Diane T. Ashley (29 page)

“Should I be jealous?” Vance put his hand on the wall above her right shoulder.

She raised her left shoulder in a shrug. “They’re coming to the boat this afternoon. You can see for yourself.”

“Something’s different about you today.” He put a finger under her chin and tilted it upward, studying her face.

Jasmine pulled her head back, banging it on the wall behind her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Vance, leave the girl alone and take this money to the bank. You know what we need.” Mr. Easley’s voice brought scalding hot blood into Jasmine’s cheeks.

“I have to go.” She ducked under Vance’s arm and ran to her room. Closing the door with a snap, she leaned against it and concentrated on breathing deeply. Rubbing the back of her head, she wondered what Vance had seen in her. Something had changed inside her, but was it obvious on the outside, too?

The question that had burned in her mind last night returned. Why had David’s kiss been so devastating? The difference between his kiss and Vance’s attempt was like the difference between the painting inside the Sistine Chapel and the scribbles of a child. Vance’s touch had been repugnant, nasty, and wet. With David she had felt as though their souls touched, as though their hearts had been soldered together.

Was this one of the assaults Renée had tried to warn her about last night? Would her attraction to David destroy the seed of her talent? Her chin hardened. She wouldn’t allow it. With a nod of her head, she straightened and opened the door. She would not be distracted.

After the third time she had to be cued for her next line, Jasmine realized it would take more than determination to overcome the effect of the previous night. Tears of hopelessness threatened to spill from her eyes.

“We need a break.” Miss Barlow’s voice rang out across the theater.

The manager checked his pocket watch. “Be back in thirty minutes.”

Miss Barlow grabbed her hand. “Come with me.”

Long nails dug into her arm, but Jasmine was too downhearted to complain. She didn’t even pay any attention when the older woman led her down a separate passage. But when Miss Barlow dropped her hand and opened the door to her dressing suite, Jasmine balked.

“Get in here.”

Jasmine crossed the threshold, her eyes wide. The large room was filled with open trunks overhung by skirts, blouses, dressing gowns, and silk chemises. Feather boas in one corner of the room looked like a litter of kittens, and shoes in all colors of the rainbow were scattered across the floor like autumn leaves.

Miss Barlow ignored the chaos, picking her way to a slipper chair and sitting. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I don’t … I—”

A snort interrupted her. “I thought you were made of stronger stuff than this. You’ve only been acting for a few weeks, but everyone who sees you knows you’re talented. You have something special, something few people—even fewer ladies—have.”

The color rushed upward again. “Thank you.”

“I invited you to my room so we can talk frankly, just the two of us.” Miss Barlow settled back against her chair. “You and I have many things in common. I was about the same age as you when I first started.”

Jasmine wished she could sit down, but she didn’t want to appear too forward by either perching on the edge of Tabitha’s bed or sitting at her dressing table.

“In some ways those days seem like yesterday. But then I look in the mirror and I realize how long it’s been—almost two decades. I wanted to be rich and famous. I wanted to read about my performances in the newspaper. I dreamed of the whole world knowing my name, of my photograph being the most recognizable in this country, in the whole world.”

“But you
are
famous.” Jasmine glanced at all the clothes around them. “And rich.”

“Pah, this is nothing. And yet it’s all I have.” The other woman stood up and kicked a shoe out of her way. Reaching inside one of the trunks, she grabbed up a skirt. “I wore this on a stage in Virginia the day before the war began. Those were hard days. Never knowing when one army or the other might lock us away as spies.” A harsh laugh came from her throat, and she tossed the skirt down. “Of course I did my fair share of passing along information on troops and plans. All for naught.”

Jasmine didn’t know what to say. Miss Barlow had been a spy? The very thought of doing something so dangerous made her heart trip.

“That’s all ancient history now.” Miss Barlow uncovered a wooden chair and pointed her finger at it. “Sit.”

As soon as Jasmine settled down, the actress returned to her slipper chair. “Even though you’re talented, you’ll need help to see your dreams come true. Someone who has contacts in the world of the theater. Someone who can get you noticed by the right people. Someone like me.”

Shock held her still. Of all the things she thought Miss Barlow might offer her, sponsorship was not one of them. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Thank you is sufficient.”

When Jasmine hesitated, Miss Barlow’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I see how it is. Vance Hargrove has turned your head. You think he’s all you need to get ahead.”

“I—”

“Do you think you’re the first pretty girl he’s gotten a job for?” A harsh laugh came from the older woman. “Has he already kissed you?”

Jasmine put her hands to her burning cheeks. How did Miss Barlow know? Was it true that Vance didn’t care about her? What about his words this morning?

“No need to answer, I can see it on your face. You’re lucky I’ve decided to take an interest in you. After he is through using you, he’ll be on to his next conquest.”

She wanted to cover her ears to shut out Miss Barlow’s words. Could they be true? Was Vance using her for his own purposes? And what about Miss Barlow? “Why do you want to help me?”

“Good. I knew you were a quick study.” Miss Barlow’s laugh sounded harsh to Jasmine’s ears. “Everyone has their reasons, even me. If you become as famous as I think you will, you’ll soon leave this country and become a sensation abroad. That’s when I’ll want your help. But in all honesty, if I really wanted to help you, Jasmine, I’d tell you to go to your handsome brother and beg him to take you home. Leave before you’re as washed up as I am.”

“You’re not washed up.”

Another callous laugh answered her statement. “I’m a long way from the theaters in New York. It’s too late for me, but you can still get out.”

“I don’t want out. I want to see the world.”

The other woman leaned forward, her chin propped on her hand. “The world is not the exciting place you’re imagining. It’s mostly unwashed farmers, empty promises, and mud.”

