The Vaudeville Star (19 page)

Ford felt his heart pound in his chest. “No.”

“Yes. Like a good brother.”

“I’m not your brother.”

“You almost were! If you had married Pernetta, you would have been my brother-in-law.”

“In-law is very different from brother,” he said, staring down into her gray eyes.

“Fine, then. Brother-in-law. Kiss me good night.”

He quickly kissed her forehead. “Good night.”

“That’s not a kiss.”

“It was.”

“No, it wasn’t. I want a real kiss.”

He kissed her temple. “Good night.”

“No. On my mouth.”

“Is that how a brother-in-law would kiss you?” He could feel the blood pounding in his ears.

“Yes.”

He touched her mouth with his in a brief kiss. He knew she was drunk. She was asking for things he shouldn’t give her. It was not right. He was not behaving as a gentleman should.

“Again.” She almost purred the word in his ear.

Against his better judgment, he touched his mouth to hers, and when he pulled away, she lifted her head, wanting more.

“Ruby.” His voice was so hoarse. “No more.”

“Just one more. Then I’ll go to bed.”

“Promise?”

She nodded.

His mouth touched hers, and he pressed his palms out to entangle his fingers with hers. She opened her mouth slightly, and her tongue pressed into his. He groaned. He could feel her legs trying to separate through the many layers of clothes to accommodate his body. She wanted him. He released her hands, and she arched against him.

Her arms encircled his neck, and he felt like he was drowning. His cock was hard, and he wanted nothing more than to lift up her skirts and feel her silky thighs wrap around his waist. When she moaned at the back of her throat, it sent him over the edge. His fingers were in her hair, and her own hands had moved from his neck to his lower back. Suddenly, she was pushing her hand between their bodies and pressing it against his throbbing cock.

“Ruby, don’t,” he said, breaking the kiss.

“No, don’t stop,” she said, almost begging. “Please.” She wiggled her body against his.

“Ruby. I can’t. You’re drunk.”

Ruby pouted like a little girl. “You don’t want me.”

“You know I do.”

“Then what?”

“It can’t be like this. Not when you’re saying things and behaving in a way you normally wouldn’t. Remember? I told you this would happen.”

“You did this! You got me drunk!” She pouted.

“I got you drunk?” he said, stifling a laugh.

“Yes! You taunted me, telling me I had never been drunk before, so I got drunk. This is all your fault. So the consequences are yours as well.”

He did laugh then. “No, Ruby. The consequences will be yours. In the morning, you’ll have a hell of a headache.”

“Oh, Ford,” she whispered, turning her head away.

He moved his hand through her blond hair and watched as she closed her eyes in sleep.

F
ord laced
his hands behind his head and stretched out upon the sofa. The bed was in his line of vision, and he saw that Ruby lay sleeping quietly. He knew it was late. A quiet stillness had settled over the ship, and even the sound of water against the ocean liner was distant.

He dozed off once, and when he woke again, everything was the same except he saw that Ruby had shrugged out of her dress, and it lay in a dark pool on the floor with her corset. She was only wearing a white chemise and a petticoat, and in her state of undress, she appeared more vulnerable, more desirable.

She had turned on her side away from him, and he saw the length of her back, her bottom, and her legs splayed a little apart. Her chemise ended at her knee, so her calves were clearly visible to his eye. She had shapely calves and delicate ankles, and he groaned inwardly as his cock lengthened again.

He didn’t touch himself but only turned his head away from the sight of her lying almost naked in his bed. They would arrive in London soon enough, but there would be more problems in that city. He would be busy with whatever duties King had him perform, but he would also keep an eye on Ruby, no matter if she wanted it or not.

Another hour passed, and when he woke he heard footsteps along the passageway. Someone was moving about at the very late hour. He suddenly wondered what he needed to do to get Ruby out of his cabin and into her own.

It would have to be when it was still dark so that no one would be about. He raised himself and looked out the porthole and saw that the sky was still dark. He might have another two hours to decide, and then he would have to wake her.

He settled back onto the sofa and looked over at Ruby. She had changed positions and was now curled on her other side, facing him. The shoulder strap of her chemise had fallen down on one side and her naked shoulder tantalized him. Her hair was spread out on his pillow, and her legs were tucked into her body. She looked so sweet.

Any other man might have said to hell with lofty ideals and proper behavior and taken her even if she was drunk. But Ford knew better. Even though he had made love to her once before, he had been racked with guilt afterward, though she had seemed perfectly happy to go their separate ways.

He remembered coming home after that disastrous night by the watering hole, when his mother and father had both cornered him in the front parlor after Jessbelle had been sent to bed.

