Chapter 1

THIS WAS happening.

Standing under the arched entrance to the grand ballroom, Robert Bradley was unable to do anything more than gape in absolute awe at the magnificence before him. Never in all his life had he seen such beauty and decadence. There was little around him that didn’t gleam or sparkle, and if there truly was a financial crisis going on in the world, it hadn’t reached the walls of Gabriel Chase’s colossal manor.

It was as if he’d stepped through a magical gateway into another world, like in his dime novels. However, unlike the men in his stories, no one would mistake Robert for a dashing hero. So much so, that as he stood, enraptured by the spectacle before him, he had no idea what to do with himself. In the last ten minutes alone, he’d considered fleeing several times.

This world was so far removed from his own, it had him doubting the wisdom of accepting such an invitation. The top hat and tails he wore weren’t even his own. They had been borrowed from the generous Mr. Dressler, who’d not only supplied him with the invite in the first place, but insisted he attend. Robert didn’t even own the white tie and gloves he was sporting or the shined black shoes on his feet. He was a sham, an insignificant little imposter among a crowd of high-society elites for whom this ball was merely one of many in a string of seasonal diversions.

No matter how slick his hair, how straight his posture, he’d never be one of them. The cost of one champagne glass alone was probably more than a month’s rent on his little apartment, which would be a mere speck of dust in this palace of rose marble and antique statuary. The walls and ceilings were heavily gilded, though he was hardly knowledgeable enough on the subject to know what period it was, and he prayed no one decided to talk to him concerning the topic. All he knew was that it was old and expensive, very expensive. Especially the three crystal chandeliers hanging from the ballroom ceiling, glittering like clusters of dazzling stars. One thing he was certain of—it was breathtaking.

From one end of the room, the white-tuxedoed orchestra played a sweeping waltz for the hundreds of masked guests, most of whom were dancing gracefully in the latest-cut suits and most elegant ball gowns. It was like a dream, and somewhere in that dream, Gabriel Chase would be there. No doubt looking every bit the rugged Hollywood movie star people mistook him for.

What am I doing here? Robert asked himself yet again. The mask concealing a portion of his face was hardly enough to hide his restless state. The fact people were starting to notice him wasn’t helping his situation any either.

Robert had been extremely relieved when Mr. Dressler informed him he was happy to provide a mask. After all, he owned plenty, and he indicated Robert could keep it as a souvenir of the evening. The most simple of masks found at this ball would have been well out of Robert’s price range.

At the moment, however, he wasn’t feeling so relieved. He was the only one in the ballroom with a white mask. A great number of the guests wore red masks of various designs, some with large amounts of sparkling jewels and feathers. Odd, considering this was a black-and-white ball. Their masks also covered their whole faces. The rest of the guests wore either silver or gold more-traditional masks that covered a portion, like Robert’s. When he’d first arrived, and Dressler had presented him with the mask, he’d started to ask about the different masks, but the man had excused himself and run off. Soon after, Robert became distracted by the object’s exquisiteness. It almost appeared made of old marble, like some Greek artifact. It had tiny jewels and pearls set in the intricate raised design of swirls. Attached to each side of the mask was a white Pegasus. Both winged horses faced each other, and between them, in the center of his brow, was some kind of harp with a heart-shaped jewel in the center. It was truly beautiful. Too beautiful, he thought with a frown.

“Oh for crying out loud, Robert,” he huffed under his breath. “Quit being such a coward.” This was his chance. He should be grateful for it. He couldn’t work in the mail room at Midnight Radio all his life. If he was going to show Mr. Chase what he was made of, now was the time. He’d wanted nothing more than the opportunity to sing on the radio. Well, there was perhaps one thing he wanted more, but that desire was unattainable.

Taking a deep, fortifying breath, Robert ignored all the stares as he made his way over to a waiter and, with a pleasant thank-you, took a glass of champagne. It might help settle his nerves some. Was it the mask or something else that elicited the odd looks he received? He bit his bottom lip and turned casually toward the wall to discreetly check himself. Everything seemed to be where it should be.

“Robert. There you are.”

The boisterous greeting and hearty pat on the back had him nearly jumping out of his skin, and he came dangerously close to dropping his champagne.

“Mr. Dressler.” Robert quickly handed his champagne glass to a passing waiter in an attempt to save face before turning back to Dressler. “Thank you again so much for this opportunity and everything else you’ve done. You’ve been exceedingly generous. I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble.”

Dressler, looking tall and debonair as he smoothed a finger over his pencil-thin mustache, waved a hand dismissively. “No trouble at all. You’re a very talented fellow. It’s time for Gabriel Chase to see that.”

Robert had to admit, when Dressler approached him with the invitation, he had no idea what to make of it. The man had never so much as greeted him in the five years Robert had worked at Midnight Radio, and suddenly there he was with a personal invitation to Gabriel Chase’s Black-and-White Ball. Not to mention the offer of a tuxedo, top hat, mask, and a list of reasons why Robert should sing for Mr. Chase. Had it been anyone else at Midnight, perhaps Robert wouldn’t have been so stunned, but Dressler wasn’t anyone.

“I still don’t understand why you chose me.” Robert’s cheeks flushed as he realized how rude that sounded. “What I mean is, I’m a mail-room clerk, and you’re the Arnold Dressler. You sang for Mr. Roosevelt last year!”

