They were professionally trained， highly skilled men of valor， but the roguish， dangerous sword masters were not always respectable. . . When her brother challenges New Orleans s most infamous swordsman to a duel， Celina Vallier boldly confronts opponent， Rio de Silva， determined to thwart what would be her brother s certain death. The legendary maitre d armes agrees. . .for a price--Celina s innocence. Though Rio is captivated by Celina s beauty and courage， she is also the perfect pawn for his revenge. She is to be betrothed to his sworn enemy， the Count de Lerida. And what sweet vengeance it would be to take the bride before the wedding. But neither anticipates the tangled web of scandal and danger that will soon follow. Devious plots are afoot， and Celina is wary of trusting anyone， including the man whose brazen sensuality tempts her to think of nothing but her own desires. . . .