"Are you sure Richard's going to show up tonight?" Tara asked anxiously as she let the beaded mask fall from her face. She waved the flimsy wooden stick in the air as she continued, "I don't know if this was such a great idea after all."

Cordelia Von Helt raised her hand and pushed the mask back in front of Tara's face. "This is a masquerade ball," she chided. "Anonymity is important until midnight."

"Right," Tara replied as she held the brilliant jeweled mask in place over her eyes. "It's just that I'm so nervous. Even if he does show, what if Richard won't listen to me?"

Cordelia smiled and nodded lightly to guests passing by. She leaned over slightly and spoke. "I think the question should be why you think he's the only man for you?"

Tara tore the mask from her face and glared at her aunt. "Don't tell me you disapprove, Aunt Cordelia! I told you about the dream I had before I started working for Lyons Development. You know how important this is to me."

Cordelia raised a gloved finger to her lips and again pushed Tara's mask in front of her face. "Please don't raise your voice to me," she said sternly. "And you know how I feel. I'm concerned Richard may not be the man you think he is."

"I'm sorry, Aunt Cordelia," Tara said. "It's just that the dream was so vivid. And I've been his secretary for five years. I love him. I've never felt this way about anyone before and I need him to know how I feel."

"Of course I understand," her aunt said. "Rick is a good man, an honest man. But as his secretary, you've had a front row seat. You've seen the line of women parading through his life."

"He just hasn't met the right one," Tara said stubbornly.

Cordelia smiled softly. "My dear, he met you five years ago and sees you every day of the week. Don't you think if you were the right woman, he would have noticed by now? I just hate seeing you pine for a man that may never return your feelings."

Before Tara could reply, Cordelia waved a delicate hand in dismissal. "I simply must mingle with the guests." She watched as her aunt whisked away, the elaborate pink and white satin Victorian gown swishing in her wake.

Tara peered through the tiny holes of her mask. Aunt Cordelia was a player, no doubt about it. She threw the masquerade ball annually, opening her mansion to anyone who could afford to pay three hundred dollars a ticket. All the funds went to her charity of choice, this year being the Sunshine Children's Hospital in downtown Toronto.

No one cared where the money went as long as they were able to secure tickets to attend. It was the event of the year. Everyone who was anyone attended Cordelia Von Helt's charity functions.

Tara felt like a fish out of water. She belonged here about as much as a tuna salad sandwich belonged on a plate of escargot. But she was on a mission. Tonight, she would finally tell Richard Lyons that she was in love with him.

She'd played the moment over in her mind many times, in many different scenarios. Perhaps they'd be walking in Cordelia's rose garden, or maybe find themselves alone on the balcony. She would be nervous at first but find strength in the love reflecting in his eyes. He'd felt it too and didn't know how to tell her. They'd fall into each other's arms.

Five years of longing, of waiting for the right time to tell him how she felt. Five years of heartache each and every time she saw Richard with his latest beauty. Tonight, he'd know the truth.

Tara smiled at the waiter as he paused with a tray of wine-filled glasses. She nodded lightly as she took a glass from the tray and focused her attention on the couples, dressed in formal Victorian clothing, as they danced to the twelve piece band's waltzes.

As she lifted the crystal glass to her lips, her eyes strayed to the steps leading to the grand ballroom's entrance. She froze in place as she saw the man bowing slightly to guests as a steward took his evening coat.

Richard!

Dressed in formal Victorian suit, complete with a powdered white wig, his eyes covered with a black mask, most might not know who he was. But Tara knew. She had come to know his tall muscled stance, his square shoulders, the way he walked with an air of confidence. She recognized the slight nod of his head as he ascended the stairs into the ballroom. And that smile! The brilliant, five hundred watt smile that showed off tiny dimples in his cheeks and was likely the reason his land development company had done so well. People looked at Richard Lyons and were instantly drawn to him.

Tara's eyes followed him as he moved around the room. When she lost sight of him for a moment, she craned her neck to see where he had gone. She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally spotted him, his head bowed slightly as he chatted with Cordelia.

When he and Cordelia stepped onto the dance floor, Tara watched in awe as he placed one hand on her waist while the other gently folded over her fingers. He stood ramrod straight, the tails of his suit slicing through the air as he whisked Cordelia around on the floor.

The time had come.