The Vaudeville Star

She knew Bessie was somewhere in the theater picking up hers and Archie’s costumes and she would be finished soon enough. It was late afternoon, and she settled onto the sofa, closing her eyes. She would rest until it was time to go.

The sound of voices outside her dressing room door woke her. Ruby stretched and yawned but didn’t think anything about them. When the conversation continued, she listened absently, thinking perhaps Bessie was outside talking to someone.

“I’m tired of all the attention she gets. Why? Because she is pretty and can sing passably?” Ruby sat up as she immediately recognized Zeta’s accented voice.

“Well—”

“And because she’s King’s mistress,” Zeta spat out.

“Perhaps.” Ruby recognized Lou’s calm voice.

“Perhaps? Of course she has spread her legs for him. He finances this entire tour to Europe on nothing? I don’t think so,” Zeta said spitefully.

“It’s possible.”

“And now that he’s killed his wife—”

“Zeta! Be quiet!” Lou demanded. “We don’t know that!”

“The New York Post said so! I believe them. What rich man wants to be tied to a dying wife? And now Miss Peasant is situated to be the next Mrs. Parker!”

“Zeta!” he hissed.

The voices moved away, but Ruby remained sitting upright on the sofa. She felt faint. Was it true? It couldn’t be true! Had King killed his wife? She felt light-headed. No. He would never kill his wife. It wasn’t possible.

But then she thought of Zeta’s hateful words and the truth in them. Yes. What rich, powerful man would want to be tied to a sickly wife? Very few. Even if King had loved Caroline, she had provided no heirs, so that had been denied him.

She was suddenly frightened of him. She would have to spend five days on board ship with him, but thankfully Ford and the other performers would be there as well. She felt the sensation of being trapped. King had financed the tour, and she was indebted to him. Not only for herself, but for everyone in the tour. She would do what she must. Bide her time and wait.

The Oceanic ocean liner was part of the White Star Line and would take them from New York to Liverpool. At the time of its launching, it was the largest ship in the world.

Ruby had never before been on board a ship and was fascinated by it all. She knew that the Vadas sisters and several other performers were sharing rooms with each other, but for some reason, she had a first-class room all to herself. Zeta and Bessie also had single rooms while King had a suite that he had insisted upon.

She watched as Max walked by carrying a small suitcase, followed by Vern making a fuss about his room arrangements.

“I don’t intend to spend the next five days listening to you snore,” he told Max sharply.

Bessie smiled and nudged Ruby as they stood together at the ship’s rail.

“I heard that Vern was supposed to be in his own room, but instead he’s rooming with Max. He’s livid!”

Ruby smiled as the cool breeze hit her face. She was happy to have a room to herself. She would spend the next five days trying her best to avoid King and getting herself mentally ready to take on London. She glanced across at the ramp and saw several people walking onto the ship, including Ford.

He looked terribly handsome in a gray-striped suit and hat with a suitcase in one hand. He caught her looking at him and smiled as he continued on his way. Ruby felt her heart catch as she watched him disappear. Even now, after all these years, she still adored him. He had captured her heart long ago without even trying.

“Zeta, you, and I all have our own rooms. I wonder why? We will room together in London, so why not now?” Ruby asked as she looked out over the pier with everyone still milling about.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I intend to enjoy every minute aboard ship and think about absolutely nothing.”

“Easy for you to say. You won’t spend your days hiding from King,” Ruby complained.

“But he’s in mourning! He won’t come near you,” Bessie said. “And what with the papers and their foul gossip? He definitely will not be making any advances now.”

“Maybe.”

“You’ve heard about the gossip?” Bessie lowered her voice.

Ruby nodded. “About his wife’s death?”