Faylene had seemed a little flustered, but Marshall had poured them all a drink and then summed up the entire night most eloquently.

“Well, that’s that,” he had said, sipping his whiskey.

“That’s that? That is what you have to say to our son and this debacle, Marshall Rutledge?” Faylene had said, her cheeks flushed from the heat and the scandal.

“What should I say Faylene? We always knew Ruby Mae followed Ford around like some lost puppy.”

“A lost puppy I can handle. A young girl throwing herself at our son while he’s engaged to her sister? That’s a little much.”

Meanwhile, Ford had stood near the front window looking out. He could still remember Ruby’s lush curves under his hands and his cock aching for her.

“What do you want, Faylene? You want us to go back to the Suttons and beg Pernetta to take him back?”

“No.” Ford had said quietly. “That’s something I would never do.”

Marshall had nodded. “Rightfully so.”

“I thought this was such a good match,” Faylene had almost sobbed.

“Honestly, I never did.” Marshall had spoken quietly.

“You didn’t? Why did you go along with it?”

“For all the logical reasons. Our two plantations would become one. We’ve all known each other forever. And as the two oldest, it seemed to be the right thing.”

“But?”

“Pernetta is a cold one, like her Momma. I never thought her temperament suited Ford,” Marshall had admitted.

“Now you say that!” Faylene had rolled her eyes.

“But that Ruby. She’s an awkward girl now, but wait a few years. She’s going to collect hearts like some children collect fireflies in a jar.”

Ford looked over at the sleeping Ruby. Her arms were thrown above her head, and he had the strongest urge to cover her body with his. It would be like it had been that one night, only this time he would never let her go. He breathed out and closed his eyes in frustration and then looked out the porthole. It was still dark, but it wouldn’t be for much longer.

There was a grayness crawling into the sky, and they would need to move soon. He sat up and stretched his limbs. He walked over to the basin and poured the cold water from the pitcher into it. He splashed a little bit on his face and then brushed his teeth quickly.

He didn’t want to wake Ruby. She looked peaceful, like a sleeping angel. He sat on the side of the bed and touched her bare shoulder. It was smooth underneath his hand.

“Ruby.”

“Hmmm,” she murmured in her sleep, but it came out like a soft moan.

“Ruby.” He touched her shoulder, and she moved onto her back, slightly stretching.

“What?” she asked softly, not opening her eyes.

“I need you to get dressed.”

She was still for a moment, and then her eyes snapped open. “What?” She sat up and looked down at her state of undress and scooted away from him.

“What did you do?” she squeaked.

Ford decided to tease her for all the torment she had put him through the night before. “Don’t you mean what did
we
do?”

Ruby’s eyes widened. “Ford. Tell me. What happened?”

“What usually happens between two people in a dark bedroom,” he said smoothly, sitting back from her.

“My God. You took advantage of me!” she hissed.

“Lower your voice. It’s early in the morning.”

“Now you are worried about propriety? Now? After you had your way with me?” Ruby clutched at the blankets.

Ford chuckled. “First, I’ve seen you naked before, Ruby. Second, nothing happened.”

“Nothing happened? Am I to believe that?”

Ford jerked his head over his shoulder. “Look over there. I slept on the sofa.”

Ruby saw the rumpled blanket and the indent of his body upon it. Suddenly, she gasped. “Oh, my head.”

“Hangover.”

“It hurts.”

“Come on, Ruby. I need to get you dressed and back to your own cabin before it gets any lighter.”

Ruby moved to the edge of the bed while Ford swooped down to pick up her corset and dress.

“Where on earth did you get this dress anyway? It should be ripped to shreds,” he whispered.

“And why is that?”

“Because it leaves nothing to the imagination.”

“Doesn’t it?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

He pulled her corset around her waist, and she leaned away from him as he pulled the ties tighter.

“Ugh!” she complained. “I can’t breathe!”

“Shhh!” he admonished her, throwing the dress over her head and doing up the laces at the back of the dress.

“My head hurts, Ford.”

“Soon you’ll be in your own room, and you can sleep the afternoon away like the Southern belle you are,” he teased.

“You shouldn’t have let me drink so much.”

“And you shouldn’t have been such a little brat and drank all that champagne. Come on.”

He pulled her up, and she fell against him. “Sorry. My legs.”

She slipped into her shoes, and they exited his cabin. Ruby was still a little woozy, but she realized that she had spent a large part of the night in Ford’s cabin. Anyone seeing them would never believe she was innocent and that nothing had happened. Her reputation would be ruined. On top of which, King would probably throw her out of the tour, and Ford might even lose his job if King wanted revenge.

