<blockquote> <p> A duke must choose wisely . . . </p> </blockquote> <p> Leopold Dautry, the notorious Duke of Villiers, must wed quickly and nobly&#8212;and his choices, alas, are few. The Duke of Montague's daughter, Eleanor, is exquisitely beautiful and fiercely intelligent. Villiers betroths himself to her without further ado. </p> <p> After all, no other woman really qualifies. Lisette, the outspoken daughter of the Duke of Gilner, cares nothing for clothing or decorum. She's engaged to another man, and doesn't give a fig for status or title. Half the ton believes Lisette mad&#8212;and Villiers is inclined to agree. </p> <p> Torn between logic and passion, between intelligence and imagination, Villiers finds himself drawn to the very edge of impropriety. But it is not until he's in a duel to the death, fighting for the reputation of the woman he loves, that Villiers finally realizes that the greatest risk may not be in the dueling field . . . </p> <p> But in the bedroom. And the heart. </p>