The Vaudeville Star (15 page)

“No,” Ford disagreed. “I’ve worked for the man. He despises scandal. That’s why I was always bailing Harry, Caroline’s brother, out of one scrap or another. He wouldn’t have harmed her.”

Ruby was comforted. “Thank heaven for that. I was beginning to think my benefactor was a monster.”

“He’s not a monster. Just a man.”

“I must go. It’s getting chilly,” she said, rubbing her arms.

Ford gave her a parting glance. “Sleep well, Ruby Mae.”

Ruby turned and smiled at him. She hadn’t been called that in a while. “And you, Ford.”

They parted on deck, and Ruby moved along the passage to her room. Once inside, she sighed at the loveliness of the room that was all her own. She moved to the window to look out to the sea and turned to see flowers on the table.

She had never traveled on board a ship, let alone first class, and she was impressed with the grandeur of the room. She inhaled the scent of the blooms and saw the card lying next to them. It read:
To the beginning of our journey. K
.

Ruby placed the card back and closed her eyes. She wanted to forget about King and his money and his recently deceased wife and focus on London and Paris. She pushed the flowers back on the table as she pushed King from her mind.

* * *

S
he wore
a sky-blue linen dress the next morning for breakfast. She missed her morning ritual of seeing Bessie and chatting over coffee. When she arrived at the dining saloon, Archie was sitting at one table with Greta Vadas while Lou and Zeta sat at another table.

Ruby chose grapefruit, toast, and coffee while Bessie enjoyed griddle cakes and tea. They were soon joined by Max and Vernon, who bid good morning to both ladies.

Max said little as he sipped his coffee and munched on toasted cornflakes while Vernon piled his plate high with bacon, fried eggs, and toast. He then complained about the food not being hot enough.

King and Ford entered the dining room together while everyone was finishing breakfast and making plans for the day. King nodded at Vernon and several of the performers but made a special effort to seek out Ruby.

With Ford standing next to him, he bid Ruby good morning as she smiled at both men.

“Did you like the flowers?” King asked her.

Ford’s eyes were on Ruby’s face as the table went suddenly silent. Max and Vernon looked on as Bessie carefully watched her friend.

“Yes. Thank you. They were lovely and unexpected. You shouldn’t have,” Ruby said as she looked around the table.

“Of course I should have. Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady.” He smiled, and the two men moved away to their own table.

Ruby hadn’t liked the look King had given her, nor the way he seemed to publicly want to display his affection for her. But more than any of that, she had been mystified at the way Ford had eyed her with a mixture of intense irritation and jealousy.

A
fter breakfast
, Ruby and Bessie explored the ship that was to be their home for several days. They stumbled upon the library situated on the promenade deck with its folding doors of mahogany and comfortable nooks for reading or quiet conversation. There was an alcove in the room and an octagonal skylight arching to over twelve feet above them.

The ceiling had scroll ornaments and delicate decoration, which contrasted nicely with the dark mahogany of the tables and bookcases. Ruby loved the room instantly.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” she whispered to her friend.

Every place they discovered seemed to convey a sense of luxury and elegance. She knew that she was fortunate to be on board the ship and headed to London to tour, but once again she felt the dread and apprehension mixed together with the thought of King’s generosity.

When she entered her cabin, she had only been inside a moment before a knock fell on the door. She opened the door thinking it was Bessie, but instead Ford entered.

“Ford! What is it? What are you doing here?” She peered behind him into the empty passageway.

He stepped inside her cabin, and she could see his face was set with anger.

“What is going on with you and King?” he demanded.

Ruby frowned. “What do you mean?”

He advanced toward her. “I’m a man, Ruby. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and I hear him when he speaks to you. Hell! Even when you aren’t around, he talks about you.”

“You know I haven’t done anything to warrant his attentions. I told you I’m only humoring him.”

“So you just exist.”

“Yes.”

“I wonder that I don’t believe you,” he said softly.

“Well, that’s not my fault.”

“Would you tell me if there was something going on between you? Perhaps you want to play us both. Me for nostalgia, our past for protection, and King for money.”

“You make me sound so calculated! So conniving! I’m not like that,” she said angrily.

“So you aren’t lovers?”

“Of course not.” Ruby felt the heat of his words, and in his eyes the jealousy was plain enough.

“I can’t imagine a man like King would go to all this expense and even travel to London for what? His admiration of you?”

“I don’t pretend to know why he does what he does,” Ruby contested. “But there has been nothing between us.”

“You must be blind, Ruby. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Damn it! The whole dining room saw the way he looked at you during breakfast. He was practically stripping you naked with his eyes!”

“That isn’t so! He was merely inquiring about the flowers!”

