The Vaudeville Star

“I’m sorry. Please. Continue.”

King nodded. “I need your help.”

“Of course. I owe you so much. How can I help you? What do you need?”

“There was an accident last night. A most unfortunate accident. The police have been notified. It’s all a big misunderstanding, but I need you to tell the police that we were together last night.”

“Together?” she asked uncertainly.

“Yes.”

“All night?” Ruby frowned.

“Exactly. This way when they question you, they’ll see that everything is just as I said.”

“But I don’t understand—”

“Damn it, Ruby! You don’t need to understand.” He stood up and began pacing. “I just need you to tell them that we were together at the town house. In Mayfair.”

“Will the police come looking for me?” she asked.

“Probably. But once you tell them what I’ve told you, everything will be fine. It’s simple. We were together all night. That’s it.”

Ruby looked away from King and to the floor.

“Come, sweetheart! I’m not asking you to do anything so awful. Am I?”

Ruby shook her head.

“After all the things that I have done for you, surely this small favor is little in comparison.”

“Of course, King. I’m happy to help you. And the accident you mentioned—”

“Nothing at all to trouble you. I knew I could count on you.” He kissed her hand before he departed as quickly as he had arrived.

After King left the hotel room, Ruby stared at the door. She didn’t understand what he was asking. The conversation had been bizarre. She didn’t want to confide in Bessie, but she knew that Ford was on the same floor. He would know what to do. She would tell him everything and listen to what he said.

Bessie returned shortly after with a tray filled with fruit, toast, and coffee. Ruby gratefully accepted the coffee, thankful not to have to go downstairs and face all the people today. When a knock sounded again on the door, Bessie answered it, admitting a hotel porter carrying a large baskets of flowers.

“Oh my!” she said when the large bouquet had been deposited inside their room. “Quick! Read the card, Ruby!”

Ruby found the card, and when she read it, she couldn’t help but smile widely. There was a coat of arms and his signature.

“They are from His majesty, the king,” Ruby said, handing it to her.

Bessie took it and feigned a bored response. “Oh yes. How tiresome. They are from His Majesty, the king.”

Ruby laughed at her friend’s air of boredom. “What should I say, Bess? He’s being polite. He asked me to sing last night, and I did.”

“You don’t think it’s more than politeness?” Bess wondered.

“No. I met his mistress, Alice Keppel. She’s quite a fixture by his side,” Ruby confirmed. “I don’t think a man his age, and indeed a king, needs a younger woman like me. He wants a woman like Alice, who is more a companion and confidante.”

Ruby looked down at the card and thought again of the conversation between herself and King Parker. She wanted Ford’s advice. In truth, she just wanted to see Ford and feel his arms around her. She had not told Bessie about their intimate encounter or anything that had happened the night before with King Parker and Ford at the party.

She wanted to keep her romance with Ford secret until the timing was right, and she didn’t want to involve Bessie in anything unnecessary.

After Bessie’s numerous questions had been satisfied, Ruby dressed in a light blue frock and pulled on her gloves and hat. The two women had decided to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum and take tea at whatever shop caught their fancy.