‘Chetta,’ van Sennit said, and there was real hurt in his voice. ‘I would have done this for you. You know I would. There was no need for… this.’

Chetta nodded as she toyed with the head of her cane. ‘I thought you might. But I needed you to understand how serious I am about this. I have no patience for the “I was going to, but–”, which sometimes happens in these situations. Favours can be retracted or withdrawn, Alexun. I find that loyalty – be it out of love or duty – and fear are the only true motivators. I couldn’t be certain of your loyalty, so I had to employ fear.’ She turned her head to look at him again, and smiled brightly. ‘I’m sure that after tomorrow evening we need never speak of this again.’

‘Indeed,’ van Sennit said shortly. He took another drag on his cigar, then coughed. ‘Well, I find that my appetite for socialising has been satiated. Begging your pardon, high lady.’ He turned to go.

‘Oh, portmaster! You’re not leaving us already, surely?’

The new arrival sweeping down on them was a stunning figure in an open-backed dress of teal narfenna silk, and had precious gems scattered with contrived artlessness through her hair. Every finger was bedecked with rings, and she was attended by a hovering mini-servitor: not a skull, or even a cherub, as was more common, but a construct in the form of a small avian. Its feathered wings were a blur, but there must have been some anti-grav tech at work as well, and probably gyro-stabilisation, for it gripped the long stem of its owner’s glass between its tiny clawed feet, in order to leave her hands free, yet didn’t spill a drop.

‘The entertainments are only just beginning!’ Indrinian Vass exclaimed, even as van Sennit opened his mouth to make an excuse. ‘You can’t possibly leave so soon!’ The rogue trader looked a totally different person out of her power armour, but still moved with the same languid grace as she snapped open a fan with one hand and laughingly blocked van Sennit’s progress with her other arm laid across his chest. She gently steered him around, despite his attempted protestations, until he was once more facing the room at large, by which point her arm had migrated to lying across his shoulders.

‘High lady,’ Vass said, somehow managing to curtsey to Chetta without either looking ridiculous or releasing her gentle hold on van Sennit. ‘I hadn’t yet had a chance to thank you once again for your hospitality. Your home is truly awe-inspiring! I hope that one day my own family may have the merest fraction of this…’ She paused and gestured around with her fan, taking in the marble columns, decorative fountains, carefully cultivated indoor fruit trees, ancient tapestries and the small army of sober-liveried servants moving amongst the spectacularly attired guests.

‘This…?’ Chetta prompted.