Book excerpt: HE BROUGHT DANGER…AND DESIRE An English widow in Italy, Cecily Renato has heard murmurings about a past tragedy which has caused a bitter rift with a neighboring family. This past is brought abruptly into the present when her stepdaughter declares her love for the enemy. Suddenly the Duke of Severin returns, and there’s danger in the air. What could he have done all those years ago to drive a mysterious figure to attack him now? Cecily, too, is in danger—most especially from her feelings for the darkly alluring Duke….