Jasmine pushed herself up from her chair. She’d heard enough.

“You can run if you want, but I’m trying to give you the benefit of my experience. I’ve been snubbed by ladies who think they’re better than me. I’ve been pelted with rotten vegetables when the audience decides they’re not getting their money’s worth. I’ve had to run for my life with nothing but the clothes on my back.”

Picking her way through the mess, Jasmine finally reached the door and jerked it open.

Before she could get out, though, Miss Barlow added her parting shot. “If you don’t take my advice to escape, come back to see me. I can help you more than you realize.”

The words reverberated in her mind as Jasmine went back to her room. She was embarrassed and upset by the interview with Miss Barlow. It was all too much for her. Everyone wanted something from her, each one demanding something different. She didn’t know which way to turn anymore. Feeling dazed and confused, Jasmine threw herself across the bed and let the tears flow. How had everything gone so wrong?

David wondered what he was going to say to Jasmine the next time he saw her. Guilt scoured him every time he thought of the way she’d run from him. He was an idiot. All these years he’d remained silent. And for what? So he could frighten her away when she realized he didn’t think of her as a sister?

He saw the Thornton family from a distance as they boarded the showboat. He wished he could visit with them again, but the only time he could search the
Ophelia
was during the two hours that the performance had everyone occupied.

Judicious questioning of the unsuspecting Titus Ross, the tugboat captain, supplied him with the location of the actors’ rooms. He started with Vance Hargrove’s. A large bed covered with crimson silk sheets made his stomach churn. He had no doubt the actor was a master seducer, although what women saw in him was a mystery to David.

A thorough search of the nooks and crannies turned up no notes or incriminating evidence. David found a strongbox concealed in one of the man’s trunks and wished he could open it without alerting Hargrove to the fact that it had been discovered. But the box was too small to hold much. He would have to find a more blatant connection before he risked showing his hand.

Someone walking down the hallway had him diving for cover, but the footsteps passed Hargrove’s room. David knew it was time to get out before he had to explain his presence in the actor’s quarters.

After listening for other activity, he opened the door an inch. The hall looked empty so he crept out of the room, closed the door without making a noise, and tiptoed back to the room where the props were stored. He could always feign some excuse if he was found there.

“There you are.” Clem’s voice made him jump. “I wondered if we would see you at all today.”

He turned to her and smiled. Of all the people on the
Ophelia
, he prayed Clem was not involved. “I had some business to do in town this morning. Do you ever get off the boat to see some of the countryside?”

Her round face turned pink, and David wished he’d kept his mouth shut. He hadn’t meant to give her the idea that he wanted to pursue her. All he wanted to do was eliminate her as a suspect.

“I’d love to see Memphis.” Her smile made Clem’s face transform from average to pretty.

How was he supposed to ignore such a blatant invitation? He didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Maybe she would be satisfied with a quick walk through downtown to see the shops. “We’ll have to do something about that.”

A sound at the door made David look over his shoulder. His heart dropped to his toes as he recognized coal black hair and dark eyes the color of violets. He’d imagined many scenarios during the long hours of the night, but none of the meetings he’d dreamed of included Jasmine overhearing him making plans with another girl.

“Excuse me, Clem, but I need to talk to my brother before the two of you leave on your outing.” Jasmine’s voice was cool and calm.

David ran a finger around the collar of his shirt.

“If you can tear yourself away, of course.” Her tone suggested he’d be sorry if he didn’t.

Clem looked at both of them, muttered some excuse, and left them alone.

Jasmine’s eyes burned his skin. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Was she jealous? The thought was ludicrous. Wasn’t it? Now that he really looked at Jasmine, he realized something he had not before. The skin around her eyes looked bruised. “Have you been crying?”

She shook her head. “I— of course not. It’s just been a trying few days. Everything’ll be better once you leave.”

Here was the condemnation he’d expected. “I’m sorry, Jasmine. I never meant to—”

“Hush.” She put a hand to her lips and glanced around. “I don’t want to talk about it. We were both carried away by the moment. The sooner we move past what happened, the sooner things can go back to normal.”

“If you didn’t come to talk about … last night, then what?”

“I think I might have a clue.”

Fear stole into his veins, pushed his heart all the way up his throat. “You’re supposed to leave that to me. I don’t want you putting yourself at risk.”

Her eyes widened.

He wanted to shake some sense into her. “Don’t you realize that some of these people are killers? One of them, maybe someone who works on this boat, stabbed a man in cold blood. Charles Petrie died in front of my eyes. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.”

One of the minor actors stuck his head in the door but backed away when David sent him a warning glare. “Hurry up and tell me what you learned before someone else comes in.”

“Mr. Easley sent someone to the bank today.”

David waited a minute for her to continue. When she didn’t, he sighed, the urge to shake her growing stronger with each passing second. Jasmine couldn’t still think this was all play. She had to grasp the gravity of the situation. “What else?”

“Nothing.” She closed her mouth, but he could tell she was holding something back.

“Does it have something to do with Vance Hargrove?”

“Yes—well—maybe. But I’m certain he’s innocent.”

“Tell me, Jasmine, and let me decide who’s innocent and who’s guilty. That’s what I’m trained to do.”

She huffed. “It wasn’t much really. Only that Mr. Easley gave Vance a huge pile of money and told him to go to the bank. Then he said, ‘You know what to do.’ ”

The way she dropped her voice an octave and thrust out her chest was so cute. Jasmine might be an actress, but no one would confuse her with the two-hundred-pound manager. He wanted to laugh but knew he couldn’t. That’s what had gotten them in trouble last night. He needed to keep his focus on the case.