The Vaudeville Star
Page 87
“How?” Ford said coldly.
“Well, damn it all, man! You know I’m only waiting for my mourning to be over before I make Ruby my wife. Lourdes ruins everything. I don’t want her here.”
“It seems like she didn’t take the breakup very well in New York.”
“I don’t see why not. I gave her the town house, the jewels—”
“Apparently, she only wants you.”
“And now she’s followed me here! Jesus!” King cursed.
“And she’s been drinking,” Ford said quietly.
Both men were silent as Ruby waited. She couldn’t appear to them now. It would seem too odd. “I’ll handle this,” King muttered. “I’ll take her back to her hotel without making a scene.”
King left, and then a woman’s voice joined his in the hallway. They must have placed her in a room if she was too tipsy to move about.
Ruby waited for Ford to leave, but he didn’t. She watched him walk to the window and look out over the street. Was he watching for King?
“You can come out now,” he said quietly.
Ruby took in a deep breath. “How did you—?”
“I can smell your perfume, Ruby.”
Ruby moved forward. “I didn’t want to come out.”
“I know,” he said, but he still wouldn’t face her.
He seemed distracted. Not himself. She tried to change the subject. “Have you heard? About opening night?”
“I was there.”
“You were?”
“Yes.”
“What did you think?”
“You were wonderful. Perfect. What else do you want me to say?”
“Don’t say anything if it’s begrudgingly said.”
“I saw your performance. And then the one after. You have King twisted around your little finger and now you have the king.”
“You’re drunk, and you’re being rude.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“But I’ve told you the truth. Doesn’t it suit?”
“If King likes me, I’ve never encouraged it.”
“Nor discouraged it.”
“And if the king admires me, well, so be it.”