“Yes, I did sing for Mr. Roosevelt,” Dressler said with a chuckle. “I was also a newspaper boy once too. Now look where I am.” His piercing blue eyes pinned Robert to the spot. They were exceptionally pale in color, and something about them—about Dressler himself—always made Robert feel a little unnerved, which of course made him feel guilty. Dressler had never given him reason to feel that way.

Dressler surprised Robert by putting an arm around his shoulders, turning him, and walking him toward the other end of the room, where a number of majestic doors opened out to the gardens.

“Robert, I shall make a confession,” Dressler said in a low voice. “I’ve heard you sing several times.”

“You have?” Well, that was news to him. Few people paid attention to the screwy mail-room clerk, who went about singing to himself.

“Yes. I was waiting for my transcript when I overheard some of the girls talking about this amazing young man in the mail room who had the most beautiful voice. Well, I simply had to hear for myself.”

Robert listened to Dressler as they walked out onto the stone balcony. The moment he stepped foot outside and the cool night breeze swept through his hair, he smiled. It was no surprise that the gardens were as magnificent as the rest of the house. They stretched on for miles and were surrounded by forest. Everything was in full bloom, and there was an impressive array of flowers and statues painstakingly arranged about the grounds. More impressive, however, was the elaborate maze he could see at the far end. As they headed toward it, he marveled at the hedges trimmed into various animal shapes—everything from a life-sized elephant to a gathering of small rabbits. Above them, scores of glowing lanterns lit their path, and intertwined with all the foliage were stone pathways, each one curving and spiraling. Bubbling water features were strategically placed, creating an enchanting and magical atmosphere.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Dressler asked, snapping Robert out of his trance.

“I’ll say. I’ve never seen anything like it. I was surprised to know Mr. Chase lived all the way out here. I thought he lived in Manhattan.” The trip had cost Robert a pretty penny, having to take all those trains and taxis, but it was worth it to see it.

“Oh, he has an apartment in the city, of course, but he’s one of those odd birds who enjoys the countryside. He escapes here regularly.” Dressler’s hand came to rest on Robert’s lower back as Dressler ushered him farther down the grounds. Robert couldn’t help wondering if it was deliberate, as there were fewer guests this far out. He gave himself a good dressing down for being so silly. Dressler was merely being friendly.

“Would you like to see the maze?” Dressler asked.

Before Robert had a chance to speak up, he heard a familiar voice call out. “Arnold! Your brothers have been driving me mad asking for your whereabouts. Would you please go find them before they start harassing the rest of my guests?”

Robert froze, doing his damnedest not to show any signs of how the man’s husky voice affected him.

“Yes, fine,” Dressler grumbled and turned to Robert with a small bow. “Don’t wander far. I shall return shortly.”

Unable to speak, Robert simply nodded. Then he was alone. With him.

How much time had he spent daydreaming about those powerful shoulders, that strong jaw, and muscular chest? Gabriel Chase was one of the handsomest and most sought-after bachelors in all of Manhattan. He was also Robert’s boss. More troubling was the fact that he was the object of Robert’s fantasies. It was of no help at all that the man possessed an uncanny resemblance to Mr. Gary Cooper. Robert had yet to miss a motion picture with the handsome film star.

Those brief moments when Robert happened to be walking the same hall as Gabriel always made his day, and then of course the images of coal-black hair and amber-colored eyes carried him through the nights. Even if Gabriel’s mask had covered the whole of his face rather than merely his eyes, as it did now, Robert still would have recognized him. Though he had to admit, the scarlet red of the intricate piece combined with the intensity of those eyes was… hypnotizing.

“Oh, my apologies,” Gabriel said with a polite bow. “I didn’t realize Arnold was in the middle of a conversation.” He tilted his head to one side and smiled, pointing to Robert’s mask. “That’s quite a unique one.”

“It was a gift from Mr. Dressler,” Robert replied, touching the mask self-consciously. “I hope you don’t mind. I know it doesn’t match the others.”

“A unique mask for a unique man, perhaps?”

His head snapped up at that, and he was surprised to find that Gabriel had closed the distance between them. Robert stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the amber eyes, which appeared as if they were glowing. Gabriel had at least four inches on Robert’s five feet ten, but his presence was far more imposing, giving the impression of a much bigger man.

“You have beautiful eyes,” Gabriel said. “Like the ocean. I love to swim in the ocean. Would you care to dance?”

Robert’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest. “I beg your pardon?”

“Would you care to dance,” Gabriel repeated.

Was the man mad? This was his home, but it was filled with hundreds of guests. If anyone saw them, they would be ruined. There was always the chance that Gabriel might be able to use his money and influence to save himself from the workhouse or any charges of indecency, but Robert couldn’t hope to be so lucky. The thought alone had him recoiling.

“You can’t be serious.”

Cursing himself for not having the good sense to at least reject the man civilly—no matter how hard his heart was fighting him on it—he half expected Gabriel to get angry and throw him out. Instead the man released a throaty laugh and pulled Robert into his arms.

“No one knows who you are,” Gabriel assured him.

“But that’s not true at all,” Robert whispered hoarsely as he tried to pull away discreetly. “Mr. Dressler knows who I am. Everyone knows who you are.”

“No one is going to say a thing. I promise you.”

Robert wasn’t so sure of that, but even as his entire body went on alert, he allowed Gabriel to lead him in a waltz, all the while wondering if the madness was spreading.