The Vaudeville Star

Ford looked across at her and nodded. “You need to tread carefully. He’s a powerful man. He doesn’t like the word no.”

“So I gathered.”

“Has he done anything?”

Ruby though

t of King’s hand on her knee, but she shook her head.

“Good. Just keep your distance. We only have five days on board ship.”

“I’ve thought of all this. I intend to do exactly that.”

“On top of which, he’s in mourning. So he must appear to be in mourning, even though he’s probably glad she’s dead.”

Ruby blanched. “Is he glad?”

“She was sick for some time. I think he was probably relieved more than glad.”

“I read about the rumors,” she lowered her voice. “About the death. That he might have had a hand in it.”

“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.

She 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.