“You must be out of your mind! He’s marking his territory.”

“I don’t care! Let him strut about like a rooster. All I want to do is get to London and perform. It’s my dream.”

“And if the price of your dream is to give yourself to King? What then?” Ford demanded.

Ruby flushed under his scrutiny. “I’ve already answered you. And what business is this of yours to ask these questions?” Ruby challenged. Ford grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him. “You aren’t my husband or my father to demand such things of me! I can do as I please!”

“You can do as you please?” he asked.

“Yes!” She thrust her little chin up to meet his gaze.

He looked down into her flushed face, and a sudden desire to hold her tightly and feel her against him rushed over him. He knew he was jealous. Painfully so. Whenever King mentioned Ruby, he wanted to smash his fist into his face.

When he sought her out to give her attention in front of everyone, he was marking his territory. It was clear enough. He was telling the entire vaudeville group that Ruby was his. It could be no plainer.

He hated King for it. He had known Ruby her entire life, and he had not taken her virginity lightly. He had wanted to do the right thing, but she had been set on her dreams of the stage. Now here they both were, far from home, and nothing was in his control. She was correct. She could do as she pleased. He had no hold over her, and he hated that feeling.

“So if King demands payment for all of this, what will happen then?” Ford asked, looking down at her.

Ruby looked away. “I don’t intend to give him anything. I could never—never do that with someone I don’t love.”

Ford felt a shiver of possession. He knew what she was saying.

“Ruby . . .” He was suddenly thinking of that night in Connecticut when he had covered her naked body with his. “Do you know what it’s like to sit through a meal and have him talk about you? Hear him praise you? Knowing all the while that I’ve been inside you. I’ve tasted you. I took your virginity.”

Ruby shook her head. She couldn’t breathe. “Don’t. You can’t speak to me this way. I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing.”

Ford fought the desire to kiss her. He wanted to taste her lips and push himself inside her, but he wouldn’t. He was losing control. He was fighting himself and Ruby. He wanted more than he could admit, and he had not been honest with himself. He came to his senses and released her suddenly.

“Ruby.” He reached out to touch her but dropped his hand. “I’m sorry for what I said. I’m concerned for you. That’s all.”

Ruby met his eyes and nodded. “I know.”

He moved toward the door but turned back. “Just tread carefully. He has his sights set on you.”

* * *

B
efore dinner
, Ruby and Bessie walked along the deck in the early evening air. Neither woman spoke much, and Ruby’s thoughts were a jumbled mess. She tried to focus on London and steady herself for what was to come, but she also was plagued by King’s attentions and now Ford’s strange jealousy.

She had always been in love with Ford, but he had viewed her as a child. When they had made love in Connecticut, she had been thrilled, but her plan had already been set by then.

Now they were both bound for London and tied together by another man’s will. Ford should know her better. She had no intention of giving in to King’s desire. She would not be his wife. She would not be his mistress.

But what had surprised her most that afternoon was Ford’s behavior. Ford, who was normally so calm and cool, had been completely out of control with his emotions. She didn’t understand. He had offered marriage in Connecticut because of his chivalrous sense of duty. He had never claimed to love her, but now he seemed to be acting like the jealous husband. It was odd.

The two women moved indoors and walked along the passageway toward the dining room. She had seen several of the other performers on board ship, including Lou and Zeta, who preferred each other’s company as they had long been involved.

Lee Chen and Archie played cards and strolled the deck while the Vadas sisters were like bright flowers among drab daisies. They seemed to catch the attention of every single man on board ship from eighteen to eighty.

Dinner was delicious, and afterward many of the men retired to the smoking room for cigars and brandy. Ruby was approached by a waiter who had an invitation from King to join him for an after-dinner drink.

Bidding Bessie a warm good night, she made her way to the smoking room, which was graced with two large domes and a delicately carved ceiling with molded ribs. She was wearing a lavender-colored gown with a V-neck and off-the-shoulder sleeves as she joined King and several men.

She noticed Vern sat on the long sofa with a glass of port with King in a chair facing him. Ford was seated nearby, and Max was also in the circle. King stood when he saw her, and the other men followed suit. She took the couch opposite Vern.

“Please don’t let me interrupt you.” She smiled at them all.

“You aren’t, Ruby. After all, I invited you,” King said.

Ruby saw the dark look that passed over Ford’s face before he shuttered it. King waved over a waiter and asked Ruby what she would like to drink.

“A brandy please,” she said.

“We were talking about London. We’ve all been, apparently. Ford with his sister, Vernon when he was a child, and I on my honeymoon. Have you been?”

