The Vaudeville Star

“It’s the truth!” Ruby fumed.

“Oh, I see. Then the other one comes along. The good-looking one with the broad shoulders and sexy mouth.”

Ruby knew she was speaking of Ford, but she said nothing.

“Suddenly, you are no longer with King but with the other one in your own cabin. Another drink?” Zeta smirked.

“No. We were talking about—”

“Talking?” Zeta let out a sharp laugh. “No, no, no. That won’t do. No one would believe that story. A man and a woman alone in a cabin late at night talking? Maybe you needed help reaching something high up.” She arched an eyebrow.

“This is ridiculous. I don’t need to explain myself to you.”

Zeta smiled, but it was a cold one. “No. You don’t. Not to me. I don’t care who you spread your legs for. But King might.”

Ruby was about to speak, but Zeta continued.

“Men are so territorial. Are they not? They want to be the only one. They want to be the first. The last. I think this King spends money to impress you. To obtain you. I don’t think he’ll like you giving yourself to the other one.”

“Nothing happened,” Ruby repeated angrily.

“That could be. It’s possible.” Zeta moved away from the railing. “But who would believe you?”

Ruby watched Zeta leave and closed her eyes. She knew Zeta well enough. She was baiting her. She would say nothing to jeopardize the tour. She hadn’t even been with Ford that long, but she must tread carefully. She must be careful when she was with Ford in company and appear to be the strangers they were supposed to be.

Bessie joined her soon enough, and they moved into the dining room to sit with Vernon and Max. Max nodded happily at them while Vernon seemed highly annoyed.

“Shhhh!” he told them both. “My head is pounding!”

“Too much to drink?” Ruby asked.

“You think?” he said irritably and left the table.

Archie and Lee Chen replaced him just as Ford entered the dining saloon. He looked handsome in a dark blue suit, and when he walked past the table, their eyes met briefly. She saw Zeta behind him with a knowing smile on her face, and she turned her attention to her breakfast.

When she finished her toast and coffee, she quit the saloon. She felt a headache coming on. She was tired of the intrigue that seemed to surround her. She passed by the library and saw King alone, reading the paper with a brandy at his elbow.

“Is that your breakfast?” she asked, smiling.

He smiled as well. “Hair of the dog and all that rubbish. Join me.”

Ruby sat across from him and arranged her skirts.

“Do I need to apologize for anything last night, my dear? I’m afraid I consumed too much of this damned stuff.”

“Not at all. You were the perfect gentleman.”

“Was I? I’m sorry to hear that!” he teased her.

“We had a nightcap, and then I left. That was all.”

“Excellent. I must say I would hate to think of a night spent with you and not remember it. That’s a crime!”

“King,” she lightly admonished.

He moved to sit beside her. “I’ve been so long with a certain type of woman, Ruby. I forgot that they could be innocent and fresh.”

He touched her hand. “I know Vern made arrangements at some hotel in London.”