“I’m sorry, Shantra,” he said softly and pulled her into his arms. “I should have known that you hate math. When he started talking, I could see something in your eyes, but until you stood up and left in such a hurry, I didn’t know it was anger and confusion.” He sighed as he rubbed her back. “I just wanted to reassure you that our children would be well provided for. I don’t want them to take financial security for granted, but they will be protected, and they will have the means to accomplish their dreams.” He pulled away just enough to look down at her. “I’m sorry. But there’s one more thing I need to show you and I think this will make the last hour go away.”
She bowed her head, feeling better, but still ashamed about her inadequate math capabilities. “I don’t think I could take much more of this,” she told him. Placing a hand on his chest, she tried to smile but her math insecurities were really getting to her. “Could we take a break and maybe talk later?”
He sighed and kissed the top of her head. He was furious with himself for not realizing that she didn’t like math, and wished he could explain to her how amazing she was, regardless of her math capabilities. But he’d have to show her instead. “Will you trust me on this? I’m pretty sure that this will make you feel much better.”
Shantra didn’t know what to say. She wanted to run and hide, hating this part of herself. She’d tried so hard over the years to compensate for her hatred of math. No, not just her hatred, but her total lack of confidence when it came to any sort of math issues. It was one of the reasons she and Joline made such a perfect partnership. Well, and with Keith as well. Joline did all of the business stuff, she created the designs, and Keith promoted their efforts around the world.
“Fine,” she said with resignation. She didn’t want to acquiesce, but she didn’t think she had a choice.
“Come,” he said and took her hand in his, leading her out of the administration area of the palace. They were almost back to his private suite when he stopped at another set of doors, looked down at her, and then threw the doors wide open.
When she looked inside, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She was silent for a long time, just staring.
Inside the room there were several drafting tables, as well as a whole row of sewing machines.
She looked up at him, not sure what he was telling her. “Laithir…” she started to say, but he took her hand and pulled her into the room. She couldn’t say anything, too afraid of what this room meant. He’d said he would give her the freedom to design her clothes but….
It had been so hard, pretending to do nothing with her brothers around. They would never have approved of her being a designer – well, maybe now after their wives had berated them into the current century so completely. But this…
Laithir looked down into her beautiful eyes, his body aching. First, because she’d been crying over the financial issues that he could see she didn’t understand. And now, as she stared at the room he’d thought he’d gotten right, and he worried that he’d completely missed something.
“Do you think this would be a good place to work?” he asked, showing her the drafting table. And shockingly, her sketchpad was sitting right there, open to her latest designs. “There’s a wall over there where you can post your options for the current season, I’ve hired three seamstresses to help you work on the architecture of your designs and here,” he said as he opened a door to yet another room that was filled with fabrics, “is a place where you can store all of the fabrics that your friend Keith has chosen.”
Shantra blinked rapidly. Raw tears of excitement and…and something she didn’t fully recognize. She reached out, her fingers trembling, and touched the bolt of raw silk with flares of beautiful colors shooting through it. “I normally only work from a small sample of the fabric Keith mails to me,” she whispered, amazed and excited.
“So an entire bolt of the fabric would be easier?” he asked, leaning against the doorway as he watched her looking at all of the fabrics.
She nodded and Laithir’s stomach relaxed. She was happy, he thought, not analyzing why that was so important. He told himself it was only because he’d fulfilled a promise to her, and left the emotional analysis for later.
“I had the decorator talk to other designers in the industry, asking them what tools they needed the most as they worked their designs from start to finish. I think she captured all of the tips they gave her, but if there’s something you need, just ask your assistant and she’ll get it for you.”