The Vaudeville Star

“No, I haven’t.”

“Excellent! Then I’ll be the first to show you the beauty of it. Trees and green lawns and sheep! Sheep graze there, can you imagine? In the middle of all this bustle!”

They had moved outdoors, and they stood gazing at the brightly lit lanterns set against the night sky.

“Sheep? In Manhattan? No, I can’t imagine.” Ruby smiled.

“Well, tomorrow you will see it for yourself. And now if you will excuse me, I have guests I must speak with.” He bowed slightly and kissed her hand.

Ruby frowned when he left. It was as Bessie had said. King liked women, and she had attracted his notice. When she heard the rustle of silk, she turned her head to see the lovely mistress, Lourdes, standing beside her. They nodded at each other, but neither said a word as they gazed out into the night sky.

“Do not read too much into this little excursion,” the woman said softly.

Ruby noticed her voice was tinged with an accent, but her ear couldn’t quite place it.

“I’m sorry. Do I know you? I’m not certain what you mean,” Ruby said sincerely.

“His wife is ill, yes, but not deathly so. And I have been his woman for several years now. There is no place for you,” she returned.

Ruby looked into the woman’s dark eyes and saw hatred in them.

“Thank you for your concern,” Ruby said coldly. “I have no desire to be his woman now or in the future.”

When Lourdes smiled and departed, Ruby shivered in the cold night air. The evening had not gone as she had thought it would. She had not expected to make such a conquest with King, nor did she welcome his advances. She didn’t know what his intentions were and felt apprehensive about it.

When she moved inside again, she looked for Vernon but didn’t seem him in the large parlor. She walked along the hallway and heard voices and suspected it was King. He was in the library speaking to a gentleman whose back was to her.

“Ah, are you leaving so soon?” King said when he saw her in the doorway.

Just as she was about to answer, the second man turned to face her, and Ruby felt her world tilt as she stared into the face of Ford Rutledge.

“Y-yes. I was looking for Vern. Have you seen him?”

“I haven’t, but I’ll have a footman find him. Oh, allow me to introduce you. This is my colleague, Ford Rutledge. Ford, this is a new acquaintance of mine, Ruby Sutton. If you’ll both excuse me one moment,” he said and quickly left room.

“Hello, Ruby.”

“Hello, Ford.”

Ford could hardly believe his eyes. Long gone was the awkward teen, and even the young woman he had held briefly in his arms in Connecticut couldn’t compare to the woman who stood before him now. She was a beauty with shimmering blond hair and expressive gray eyes, and the gown she wore clung to her delicious curves in all the right places.

“What brings you here?” he asked.

“I’m a guest. And you?”

“As King said, we are colleagues.”

Ruby wondered at the vagueness of his answer, but before she could ask him any further questions, King returned.

“All set. Vern is found, and a car is waiting to take you home when you so choose.”

“Thank you,” she said, trying to pull her eyes from Ford.

“Until tomorrow, Ruby.” King bent over her hand and kissed it lightly.

“Until tomorrow.”

After Ruby left the room, King poured two whiskeys and handed one to Ford.