stepping forward, looking concerned. "Is there something in your eye?"

Good heavens! "No," I replied immediately, wishing to not just walk away, but run at top speed. "It's all right," I told him, dabbing at my eye with a finger to fake a discomfort. "It's gone now." I smiled. He smiled. And things got awkward. "Were you wanting to say something?"

"Oh, yes. I, uhm." I'd known Obi-Wan a while and had never heard him stammer. Was his face turning red as well? Why?

"I just wanted to say that you look beautiful tonight."

"Oh." Dammit! Why was I blushing so much! It wasn't like I'd never received compliments before! "Thank you. You look handsome as well."

Ugh! This was awful! Where was Dormé when I needed her?

"This way, Mi'Lady," my rescuer said, taking my arm to guide me to our reserved places at one of the many long rectangular tables in the room. Next to me were Master Jedi Shaak Ti, Senator Umbara, and Dormé, of course, and directly across from me sat Master Unduli, Senator Teen, and one empty seat. While I spoke with Senator Umbara, I noticed the vacant seat was filled by none other than Obi-Wan. Coincidence? I didn't think so. I wondered what strings Dormé had pulled to work this out.

"We meet again," he said to me with a smile that could stop a bantha stampede.

"Imagine that," I said nervously. Maybe the less I said, the less chance I'd have of chewing on my own foot later.

"What's on the menu?" he asked. He seemed comfortable now to attempt small talk, although Dormé was the one who answered.

"I believe a choice of prime nerf tenderloin or roast duck with mashed spiced tubers, tossed greens, and a flaming muja tart for dessert."

"Sounds delicious," Obi-Wan told her with a wink that I think was directed at me. I wanted to ask him if there was anything wrong with his eye, but I didn't dare.

As he spoke with Senator Teen on his right, Dormé began whispering her unfortunate plans for my behavior in my ear. "While you're eating, drop something onto your bosom, but make sure Obi-Wan's watching."

"I will do no such thing!" I whispered back.

"You have to! He needs to see you as someone alluring and provocative! Not just a friendly politician! Clean it off nice and slow and maintain eye contact while you're doing it."

"I can't do that," I argued back through a smile.

"Then you leave me no choice to go to plan B."

I was just about to lose my appetite. "There's a plan B? What was plan A? To embarrass me as much as you possibly could in front of everyone I work with?"

"That was nothing but a little collateral damage," she explained quietly. "All is fair in love and war. It's time to go to war."

Thankfully, the service droids began serving the appetizer, which was chilled mepple soup with mint. I focused on it and not on the conversations going on around me. I could do this, I told myself. I could survive this evening, refuse to participate in any of Dormé's cockeyed schemes, and come out unscathed.

Couldn't I?