Master Windu continued passing out the gifts after he read the tags attached to them. Most of the senators at Padmé's table had already received theirs and she and Dormé sat patiently waiting upon their own. It was a bit exciting, even though she already had a clue as to what Dormé had given her. She had found a receipt for a pair of earrings in the desk drawer two days ago.
More exciting though was trying to figure out how this secret admirer of hers was going to make his move. Perhaps he'd ask her to dance and give her his gift then. Or perhaps he would wait until after the ball and together they would slip outside onto the balcony for some privacy.
Her imagination continued to play out scenarios until she caught sight of a pair of dark brown boots and her eyes moved up to a dark-skinned face with a huge white smile.
Mace Windu was smiling. At her. Mace Windu never smiled. She hesitantly reached out and grasped the package that he was handing her, keeping her eyes upon the unusual expression on the Jedi's face until he turned away.
Did the man just chuckle?
"That's not my present." Dormé pointed out as she looked at the gift that Master Windu had presented her. "Oh!" Her bodyguard gasped suddenly. "Maybe it's from you-know-who! Can you read trevosan?"
"Don't start it." Padmé moaned and finally glanced down to the box she held in her lap. It wasn't the gift that Dormé had brought to give her tonight after all. This gift was smaller, wrapped in golden paper with a sparkling gold ribbon. Her fingers fumbled as she pulled the tie and lifted the lid.