The Vaudeville Star

She shivered in the cold rain as they boarded the elegant ocean liner headed for New York. She was under no illusions. She knew the minute they set sail, she would be at his mercy. She could go to the captain and plead for help, but there was no guarantee. She watched as the porter took their trunks to their cabins. At least that had been an unforeseen nicety. She had her own cabin, separate from his. She had to bide her time and wait for the right moment.

She stood at the railing, her gloved fingers curving along the wood. King was watching her only a few feet away, his hand in his coat pocket. She saw people coming on board the ship and taxicabs depositing travelers, but no Ford. She waited in the rain for ten minutes. Fifteen. Twenty. Thirty. But he didn’t come.

As the rain mingled with her tears, she knew that he was not coming. She was alone. On board an ocean liner with a madman. A man obsessed with her. A man who had killed to be with her. She felt the sickness well up in her throat.

“Come along, Ruby. I can’t have you catch cold,” he said, appearing at her elbow.

She thought wildly of jumping overboard in that instant. She could easily be caught by everyone on the dock—but no. She allowed herself to be steered to her cabin as she felt the ship move from the dock. Their journey had begun.

“We must dress for dinner. That garnet-colored dress. You know the one I mean. You’ll wear that.”

The door closed behind him, and Ruby sank into a chair. How could her life, which had been so utterly perfect one minute, turn into such a nightmare in the next? She shrugged out of her clothes and looked down at the garnet dress. She remembered wearing it to tease Ford. She had wanted to gain his attention. She remembered his hands on her body as they danced in front of everyone.

Now the ship would take her across the ocean and away from the man she loved. She needed to be strong. She donned the gown and arranged her hair. She stared at herself in the mirror. She must perform again. She must smile and keep herself calm and not let King see the utter revulsion she now felt for him.

She moved out of the cabin and along the deck to the edge of the ship. She took in deep breaths, readying herself to face the monster. She must pretend. She must perform this very important role. Once in New York, she would escape. He could not hold her forever.

The breeze ruffled her hair, and she had the strangest sensation of being watched. When she turned abruptly, she saw no one. It was dark, and except for the stars above and the gaslights, there was no one. She was alone. She moved back inside and put a smile on her face.

“My dear. You look lovely,” he said as she joined him at the table for dinner.

“Thank you.”

“I know you aren’t happy, my dear, but it will all be made right. We will have an annulment declared once we reach New York, and then we can marry.” He took a sip of his brandy.

“An annulment? On what basis?” Ruby asked.

“Well, as I understand, there are many different ways to have an annulment declared. Underage, fraud, using force, or lunacy.”

“But I am not underage, and there was no fraud nor force used. And lunacy? That’s ridiculous.”

“Perhaps,” King said as he sipped his brandy. “We could say the marriage was not consummated.”

Ruby smiled in return. “I don’t think that would work either. It was consummated many times over.”

King set his wineglass down as their food arrived and waited until the waiter had left. “Let’s be clear about one thing. I have been tested by you one too many times. I will not be again. Keep a civil tongue. I would not like to have to teach you the same lesson as dear Lourdes.”

Ruby ate little of the meal, and when the orchestra struck up in the next room, King smiled.

“Shall we enjoy the music?” He held out his hand.

Ruby was in no mood to dance but walked to the next room followed by King, who was enjoying his second brandy. A ragtime song began, and many of the younger couples took to the floor, but they remained seated. When a slow waltz started, she watched as the dance floor grew more crowded.

“May I have this dance?” a sandy-haired man asked Ruby, and she looked to King.

“Of course, my dear.” He waved a hand at her, but his eyes glittered dangerously, and she knew he would be watching her.

Ruby accepted the young man’s hand, and they moved out onto the floor. The lights were low, and the crush of people caused her partner to be on his guard lest he plow them into another couple. They were only halfway into the waltz when a man tapped him on the shoulder.

Ruby moved into the next man’s arms as she felt the couples move together all around them.

“Ruby Mae Rutledge,” said the voice holding her.

She jerked up to see his face and bit her lip to keep from crying. “Ford.”

“My darling bride,” he said as they moved together gracefully.

Relief flooded into her. “I never doubted you.”