She recognizes Palamedes's voice, even before she sees the dim light reflect off his spectacles. She's hoping, gods how she is hoping, that her assessment of him is right and he won't default to suspicion and violence on seeing someone who shouldn't be here.

(And there is no doubt whatsoever in her mind that unauthorized persons should not be here.)

So she lets her foot scrape audibly over the floor even before raising her voice and saying aloud "I do beg your pardon."