The Vaudeville Star

“You believe what you will. Meanwhile, I must act as his hostess when we arrive in London.”

“Yes. He mentioned it to me. Hostess. That’s quite cozy. And when do you become his mistress?”

“When should I?” She lifted her chin up. She would not be cowed.

It was Ford’s turn to smile. “Whenever you wish, Ruby. You do exactly as you please, don’t you? You always have.”

When he turned abruptly on his heel, Ruby had the strange sensation of wishing to slap his face while at the same time wanting to bury her head in his shoulder. She felt safe in his arms. Soon they would be in London. Soon.

16

Ford threw his evening coat onto the chair and poured himself a whiskey. The trip had not turned out at all how he had planned. He had taken the job because King paid well and it was an easy enough assignment. Shadow King and watch Ruby, though neither really needed him.

Instead of secretly keeping Ruby safe from King and keeping King ignorant of their past association, it was all topsy-turvy. King had become more engrossed with Ruby, though she did not view him in the same light, and Ford himself was fighting his own feelings for her.

It was getting harder and harder to be near her and not crush her against him. When they were younger, he had viewed her with a mixture of annoyance and delight. She had always had a quick mind, and Ford knew that she was neglected at home b

y her mother and despised by her sister.

But as a young woman, she was enchanting. He only had to watch her enter a room to see all eyes turn to her. It was exciting. And when he had watched her onstage, she held the audience enthralled. She moved across the stage with an easy elegance, and no one could look away from her lovely face and trim figure.

He took a long sip of the whiskey and closed his eyes. As a Pinkerton detective, he had never become emotionally involved with his clients or their problems. He maintained a cool distance and kept a calm head. This time, everything was different. He felt himself falling in love with a woman he had known his entire life, only now it seemed like he barely knew her.

He tried to forget that night in Connecticut. He had behaved badly. She had seemed so lost and alone that night. He should not have taken advantage of her, but her plump lips and the feel of her skin underneath his hands had been his undoing.

She was unlike any other woman he had ever met. A delicious mix of independence and innocence. Most women wanted to marry and have children. But Ruby seemed to dismiss it all. Instead, she was traveling to London with the vaudeville troupe to chase her dreams.

He thought of King. He knew him well enough to know that he was serious in his desire for Ruby. She may not understand men like him, but Ford did. Even if it meant staying close to them both to protect her, Ford would. He would ignore his own feelings and desires just to make certain that Ruby was safe. That was all that mattered.

Ruby and Bessie sat in their deck chairs taking in the midmorning sun. Ruby had laid aside her novel while Bessie was trying to crochet a pair of mittens. She was learning how to do it, and her mittens were badly misshapen.

“Oh, this is hopeless!” Bessie said.

“Practice makes perfect, Bess,” Ruby encouraged her, though she smiled at her attempt. “I’m sure Ezra will like them.”

Bess gasped. “How did you know?”

Ruby shrugged her shoulders. “Who else?”

Greta Vadas strolled by on the arm of a man they didn’t know, and Bessie rolled her eyes.

“They work fast, those sisters,” she murmured.

“Well, after all, it’s only a five-day journey. They don’t have much time,” Ruby replied.

Bessie laughed until they saw King and Ford walking toward them. Both men looked handsome in light gray suits, but Ruby was always drawn to Ford. He was a little taller than King and younger, and she admired the cut of his cheekbones and firm lips.

“A lovely morning, ladies,” King said smoothly.

“Yes, it is,” Ruby said, looking up and shielding her eyes with her arm from the sun.

She glanced once at Ford, but he immediately looked away.

“I’m organizing a game of whist after lunch. Do you ladies play?”

They both nodded, and King grinned. “Excellent. Come to my suite after lunch.”

Ruby sighed when they had moved out of sight.