The next day, she received hand-delivered red roses with no note, but she knew they were from King. When Bessie joined her for their morning coffee ritual, she saw the roses and asked after them.
“They are from King Parker. I did meet him at the party, and we had a picnic the following day.”
“King Parker? The man you didn’t know from Adam, and now he’s a conquest of yours?” Bessie exclaimed.
“Hardly a conquest.” Ruby smiled.
“Tell me all about it! Every detail in detail,?
? she said excitedly, sitting on Ruby’s unmade bed.
Ruby told her about their meeting at the party, her brief introduction to Alice Parker, as well as the mistress, Lourdes, and their picnic.
“You’ve kept too much to yourself, Ruby! You met Alice Parker? She’s a legend too! They say she’s like a modern Catherine de Medici, always scheming and plotting for her son.”
“She seemed quite normal to me, though a little too indiscreet with her thoughts,” Ruby supplied.
“I’ve read about Lourdes in the gossip columns. She’s beautiful, yet no one knows where she came from, and she’s very possessive of King,” Bessie said.
“I honestly don’t care a fig about King, his plotting mother, or his jealous mistress. My only concern right now is making sure I don’t fall onstage or disgrace myself my first night,” Ruby said.
“Absolutely not possible. We’ll practice until you feel secure. Remember to keep your head held high and your posture erect,” Bessie directed as Ruby moved across the room, speaking her song, holding her head high, and keeping her back straight.
“And if anything does happen, God forbid you fall or stumble, just keep right on going and be saucy about it. Wink at the men and they’ll love you for it,” Bessie told her.
Ruby rolled her eyes as she strolled across the room. “Wink at the men if I stumble? Really, Bess? Why?”
Bessie laughed. “Because it will show the audience that you are having fun. That you are human. You aren’t taking yourself seriously.”
Ruby did a quick turn in the room, and Bessie nodded. “Exactly. Very elegant.”
“I always thought being onstage was simple, but so much goes into it,” Ruby replied.
“You’re right. People think it is simple, but besides a degree of talent, there is the costume, the makeup, and for singers and dancers, we need to have a presence. Sometimes it can be learned over time, and you will. But some performers just stand in one place, which bores the audience. You need to move about. To entice and beguile and entertain.”
Ruby giggled. “Entice? Beguile?”
“Of course. As you sing, pick someone in the audience to sing to and then someone else. Connect with them. And when you catch a woman’s eye, smile. Don’t alienate the women. They will love you and support you just like the men.”
Ruby practiced walking and singing before her audience of one, and Bessie clapped.
“You’re ready. And don’t be nervous. I mean, it’s natural, but don’t let it control you. As you go onstage again and again, it will get better. But don’t let it overtake you.”
Ruby moved to Bessie and embraced her warmly. “Thank you, Bessie. For everything.”
Bessie seemed embarrassed but also pleased. “Be yourself, Ruby. Your talent and loveliness will shine through.”
Ruby waited backstage as the theater came to life. She was nervous and twisted her fingers over and over as she could do nothing but wait. Lou passed her in his costume and smiled at her in greeting.
Lee Chen exited the stage after his act, wearing his long silk black robe and black boots with white soles that Ruby had never seen on anyone else. He nodded to her politely and moved on his way.
As the second act opened, Vernon took to the stage dressed in his black-and-white evening clothes. He greeted the audience and hoped they were enjoying the show. He asked that everyone give a warm welcome to their newest vaudeville trouper, Ruby Sutton, the Southern Belle.
Ruby tugged at her long white gloves and pressed the orange silk skirt down as she heard her name being said.
The curtains opened to the full audience as Vern disappeared backstage. The orchestra struck up the first chords as Ruby stepped into the spotlight. There were whistles and shouts at first, but suddenly the entire theater was silent as she began to sing.
“Sweetest little feller, Everybody knows; Don’t know what to call him, But he’s mighty like a rose!