The Vaudeville Star

“Can you?”

“Yes.”

“It seems you can’t manage much alone. You seem to delight in flirting with King in front of me.”

“I wasn’t!” she said fiercely.

“Shhhh!” Ford said as they rounded the corner and he all but pushed her inside his own cabin. “Don’t make a scene!”

“You’re the one making a scene! I wasn’t flirting with him. He touched my arm.”

“He caressed you.”

“You’re seeing things that aren’t there,” she protested.

“Oh yes?”

Pulling her to him, he caressed her arm as King had done, and she struggled against him. “Stop it!”

“What? King merely touched your arm, you said. I’m doing the same.” As he spoke the words, his fingers were moving along her arm in a slow stroke.

“He didn’t do that,” she whispered.

“And what was that you were doing with your foot?”

“That was a mistake. I was stretching, and I thought I hit the table with my foot.”

“That’s your excuse?”

“It’s not an excuse. I was going to say sorry, but then you looked away.”

He released her, and she moved away from him. “Run along and change, Ruby. I’m sure King will be waiting.”

“If you hate him so much, why do you work for him?”

“Who said I hate him? I actually respect him. He’s a fine businessman.”

“Then?”

“There is no then. Go get changed. Soon enough, we’ll all be together again,” he added cryptically.

Ruby sensed a tension between them that had never been there before, and she didn’t know what to do. She left his cabin, and when she stepped into her own minutes later, she poured herself a glass of water and saw her hand was shaking.

She looked at her dresses and had a sudden yearning to look and feel desirous. She pulled out a garnet-colored gown that hugged her body like a glove. It had a plunging v-neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves. She would wear her hair up with ruby drop earrings and no other jewelry.

Tonight, she wanted to turn men’s heads. Tonight, she wanted to play the star.

17

When Ruby stepped into the lounge, she saw that a wide-open square was now available for dancing while dinner was still being served in the dining saloon. The ship used this expansive room for dancing, and many passengers were delighted to hear the musicians begin tuning their instruments.

The first-class lounge was a chief indoor gathering spot, and the ship’s orchestra of professional musicians made for a pleasant evening’s entertainment. She heard the familiar piano music of Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag,” and the orchestra played along as well in a delightful accompaniment.

Several couples were already on the dance floor, including Archie and Bessie, Zeta and Lou, and one of the Vadas sisters with a man she didn’t know. It was a catchy song, and everyone was dancing quick steps to the lively tune.

She saw King sitting with Vernon and Ford at a corner table, and as she walked toward them, she could feel the stares of everyone, especially the men, as she passed by.

“Good evening, gentlemen,” Ruby said softly, though her voice could hardly be heard above the music.