“No, I haven’t. In fact, besides my hometown, my school in Connecticut, and of course New York, I’ve never traveled.”

“Your family didn’t like to travel, my dear?” he asked, leaning toward her.

Ruby noticed Ford’s jaw tense while Vern focused on something Max had said.

“No. My Momma liked being at home, and so home we stayed,” Ruby explained.

“You have a most charming accent, I’ve always thought. Alabama? Georgia?” King asked.

“Mississippi.”

“Ah, yes. Mississippi. You’re from Mississippi as well, aren’t you, Ford?” King said, turning to look at Ford.

But before Ford could answer, Vern and Max bid them all a good night, leaving the threesome behind.

“I’ve never been. To Mississippi, that is,” King said as he sipped his drink.

“You should come visit. Southern hospitality is unparalleled.”

“Is it indeed?”

“Yes.” Ruby smiled. The brandy warmed her.

“Perhaps I can visit your hometown.”

“I doubt there is anything of interest to see.”

“Nonsense. It is your hometown.”

Ford stood suddenly, almost knocking his chair back. “If you’ll both excuse me. I have things that I must attend to. King.” He nodded at his employer. “Miss Sutton.”

He was gone no more than a minute when King touched Ruby’s hand. “Let me walk you back to your cabin. You’ve been so generous with your time.”

Ruby felt the tingle of the alcohol in her veins, and she nodded. “Thank you. I accept.”

She took his arm, and together they strolled along the deck, admiring the dark sky and the twinkling stars.

“A lovely night,” he said as his hand dipped lower on her back.

“It is.”

When they finally stopped walking, she realized they stood before his suite.

“Come in for a drink. One more won’t hurt,” he said softly.

Ruby looked at his face and nodded. “All right.”

She knew she shouldn’t, but the brandy had gone to her head, and the reservations she might have felt disappeared. She felt warm and alive.

Inside his suite, she looked around the sitting room and saw the bedroom through the open door. He poured two glasses and handed her one.

“I’m afraid it’s whiskey.”

“That’s fine,” she said, but when she sipped it, she shuddered. “Oh!”

King laughed. “It’s a little rough. It takes getting used to.”

“Yes, I can see that.”

He sipped his whiskey and studied her in the low gaslight. “You are a lovely woman, Ruby.”

“Am I?”

“Don’t be coy.”

“I’m not. My mother always preferred my sister, and I always had the impression I was an ugly duckling.”

“Not at all, my dear.” King moved to her, and when he caught her in his arms, she yelped and immediately pressed her hands against his chest.

“King!” she said softly.

“I’m smitten, my dear! It’s only a matter of time until this damned mourning is done, and then you will be my wife.”

“No, please—”

Just then, a hard knock fell on the door, and Ford came in without being bid to enter. King and Ruby sprang apart, but not before Ford had taken it all in. Ruby wrapped in King’s arms with a pink face. Meanwhile, King looked like a cat who was about to taste all the cream.

“I apologize. I didn’t see you in the smoking room and wanted to make certain you were all right,” Ford said gruffly, but nothing was further from the truth.

“That’s fine, Ford, my boy. That’s fine. I was just complimenting Ruby here. She’s a lovely creature.” King chuckled.

Ruby realized that King had had too much to drink. He slumped onto the sofa as he waved a hand at them both.

“See Ruby back to her room, Ford. My legs have given out. Damned nuisance!”

“Of course, King.”

Ford’s hand was at Ruby’s back as they exited the suite. He said nothing as he walked her back to her own cabin. When she stepped inside, he was right behind her. Suddenly, he was jerking her to him, his face a mask of anger.

“What the hell was that?” he said lowly.

“He invited me into his suite for a drink.” Ruby fought the urge to press into him.

“My God, Ruby! Did you see him? He had his hands all over you! He wanted to bed you!”

“He was drunk.”

“Don’t defend him! If he’s drunk, that’s even worse! Then he can forget his manners and behave like an animal!”

“And you? You’re behaving equally bad. Let go of me.”

“Am I?”

“Yes. You have no right to touch me!”

“No right?” He pulled her flush against him.

She could feel the tension in his entire body, and she closed her eyes as his mouth dipped near her ear.

“I’ve no right? I remember your sighs in my ear when I entered you. I remember my cock stained with your virgin blood. I have no right?” he repeated again.

Ruby closed her eyes at his coarse words. “You’re being vulgar, Ford. Disgusting.”

“No, Ruby. I’m just not going to stand by and watch King fawn and fuck you when by all rights you belong to me.”

Ruby shivered at his words.
You belong to me
. “You’re drunk too.”

“Maybe. Or maybe I’ve just begun to realize what I really want.”