She felt a wave of panic as they moved along the passageway and heard footsteps and a voice. Ford threw her into a small alcove, and they waited until the passersby had disappeared. He looked down at her.

“It will be okay,” he assured her.

When they finally made it to her cabin, she stepped inside, grateful to have made it safely without being seen.

Ford stepped out onto the deck and took a deep breath. The night sky had turned gray, and a pink sliver was showing itself on the horizon. He leaned against the railing, looking out over the dark water against the lightening sky. Soon they would be in Liverpool. After what had happened with Ruby lying in his bed and in his arms, it couldn’t be soon enough.

* * *

R
uby settled
into the train car with Bessie seated across from her. She had been so relieved to finally leave the
Oceanic
. The time spent on the ocean liner had not been overly long, but after several days, she was anxious to be back on dry land, away from King’s interest and Ford’s dark gazes.

The train from Liverpool to London would take many hours with nothing to do but watch as the countryside flew by. Ford and King had taken a different train in Liverpool, which gave her some breathing room from them both.

Bessie had spent much of the train ride looking out the window and commenting on how it looked like this place or that while Ruby was thinking excitedly about their upcoming tour and how they would be received.

She knew that Zeta was still the reigning diva and top-billed performer, but she now had three songs, which gave her more time in front of the audience and a chance to develop a following in London.

As the train moved closer to London, she thought vaguely of that night with Ford. She knew she had behaved badly, begging for Ford to kiss her. She cringed. Her only defense was that she had too much to drink and had not been able to hold her liquor, as Ford had correctly surmised. She remembered Ford’s mouth against hers as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She had been ridiculous.

When the train finally pulled into London, the various performers obtained taxis and made their way to Durrants. She would be sharing a room with Bessie, which she didn’t mind at all.

Everyone was settling into their rooms when she heard Archie and Max heading out.

“Come on, Ruby! Archie said they are going to a nearby pub. They invited us along!” Bessie said, heaving her trunk into the corner and grabbing her small purse.

“What’s a pub?” Ruby asked as Bessie pulled her hand.

“A public house. A place to meet and drink,” Bessie explained.

She joined the men as they were moving along the corridor, and Archie winked at her.

“So! The princess has deigned to be among the common folk,” he said, teasing her.

She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m as common as anyone.”

As they entered The Duke, Ruby stared around her at the Victorian interior with rich wood paneling, booths, and a long bar. She admired the molded ceiling, the etched glass in the doors, and the intricate design on the tiles.

“What are you staring at?” Archie seemed amused.

“It’s such a lovely room,” she said.

He ordered pints for everyone as Vern joined them, followed by Zeta and Lou. The Vadas sisters entered, and soon everyone was asking their manager about the theater they would be performing in.

“What’s it called?” Ruby asked.

“Matinee Theatre. It used to be called St. George’s Hall.”

“Can we go see it? Tonight?” Bessie asked.

Vernon shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t see why not. It’s not in use right now as we have it booked for the next several weeks. They mentioned a stagehand who is always there.”

Ruby smiled as she remembered Lewis, the old curmudgeon in New York who guarded the stage door as if it was his own private domain.

After their round of drinks, they took several taxis to the theater and entered by the stage door. A lone man sat reading his newspaper, puffing on a pipe. He greeted them happily, even though the hour was late.

“Hello. I’m Vernon—”

“Aye. I’ve been expecting you Yankees,” he said.

Bessie watched as Ruby stiffened, and she tried to explain. “It’s what they call us. All of us.”

“I know. It just has a different meaning for me,” Ruby bristled.

“Go on and sniff the place out,” the stagehand directed. “There ain’t no one here but me.”

They walked out onto the vast stage looking out over the huge empty audience that could hold up to eight hundred people.

“Wow!” Bessie said as she and Archie danced across the stage while Ruby walked the length of it.

“Impressive.” Ruby felt the strange sensation of being frightened.

Though she had never suffered from stage fright, the immense cavern of people packed inside this theater would be intense. The theater had an elliptical roof of wood with skylights on the side and a balcony that ran along three sides of the room.

“What is it, Ruby?” Bessie asked, seeing the look on her face.

“It’s quite overwhelming.”

Bessie smiled. “It’s no different than New York. Maybe not as big, but no different. We’re here to perform and put on a good show.”

Ruby nodded. “Yes. You’re right.”

She cast a final glance at the theater before everyone moved down the aisle to leave through the front doors. She passed by sheets and sheets of bills that would be placed all around London soon enough. She saw her name listed as one of the acts appearing, and she smiled.